Jason Deal Monday was named Chief Judge of the Gainesville-based Northeastern Judicial Circuit (NJC). The selection was made by the circuits Superior Court Judges.
Judge Deal’s appointment is effective immediately. He takes over for Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin, who recently announced plans to retire at the end of the year when her current term expires.
Deal has served as a Superior Court Judge since June 2005. He is the presiding judge of the Hall County Drug Court and the Dawson County Treatment Court.
Before joining the bench, he served as the District Attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, Magistrate Judge of the Hall County Magistrate Court, Assistant District Attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, County Attorney for Dawson County, and was in private practice with a Gainesville law firm.
The work of a Chief Judge is often accomplished behind the scenes, with duties and responsibilities related to budgeting, facilities, personnel, and other administrative matters.