Harris Hines

Presiding Justice P. Harris Hines was appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia on July 26, 1995, by Governor Zell Miller to succeed Willis B. Hunt, Jr., former Chief Justice. Immediately prior to his appointment, Justice Hines served as a Judge of the Superior Court of the Cobb Judicial Circuit. He previously served as a Judge of the State Court of Cobb County.

An Atlanta native, Justice Hines graduated from Henry W. Grady High School in 1961. He graduated from Emory University in 1965 and received his J.D. degree from Emory University School of Law in 1968..

Justice Hines was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1968. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Cobb Judicial Circuit Bar Association. He is also a member of the Old War Horse Lawyers Club, a master of the Joseph Henry Lumpkin Inn of Court, associated with the University of Georgia School of Law, a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Georgia School of Law, and a fellow of the Lawyers Foundation of Georgia. He is a graduate of the National Judicial College..

After graduation from law school, Justice Hines clerked for Judge E. A. Wright, Senior Judge of the Civil Court of Fulton County, for one year. He then joined the firm of Edwards, Bentley, Awtrey & Parker of Marietta, Georgia as an associate and later became a partner. Justice Hines was appointed to the State Court of Cobb County by Governor Jimmy Carter and was later elected to the Superior Court of the Cobb Judicial Circuit. Justice Hines serves as Chair of the Supreme Court's Justice for Children Committee and is the Court’s liaison to the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education and the General Assembly.

Justice Hines is a former Trustee of the Kennesaw State University Foundation, a member and Past Distinguished President of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta and a Past Distinguished Lt. Governor of the Georgia District of Kiwanis International.