Hon. Joe C. Bishop

Judge Joe C. Bishop served on the Pataula Circuit Superior Court for over 27 years, including 23 years as Chief Judge. He established the Pataula Felony Drug Court in 2001 and presided over it until his retirement. Bishop also served as President of the Council of Superior Court Judges in 2000 and was a member of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence. His contributions were recognized with the Justice Robert Benham Community Service Award in 2013 and a STAR award by the Council of Accountability Court Judges in 2018. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Speech Communication from Valdosta State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law. In addition to his judicial duties, Bishop has been active in professional organizations, including the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards and the Dawson Rotary Club.