Governor Deal administered the oath of office Thursday to 37-year-old Keith Blackwell as the newest justice of the State Supreme Court.

Blackwell said he will be a strong caretaker of the law.

“The courts must do their part to ensure that the constitutional limits of government power are respected. They must ensure that the judicial branch itself adheres to the limits of its constitutional power,” said Blackwell.

Blackwell will fill the vacancy left by Chief Justice George Carley who retired this week. The Governor appointed Carley to serve as a Senior Appellate Judge.

Blackwell is the 92nd justice since the court’s creation in 1845.

He will serve on the court until 2014, when voters will decide whether to keep him on the bench for a six-year term.

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