The Hon. Don W. Thompson is a judge for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court in Georgia. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Nathan Deal on October 17, 2016, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Jon B. Wood.
The Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit includes Catoosa, Chattooga, Walker, and Dade Counties.
Thompson has advocated for criminal justice reform, including Georgia’s Accountability Courts Program. According to Thompson, Georgia’s prisons are overfilled with non-violent drug offenders. As such, he promotes the establishment of drug courts as an alternative to incarceration in order to encourage rehabilitation of defendants with substance abuse issues.
Prior to his appointment, Thompson was a partner at Bruce & Thompson, where he handled civil and criminal matters in Summerville. He started as an associate in 1998, eventually rising through the ranks to become a named partner in 2009. During his tenure in private practice, he specialized in criminal defense, family law, wrongful death, and personal injury litigation.
Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Berry College. He then completed a J.D. at Samford University Cumberland School of Law.
He was a resident of Summerville, Georgia, at the time of his appointment. His father worked as a pharmacist. He and his wife, Erica, have one daughter.