The Carroll County Bar Association has agreed to hang a second painting of a long time superior court judge in the Carroll County CourthouseÂ’s fourth floor. In April 2017, the CCBA presented Judge Aubrey Duffey with a portrait of himself, which Duffey allowed to be donated to the Carroll County Courthouse, where it remains today.
Carrollton-based artist Ralph Van Pelt recently completed a painted-portrait of current Coweta Judicial Circuit Chief Judge John Simpson which he is donating to Carroll County.
CCBA President Cynthia Daley said the un-commissioned portrait is certainly a wonderful tribute for the sitting judge.
“We are very blessed in this county to have an artist like Ralph Van Pelt who is also a practicing lawyer. He is retired now and he gave many years of service to the bar in Carroll County. So he has done this portrait of Judge Simpson and to give it to the county and the courthouse as part of the legacy that has gone on. We are very appreciative of Ralph Van Pelt for his thoughtfulness and honoring Judge Simpson that way,” said Daley.
When asked, Daley admitted it is unique for the portrait of a sitting judge to be displayed in such a prominent way.
She says the CCBA hopes to commission portraits of additional retired judges to be placed in the courthouse hall in the future.
The unveiling of the new portrait will be July 19th at 10:00am in courtroom 4-C. A reception will follow.