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Five nominees vie for solicitor-general
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Michelle Rohan of Flowery Branch Experience: A private-practice attorney who was admitted to the bar in 2002 after receiving her law degree from Georgia State University School of Law. She worked as an assistant solicitor in the Hall County Solicitor’s Office from 2002 to 2005 and worked as an associate with Tolbert, Bradford and Associates from November 2005 to May 2006 before opening her own practice.

The new job opening for Hall County solicitor-general drew five applicants this week who each hope Gov. Sonny Perdue will appoint them to the key courthouse post.

All have experience as prosecutors, and all but one have worked in the Hall County Solicitor-General’s office.

The solicitor-general is an elected official who prosecutes most of Hall County’s misdemeanor crimes in state court. Larry Baldwin has served as solicitor-general in the 16-person office since 2004. Last year the office prosecuted 8,242 criminal cases and was responsible for more than 17,000 traffic citations. Baldwin is leaving the office after being appointed by Perdue to a new state court judgeship.

When Baldwin is sworn in by the governor on Monday, his chief assistant solicitor, Jennifer Scalia, will become interim solicitor-general and hold that title until the governor’s appointment is made.

Scalia’s name is one of five on the list of local attorneys who will interview with the governor’s executive council for the job. Michelle Rohan, William Hollingsworth, Stephanie Woodard and Inez Grant are the other nominees, according to Rhonda Greenway, an executive assistant in Perdue’s legal office. The deadline for nominations ended this week. No interview dates have been set, and there is no timeline on when the governor will make the appointment.

After the governor makes his pick, that person will stand for election in 2010. Baldwin’s name remains on the ballot for the Nov. 4 election, though he will no longer serve in the solicitor’s post.