COUNTY OF DOUGHERTY: Dougherty County Board of Commissioners Chairman Reappointed to Dougherty Circuit Public Defender Supervisory Panel

By Press release submission

Feb 25, 2022

County of Dougherty issued the following announcement on Feb. 25.

State of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp recently reappointed Dougherty County Board of Commissioner Chairman, Christopher S. Cohilas, to serve as a member of the Dougherty County Public Defender Supervisory Panel (GPDSC), for a term of office expiring July 1, 2027. This marks Cohilas second appointed term to the panel.

The Georgia Public Defender Council exists to advocate for the best possible outcome for lowincome individuals accused of crimes and to improve their defense. Previously appointed to the GPDSC by former Georgia Governor Nathan Deal in 2017, and subsequently elected chair of the entire statewide organization, Cohilas holds an extensive history of service on the panel.

“All citizens who cannot afford an attorney deserve to be provided with an attorney who can assist them in improving their defense against crimes accused,” said Cohilas. “I am honored an appreciative of Governor Kemp to allow me to continue to serve on the panel for such a needed organization in our state.”

A graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Criminal Justice, Cohilas holds his Juris Doctor degree from Georgia State University’s College of Law. He is currently serving his second term as Chairman of the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners with intention to seek a third term during this year’s election.

Named as one of Georgia’s 100 Most Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2018, Cohilas has served locally as past President and Chairman of the Artesian City Sertoma Club, Co-Chairperson of the Martin Luther King Day Celebration Committee, and President of the former Darton State College Foundation. A founding member of the Lily Pad SANE Center, a child abuse/sexual assault center that currently serves abused women and children throughout Southwest Georgia, Cohilas was awarded the Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service in 2019.

Known for his leadership and support for the Albany-Dougherty community through three separate Presidentially declared major natural disasters occurring in 2017 and 2018, Cohilas is the proud father of four, Christopher, Nicholas, Michael, and Isabella.

Original source can be found here.