DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — An attorney from Dougherty County has been appointed to serve as a judge on the State Court of Muscogee County.

The Dougherty County Board of Commissioners offered their congratulations to County Attorney Alex Shalishali on his appointment Monday, Nov. 9. Shalishali is one of three appointees announced by Governor Brian Kemp. He will fill a new judgeship established by House Bill 1258 in the 2026 session of the Georgia General Assembly.

Shalishali is currently the attorney for Dougherty County. He provides legal counsel to the commissioners and other county staff, overseeing the county’s legal matters and handling a number of governmental, transactional, and litigation issues.

In addition to working for the county, Shalishali is a shareholder/attorney with Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker & Ford, P.C., where he has practiced law since 2012. His legal expertise lies in representing local governments and businesses in complex and regulatory matters.

Reflecting on his time serving the county, Shalishali said he’s proud of the commitment county leaders have shown to residents.

“It’s been the greatest honor of my life up to this point. And I think the thing that will be most memorable to me are the people, and relationships I had,“ he told WALB. “I’ve never had anyone on the board level, on the staff level, ask me for anything that didn’t serve the constituents and the people.”

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Shalishali’s prior roles

Before being appointed to this new judgeship, Shalishali also served as an assistant magistrate judge for the Muscogee County Magistrate Court, where he presided over civil matter and criminal arraignments.

Shalishali got his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2012; he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia in 2009 with a BA in international affairs.

Some of Shalishali’s professional achievements include serving as president of the Fountain City Bar Association and chairman of the Board of Trustees for the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. He currently serves on the State Bar of Georgia’s Board of Governors, and on the boards of the Emanual Preparatory School of Math and Science and the Columbus Botanical Garden.

Shalishali, a graduate of Leadership Georgia’s Class of 2016, has been recognized five times as a Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star.

Dougherty County working to replace county attorney seat

The attorney begins the new role Jan. 1, 2027.

While his replacement has not been publicly announced, Shalishali said he’s already working with county leaders to ensure a smooth transition before he takes the bench next year.

“We’ve already started taking steps to ensure smooth transition of legal counsel. And a lot of it won’t change. The only significant change may be the day-to-day person,” he added. “While we’re not a perfect operation and we’ll continue to strive for that perfection, I do think it’s important for the citizens to know that you do have a county that’s committed to serving their constituents.”

“The Dougherty County Board of Commissioners extends its appreciation to Shalishali for his legal counsel and service to county government and congratulates him on this significant professional milestone.

His appointment represents a distinguished achievement in his legal career and reflects his commitment to the legal profession and public service."

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