---
title: "Andy Prather | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/andy-prather-ga-state-58af0224ce9168f520c4d9c8"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-25"
---

# Andy Prather

Muscogee County State Court · Chief Judge

## Profile

- Court: Muscogee County State Court
- State: Georgia
- Role: Chief Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-08-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### electronic devices and recording

Scope: statewide

Georgia's class-specific Uniform Court Rules govern electronic devices and recording in state trial courts. Before using recording, photography, livestreaming, or similar courtroom technology, confirm the governing rule and the assigned court's procedure.

Evidence excerpt: Uniform Superior, Juvenile, Magistrate, Municipal and Probate Court Rules

[Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules](https://www.gasupreme.us/rules/amendments-to-rules)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af0224ce9168f520c4d9c8/)
- [Official roster](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af0224ce9168f520c4d9c8/)
- [Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules](https://www.gasupreme.us/rules/amendments-to-rules)
- [Judicial Council of Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af0224ce9168f520c4d9c8/)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/andy-prather-ga-state-58af0224ce9168f520c4d9c8",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/andy-prather-ga-state-58af0224ce9168f520c4d9c8",
      "name": "Andy Prather | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Andy Prather, Muscogee County State Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-08-25",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/andy-prather-ga-state-58af0224ce9168f520c4d9c8#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/andy-prather-ga-state-58af0224ce9168f520c4d9c8#judge",
      "name": "Andy Prather",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/andy-prather-ga-state-58af0224ce9168f520c4d9c8",
      "jobTitle": "Chief Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Muscogee County State Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af0224ce9168f520c4d9c8/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Georgia",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/georgia"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Andy Prather",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/andy-prather-ga-state-58af0224ce9168f520c4d9c8"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Andrew Prather is the Chief Judge of the Muscogee County State Court in Georgia, a role he has held since 1996, and announced his retirement on November 30, 2026
- Joined the State Court bench in January 1994 when appointed by then-Governor Zell Miller, and became Chief Judge in 1996
- Prather and Judge Pythias Temesgen are the two judges on the court
- He has been the longest-serving State Court judge in Georgia

### Education

- Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in — J.D. (1977)
- Rollins College in — B.A. (1974)

### Additional information

- After private legal practice (1977–1979), he served as Assistant Solicitor General (1980–1982) and Solicitor General (1983–1993) for Muscogee County
- President of the Solicitors Association of Georgia (1990) and the Columbus Younger Lawyers Club (1988)
- He described his 46 years of service as “the greatest privilege of my life” and expressed a desire to assist incoming Chief Judge Pete Temesgen
- His successor will be appointed by the Governor due to the timing of his departure