Superior Court Judge William R. “Bill” Oliver has been sworn in as the third superior court judge in the Mountain Judicial Circuit.
Judge Oliver was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp in December. He was officially sworn in on January 13th at the Habersham County Courthouse by Chief Judge Smith.
According to a press release, Oliver attended Gainesville College, Western Carolina University, and the University of Georgia. He received his law degree from Woodrow Wilson College of Law in 1981 and began his law practice in Cornelia in the firm founded by his grandfather, Grover C. Oliver.
He also has practiced law as a partner in his own firm, first with Oliver & Woods, and, most recently, with Oliver & Weidner
In 2010, Oliver was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to serve as the Habersham County solicitor and held that position until his appointment as a superior court judge.
A Habersham County native, Oliver has two daughters and four granddaughters and is a member of River Point Community Church.
Georgia’s superior courts are the highest general jurisdiction trial courts in the state. Superior courts have jurisdiction over criminal cases, including felonies and cases where the death penalty is sought, as well as civil cases, including divorce and custody cases, child support, family violence and stalking, property disputes, personal injury cases and almost every other type of civil case. Superior courts have exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving injunctions and restraining orders.
The Mountain Judicial Circuit consists of Habersham, Rabun and Stephens counties.
Oliver’s office is located at the Rabun County Courthouse in Clayton. He is the first superior court judge in the circuit’s history to have an office in Rabun County.
