Jeremy Baker announces bid for Superior Court Judge

Nov. 21—VALDOSTA — Jeremy Baker, a Valdosta Municipal Court judge, has officially announced his intent to run for a Superior Court judge's position in the upcoming 2024 election.

Baker told The Valdosta Daily Times last week that he's running for the position held by Southern Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Richard M. Cowart. He plans to complete the necessary steps to qualify during the first full week in March 2024 for the May election.

Baker, a Lowndes County native, began serving in the legal field after completing his studies at Valdosta State University in 2007 and at St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. He said his love for the South Georgia community motivated him to return home where he participated in an internship with the District Attorney's Office and later accepted a position as assistant district attorney for the Southern Judicial Circuit.

Baker served Lowndes, Colquitt, Thomas, Brooks, and Echols counties at the DA's office. He prosecuted criminal cases mainly involving narcotics and juveniles. He was promoted to senior assistant district attorney after serving about three years where he prosecuted homicide cases.

He then entered a private practice as an associate at Coleman Talley Law Firm, which expanded his career knowledge in civil law.

"It was a great experience in the private realm. I was able to get a lot of civil practice whether it was dealing with contracts, insurance, litigation, estate planning or estate litigation. I just got a well rounded experience there with the civil role," Baker explained. "I had the criminal experience with being a prosecutor then I was able to get the civil experience as well. I was very blessed in my tenure and career of having these great opportunities."

Baker was sworn in as the City of Valdosta's Municipal Court judge in April 2021. He's heard and judged both criminal misdemeanors and civil cases. He entered the position when the court was behind on cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He experienced working through a state-wide movement to improve efficiency and accessibility through the judicial system. Now, the Municipal Court has updated court software, technology and the capability to host virtual court if required.

He deems his "call to serve" as a consistent mentality throughout each of his past roles and a driving point that has most prepared him for the role as a Superior Court judge.

"That's all I've ever wanted to do was to serve," he said. "I was able to serve my community in one manner with being a prosecutor and in another manner being in private practice. ... No matter what type of judge you are, it's an honor and it's a call to serve. Being in those positions, a senior district attorney and an associate with a law firm, prepared me to be better able to serve as a judge."

This position would also give Baker the opportunity to make a larger impact on Lowndes County and the surrounding communities within the circuit.

He also wants to continue to serve the community off the bench in the surrounding communities if elected.

For the past two summers, Baker has partnered with the Valdosta Housing Authority to host a one-week mock-trial camp with their youth. He hopes to expand the program and bring opportunities to the youth in neighboring areas.

"Being able to serve directly to those communities would be an amazing opportunity," he said. "I want their first experience in the court of law to be a positive one not a negative one."

Baker's community and civic activities include serving as a founding member and vice chairman of the Scintilla Charter Academy Board for nine years, as regional coordinator of the high school mock trial competition, and coaching basketball at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Citizens Community Bank and has served three years on the Greater Valdosta United Way Board. Additionally, Baker serves as parish council president and as a religious education catechist for confirmation students at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

To the community Baker said, "I believe that everyone, no matter what community you're in whether you are in Thomasville or Valdosta, you should have a judicial system that is impartial, compassionate, open-minded and accessible. I will carry those tenets to every county. I will make sure that I'm impartial and that I'm accessible and that I follow the law."

He concluded, "Everyone deserves equal justice under the law. That phrase is literally on the Supreme Court building. ... Some people might not believe that. Those tenets hold true in South Georgia and in the Southern Judicial Circuit. I'm running to make sure those tenets hold true. I care deeply about the law, and I care deeply that people have equal access and equal treatment under the law."

His supportive family includes his wife and four children.