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Kicklighter to run for Superior Court judge
0302 kicklighter mickey
Mickey Kicklighter

Attorney Mickey Kicklighter announced Wednesday he will be a candidate for Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Superior Court judge.

“With more than 33 years of experience as a practicing attorney, I am uniquely qualified to serve as our next judge,” Kicklighter said. “I’ve worked in private practice for decades in almost every area of the law, served as a prosecutor and public defender in trials, practiced civil law to protect the rights of clients, and protected clients in zoning and land use cases.

“I also believe we need to elect conservative judges who believe in Constitutional principles. I am a strong believer in protecting our Second Amendment rights, and am a life member of the National Rifle Association,” said Kicklighter. 

Kicklighter is a former assistant district attorney and chief assistant district attorney. He is a member of the State Bar Military Legal Assistance Program Committee, and served as a public defender defense counsel for the Bulloch and Effingham County drug court programs.  He earned his undergraduate degree from Mercer University and earned his law degree from Walter F. George School of Law. 

Kicklighter was a charter member of the Statesboro Morning Rotary Club, has served as past president of Springfield Lions Club, served as a former member of the Uniform Superior Court Rules Committee, and of the Judicial Nominations Committee of the State Bar of Georgia. He has also been appointed twice to serve as a special master by the Supreme Court of Georgia in State Bar Disciplinary hearings.

Kicklighter served as the past chairman of the Effingham County Republican Party. He and his wife, Kimberly, have three grown children and are active members of Savannah Christian Church.

Kicklighter’s father, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mick Kicklighter, served for more than 35 years, including two tours in Vietnam, along with serving at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the State Department and as inspector general for the Defense Department.

His paternal grandfather, C.W. Kicklighter, served as Tattnall County sheriff. His maternal grandfather, Carlyle Exley, was an Army engineer in World War I in Europe and later was Springfield mayor. A great-uncle, George Exley, served in the Navy in the Pacific in World War II and great-uncle Milton Drake was in the 10st Airborne Division at Normandy and at Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge. Another great-uncle, John Kicklighter, was a co-pilot in the 8th Air Force in World War II.

Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Michael Muldrew and attorney Martha Hall also have announced they will run for the seat.

The Ogeechee Circuit is comprised of Bulloch, Effingham, Jenkins and Screven counties.