Attorney Christopher Middleton wins the election for Chatham County Superior Court Judge

Defense attorney Christopher Middleton bested Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Pennington during the May 21 primary for the Chatham County Superior Court bench left vacant by retiring Judge Penny Freesemann.

Since 2018, Middleton has served as Judge Pro Tem in Chatham County’s Recorder’s Court and Juvenile Court. “I don’t even know what to say,” Middleton said outside of his campaign watch party at Aqua Vitae Lounge, 719 E. 65 Street as the final results filtered in. “This has been a long journey. I would not have been able to do it alone.”

Middleton received 60.50% of the vote. “People believed in me, and the voters spoke that with their vote. So, my job at this point is to not let them down.”

Superior Court judges serve four-year terms. Incumbent judges John E. Morse Jr. and Lisa Colbert ran unopposed during their reelection campaigns. Both Morse and Colbert ran unopposed. Morse garnered 24,509 votes and Colbert garnered 24,677.

More: Q&A: Chatham Co. Superior Court candidate Christopher Middleton talks about why he's running

More: Q&A: Chatham Co. Superior Court candidate Frank Pennington talks about why he's running

Pennington was an assistant district attorney in Chatham County from 2004 until 2018, when he was hired as an assistant U.S. attorney. He served a stint as Deputy Chief ADA and had positions on the Major Crimes Division-Special Victims Unit and on Chatham County's Sexual Assault Response Team.

At his watch party at Midtown Sports and Grill, 4521 Habersham St., Pennington expressed gratitude to his supporters. “Thanks for coming out, appreciate your time, appreciate your support, thanks for everything over the course of nine months. Worked our tails off, but here we are. Thanks again, I really appreciate and love everybody.”

Drew Favakeh is the public safety and courts reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@Savannahnow.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Christopher Middleton elected for Chatham County Superior Court Judge