Johnnie Caldwell Jr.

Johnnie Caldwell Jr. is an American attorney and politician from Georgia. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019, representing the 131st District centered on Thomaston, Georgia. Prior to his legislative service, Caldwell served as a judge in the Fayette County Superior Court for about 15 years, from approximately 1995 until 2010, after having practiced law and worked in the district attorney’s office in the Griffin Judicial Circuit since the 1970s. One of his most notable cases as District Attorney was Jackson v. State (1982), where Caldwell prosecuted an armed robbery and aggravated assault case. This case involved complex legal questions about evidence admissibility and procedural fairness, showcasing Caldwell’s ability to navigate intricate legal issues and advocate for justice. He resigned from the Superior Court in 2010.

In the state legislature, Caldwell was a member of several committees, including Judiciary, Public Safety, and Reapportionment, and he chaired the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee. Over his tenure, he sponsored and co-sponsored a range of bills, such as those recognizing local achievements, adjusting compensation provisions for juvenile court judges, and issuing educational commendations. He also played a role in efforts to reform the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the body responsible for judicial oversight in Georgia.

Caldwell first won election to the House in 2012, facing a challenger in the Republican primary but running uncontested in the general election. In 2018, he lost the Republican nomination to Ken Pullin, who assumed office on January 14, 2019. Caldwell has since returned to private life.