Chaundra Lewis has been named by Gov. Brian Kemp to the Henry County State Court bench. She is set to succeed Ben Studdard, who is scheduled to retire September 1.

Kemp made the announcement July 20. Lewis, currently serving as Henry County deputy chief assistant district attorney, was one of three finalists for the judgeship.

She was a Henry County prosecutor for two years until March 2019 and rejoined the District Attorney’s office in April 2020. She has worked as a deputy assistant solicitor general in Fulton County and as deputy chief assistant solicitor general in Clayton County as well as a staff attorney in Clayton County State Court. She also had her own private practice for a period of time. She lives with her husband and three children in McDonough.

The state’s Judicial Nominating Commission announced May 7 that it submitted three names to be considered by the governor as Studdard’s successor. In addition to Lewis, that list included Ralph Bailey, Jr., senior trial counsel, Allstate Insurance Company; and Stephen N. Knights, Jr., a judge in Henry County Magistrate Court.

Lewis ran unsuccessfully for a State Court judgeship — not Studdard’s seat — in 2018.

Studdard has been on the bench nearly a quarter-century. He was a partner in what is now Smith Welch Webb & White before running in 1998 for the first Henry County State Court judgeship after it was created by the state legislature.

There are now four judges in State Court. Studdard has been chief judge for several years.