Peach Tree Times

Governor Brian P. Kemp announced two appointments in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit today. Carolyn “Tippi” Cain Burch has been appointed to serve as a judge on the Superior Court of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit, and Don Kelly will serve as the District Attorney of the same circuit.

Ms. Burch will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Honorable Ron Mullins from the Superior Court of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Mr. Kelly will complete the remainder of Honorable Stacey Jackson’s term following District Attorney Jackson’s extended medical leave and his untimely passing earlier this month.

Carolyn “Tippi” Cain Burch is a Columbus, Georgia native with twenty-three years of experience practicing law in trial and appellate courts. She has represented individuals, businesses, business owners, government entities, and candidates and committees during her time at King & Spalding LLP, Chalmers, Pak & Burch LLC, and most recently as a solo practitioner in Columbus. She also served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Appellate Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

Ms. Burch is an active community member serving as a Master in both Clarke-Carley American Inn of Court and Columbus American Inn of Court. She holds the position of Secretary for Columbus Bar Association and was part of Leadership Georgia Class 2014. Her previous roles include serving on Executive Board for Atlanta Lawyers Chapter of Federalist Society and Board of Trustees for Georgia Legal History Foundation.

She completed her undergraduate degree at Auburn University before earning her law degree from University of Georgia School of Law. Post law school, she clerked in Superior Court for Macon Judicial Circuit and for Honorable C. Ashley Royal in United States District Court for Middle District of Georgia.

Don Kelly is also a native of Columbus, Georgia currently serving as Acting District Attorney for Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. His career began as an assistant district attorney in the same circuit. In 1996, Mr. Kelly opened his own law firm practicing civil and criminal litigation for several years before returning to Chattahoochee District Attorney’s Office in 2003.

Mr. Kelly has served as a prosecutor consistently for the last 21 years. He led the Violent Crime Unit from 2014 until 2020, overseeing prosecution of all serious violent felonies in Columbus and acting as lead prosecutor in over 50 murder cases. Late District Attorney Stacey Jackson appointed Mr. Kelly as Chief Assistant District Attorney in July 2022.

Mr. Kelly completed his undergraduate degree at University of Georgia and earned his law degree from Georgia State University College of Law. After law school, he clerked for Honorable Mullins Whisnant and Honorable Bill Smith, both superior court judges in Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit.