Hon. Jesse C. Stone is a judge for the Augusta Judicial Circuit Superior Court in Georgia. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Brian Kemp in February 2021 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Michael Annis (Ret.).
The Augusta Judicial Circuit comprises Richmond and Burke Counties.
Prior to his appointment, Stone was a co-founder and managing partner at the Waynesboro law firm of Merrill & Stone, LLC, where he had practiced since 1986. At the firm, he specialized in business reorganization and commercial litigation.
In addition to his legal career, he spent several years in the political arena. Stone represented District 23 as a Georgia State Senator from 2011 to 2020 and was a past chair of the Judiciary Committee.
He was also the former Mayor of the City of Waynesboro (2003 to 2007).
Stone received a B.B.A. in business management (1978) and an M.B.A. from the University of Georgia (1981). He went on to complete a J.D. at the University of Georgia School of Law in 1981.
After graduating from law school, Stone began his legal career as an attorney with the law firm of Gardner, Willis & Sweat, where he practiced until 1986.
He also taught as a criminal justice instructor at East Georgia College.
Stone has held memberships with the State Bar of Georgia (Agriculture Law Section chair), the Augusta Circuit Bar Association, the Federalist Society, and the Middle Judicial Circuit Bar Association.
A Waynesboro native, he and his wife, Amanda, have three children.
Stone is registered as a Republican.