RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Chief District Court Judge R. Gregory Horne has been appointed to the Superior Court vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Senior Resident Superior Court Judge C. Philip Ginn in Superior Court District 24.

Judge Ginn will retire December 31. The 24th District covers Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery and Watauga counties.

Former Chief Justice Sarah Parker named Judge Horne Chief District Court Judge for the 24th District in April 2014. Prior to becoming the Chief Judge, he had served as a district court judge since 2004.

He was an assistant district attorney in the 24th District for four years before leaving to join the private sector, working as an attorney with the Law Offices of Kelly Johnson and before that, the Law Offices of Jim Deal.