Honorable Judge Gil McBride

Gil grew up in Columbus where he was educated in local schools. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. where he also interned for Congressman Jack Brinkley. After graduating from law school at the Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University, Gil returned to Columbus in 1991 where he began the practice of law. He practiced as a private attorney for seventeen years with his wife, Betsy, before winning election to the bench in 2008. Gil and Betsy have four (4) children and are members of St. Paul United Methodist Church, the Harris County Cattlemen's Association and other community organizations. Gil is a former chairman of the Valley Rescue Mission, Inc. and the Kiwanis Club of Columbus. Both Gil and his oldest son are Eagle Scouts.

Honorable Judge Bobby G. Peters

Bobby graduated from Hardaway High School in 1967, and then earned an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice, B.S., and a post-graduate degree in Education, M.S. both at Columbus University. He graduated with a J.D. from Woodrow Wilson Law School in 1979.

He was a law detective with the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office and taught law as a professor of criminal justice at Southern Union State College and was Director of the Regional Police Academy. He has been in law practice since 1979.

In addition to his service enforcing the law, he was a city councilor for twelve (12) years on the Columbus City Council and was elected for two consecutive terms as the Mayor of Columbus, as well as, Public Safety Director of the city.

He has been honored by many organizations earning the title "The People's Advocate". He was also chosen as one of only ten elected officials in the nation and the only one from Georgia to represent the United States of America in a governmental exchange program with Australia. Bobby was honored as the first American citizen to be named "Ambassador of Goodwill" for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, WHINSEC, which was formerly known as the School of Americas. In 2002, Bobby was personally presented the "Order of Saint Maurice" by General Paul Eaton, Commander of Fort Benning.

Honorable Judge William C. Rumer

Judge Rumer is a Columbus, Georgia native. He graduated from Jordan High School. He went on to attend Emory University in Atlanta, graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. While at Emory, he was a member and the President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Judge Rumer graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1975, where he was a member of the Georgia Law Review.

Judge Rumer returned to Columbus with his wife, Becky, and entered private practice. He practiced in Columbus for thirty-five years. Married for thirty-four years, they have four children, Sam, Laura, Nick, and Tasha, and a grandson, William, and they were foster parents for fourteen years.

From 1993 until the present, Judge Rumer has served on the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia. In 1997, Governor Perdue appointed him to a five year term on the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council. He was also appointed by the Supreme Court of Georgia to the Investigative Panel of the Disciplinary Board of the State Bar for two three year terms. He served on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Legal Services Program for six years, and he was President of the Columbus Bar Association.

Judge Rumer has been a member and past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Muscogee County Department of Family and Children Services from 2001 to 2010. A member of the St. Paul United Methodist Church, Judge Rumer has served as Chairman of the Administrative Board, and he taught Sunday School for thirty years. Judge Rumer is also a high school football official working as a side judge or field judge.

In 1995, Judge Rumer received from the State Bar of Georgia the H. Sol Clark Award in recognition of his Pro Bono efforts in opening access to the courts for the indigent and poor. In 1998, he received from the State Bar of Georgia the Justice Robert Benhan Award for Community Service.

Honorable Judge Arthur L. Smith III

Art Smith is a Columbus native who was educated in the public schools and graduated from Columbus High School in 1973. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Columbus College (now known as CSU). He earned his law degree from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law and later obtained an L.L.M. in Taxation in 2005 at the University of Alabama School of Law.

Judge Smith practiced as a private attorney from 1979-1989 in a general practice law firm in Columbus. In 1989, he joined the Legal Division at AFLAC and handled litigation and arbitration throughout the United States. He also served as a JAG Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserves. He has been married to his wife Sue for 34 years, and they have two grown daughters.

He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, American Bar Association, the Columbus Inns of Court (President 2014-2015), and the Columbus Bar Association. He is also an active member of St. Luke United Methodist Church and the Kiwanis Club of Columbus and serves on several community boards.

In December of 2011, he was sworn in by Governor Nathan Deal to serve as Judge of the Superior Courts of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit.  On July 31, 2012, he was elected by the citizens of the circuit to serve as judge for a full four year term, beginning January 1, 2013.

Honorable Judge Maureen Gottfried

Maureen Gottfried was born in Washington, DC, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from St. Pius X Catholic High School and received the Distinguished Alumnae Award in 2000. She received her BA in English from Trinity College in Washington, DC in 1983, and her JD from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1986. She moved to Columbus, Georgia to work in the Solicitor General�s Office of Muscogee County upon graduation. After serving as Chief Assistant, she was named Solicitor General in January of 1994. In November of 1995, she was appointed to a vacancy on the State Court Bench where she served for over 18 years, until being named to a newly created seat for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit.

She has been active in the community, having served on the Board of Girls, Inc., the Child Advocacy Board, the Columbus Youth Soccer Association, and various activities at her children�s school. She served on the Executive Board of the Columbus Bar Association, and as President in 2003-2004. She was a recipient of the Justice Robert Benham award for Community Service in 2005. She and her husband George have 3 children; Colleen, 18, Claire, 16 and George IV, 14.

Honorable Judge Ron Mullins

Ron Mullins is a native of Harris County, Georgia. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.S. in Political Science in 1973 and from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1976 where he received his J.D. degree. He initially worked in Augusta, Georgia, with the law firm of Fulcher, Hagler, Harper & Reed.

He moved back to Columbus in 1980 as a partner with the Kelly, Denney, Pease & Allison firm. In the last ten years he has been a partner with the firm of Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker &S Ford.
He is the past president of the Columbus Bar Association, and past president of the Columbus Rotary Club. He and his wife are active in many community affairs, including serving as civilian sponsors for international officers who are stationed at Fort Benning.

He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Columbus Inns of Court, and the Columbus Bar Association.

In January of 2014, he was sworn in by Governor Nathan Deal to serve as Judge of Superior Courts for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit.
Ron and his wife, Mary, have been married for forty years, and have two grown children

Honorable Judge Benjamin A. Land

A lifelong resident of Columbus, Ben Land graduated with Highest Honors as a First Honor Graduate, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Georgia in 1989, finishing with a 4.0 grade point average. He also graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1992, finishing second in his class of 202 students. While in Law School, he served on the Editorial Board of the Georgia Law Review, clerked for the Georgia Supreme Court, and was elected to the Order of the Coif.

Following Law School, Ben had a private law practice in Columbus, focusing on civil litigation and trial practice. During his nearly 26 year career as a private practice attorney, he obtained several record setting jury verdicts on behalf of individuals injured at the hands of others, and he also played a key role in the defense of numerous nationwide class action lawsuits.

Judge Land has been active in his profession and his community. He has served on numerous community and law-related boards and has spoken on the topic of trial advocacy at statewide continuing legal education seminars. He was presented with the State Bar of Georgia's William B. Spann, Jr. Award for Pro Bono Advocacy for his efforts on behalf of a pro bono client whose case he successfully handled from the trial court level until its successful conclusion in the Georgia Supreme Court. Judge Land is a graduate of Leadership Columbus and has served as the President of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit Bar Association, President of the Columbus Inn of Court, President of the Columbus Bar Association, District Representative for the State Bar of Georgia's Younger Lawyers Division, and member of the Joseph Henry Lumpkin Inn of Court. He has also served as a board member for the Columbus Area Habitat for Humanity, a volunteer and board member for the Pine Mountain Trail Association, and a youth sports coach. He and his wife have three children and are active members of St. Paul United Methodist Church.

After being appointed by Governor Nathan Deal, Judge Land left the private practice of law and became a Superior Court judge on February 7, 2018. He continues to serve in that position after being elected by the voters of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit on June 9, 2020.

© 2009 Columbus, Georgia
Government Center, 100 10th Street, Columbus, GA, 31901
Question? Contact 311 Citizen Services.