Flowery Branch will swear in a new Municipal Court judge April 1.

After a closed-door session Wednesday night, Flowery Branch City Council voted to appoint Gainesville lawyer Michelle Rohan to the post.

Rohan, a Flowery Branch resident, is a 2002 Georgia State University law graduate.

She will preside over misdemeanor criminal cases and city ordinance violations. She has served as both a defense attorney and prosecutor, City Clerk Melissa McCain said.

She replaces longtime Judge G. Hammond Law III, who is resigning in what Councilman Craig Lutz described as a “mutual parting of the ways.”

“He served the city well,” Lutz said. “I think that the council, in discussion with Judge Law, felt like we should go in a different direction.”

Law couldn’t be reached for comment.

The steps to replace him began about a month ago. The city advertised the post with the Georgia Municipal Association, requesting that those interested apply by March 12.

Lutz said the city focused on three candidates.

“Everybody felt (Rohan’s) confidence was the thing that took her over (the other candidates),” he said.

Lutz served as mayor pro tem in Wednesday night’s vote, as Mayor Diane Hirling was absent from the meeting.

In that role, “I didn’t have a vote but I felt very good about whom the council selected,” Lutz said.