Melanie McCorey Bell declared her candidacy for Newton County Probate Judge Tuesday.

Bell, who was named Chief Assistant District Attorney for Newton County in 2013, is running for the judgeship which is currently held by Henry Baker. Judge Baker announced Friday his attention to retire Dec. 31.

“I am pleased and honored to announce my candidacy for Probate Judge of Newton County,” Bell said. “I have worked hard for the people of Newton County for 13 years in the District Attorney’s Office, and look forward to continuing my service to this wonderful community in another capacity.”

Bell earned bachelor of arts degrees in History and Sociology from Duke University in 1997. She received a juris doctor degree from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law in 2000, graduating number two in her class.

Bell moved to Newton County following law school and served as a judicial law clerk to Chief Judge John Ott until April 2003. She was then hired as an assistant district attorney in the Alcovy Judicial Circuit. Bell served as the Crimes against Women and Children prosecutor from 2005 until being named Senior Assistant District Attorney in 2010.

“My extensive courtroom and trial experience has prepared me for the task of running an efficient and fair courtroom. I also have strong leadership skills necessary for operating the Probate and Magistrate Courts of Newton County. Finally, I am committed to making customer service a top priority and to making citizens’ interactions with both offices a positive experience.”

Bell has been married to James Travis Bell since October 2008. She is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Covington and a mentor for new attorneys through the State Bar of Georgia. Bell has also volunteered for the Georgia High School Mock Trial competition in Covington, teaches courtroom demeanor to cadets at the Georgia Piedmont Technical College Law Enforcement Academy, and has traveled to Mexico to build housing through Casas por Cristo. She also participated in the development of the Newton County Drug Court Program and the Newton County Resource Court Program. Her family attends the Covington Campus of Eastridge Community Church.

For more information on Mrs. Bell please visit facebook.com/BellforProbateJudge.