Probate Court Judges

David W. Lindsey, Judge

W. Allen Wigington
Associate Judge

W. Allen Wigington, Associate Judge

Judge W. Allen Wigington was appointed as a Judge in the Magistrate Court of Pickens County in August of 2008. In April 2011, Judge Wigington was appointed by the Superior Court Judges of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit as the Chief Judge of the Magistrate Court to fill an unexpired term left vacate by a retirement. He was elected to serve another four year term in 2012. Judge Wigington was appointed in 2012 to serve  as the Associate Judge of the Probate Court of Pickens County.

Judge Wigington serves as Vice President for the Council of Magistrate Court Judges. Judge Wigington serves as a member of the faculty for the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education of Georgia, which is responsible for the continuing education for all of Georgia’s judges. Judge Wigington is also the Presiding Judge for the Pre-Trial Mental Health Court.

Prior to his appointments to the Magistrate & Probate Courts, Judge Wigington served for a number of years in law enforcement. With the Office of the Sheriff in Pickens County he attained and retired from the office at the rank of Chief Deputy Sheriff after service in each division and rank. Judge Wigington also served as the Chief of Police for the City of Nelson, Georgia for five years. Judge Wigington remains active in the training of law enforcement in the field of Domestic Violence. Judge Wigington served on the curriculum development committee for Rural Domestic Violence Training at the National Center for State and Local Training at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Judge Wigington served by appointment with the United States Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office in Washington, DC as a Grant Reviewer for several years. Judge Wigington holds degrees in Social Work, Criminal Justice and Justice Administration.

Judge Wigington is an active member of Jasper United Methodist Church, a member of the Board of Directors for the Appalachian Children’s Center and a member of the Board of Directors at Pickens Animal Rescue. In 2012 he was appointed to serve on the Highland Rivers Community Service Board as the Pickens County Representative.  He and his wife Rosie have two children, Kate and Jack.

D. Rodney Gibson
Senior Judge

D. Rodney Gibson, Senior Judge

Judge D. Rodney Gibson served as the Judge of the Probate Court 1977-2013. In 2012, Judge Gibson retired after 36 years of service and received an appointment from Governor Nathan Deal to serve the Probate Courts of Georgia as a Senior Judge.

Since taking the bench in 1977, Judge Gibson has seen many changes to the Probate Court. In 1979, Due to the wide scope of jurisdiction in the Probate Court, Judge Gibson was required to serve as the interim county commissioner after the death of Commissioner Golden Dobson during his term. From 1977 until 2000, Judge Gibson also served as the Superintendent of Elections. His Court remains the local custodian of all vital records on top of the criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction of the Probate Court.

Judge Gibson and his wife Lois have four children and nine grandchildren. Judge Gibson is also an active member of the Blaine Masonic Lodge F&AM 534, serves in the  9th Masonic District of Georgia and he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Georgia Masonic Children’s Home.