The chief judge of Georgia’s largest federal trial court is retiring, creating a vacancy for President Donald Trump to fill.
Chief Judge Timothy Batten Sr. of the Northern District of Georgia announced on Wednesday, Feb. 5, that he plans to retire in May when he turns 65 and becomes eligible. It comes after he spent 20 years on the bench and four as the court’s chief judge.
Appointed by former President George W. Bush, Batten is the most senior of 11 full-time district judges, including four appointed by Trump during his first term and six appointed by Democrats.
Federal district judges frequently decide on critical issues like abortion, immigration and transgender rights. And in 2020, Batten presided over one of the many lawsuits alleging widespread fraud in that year’s presidential election before dismissing the Georgia case.
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