Ernest H. “Bucky” Woods, III (Of Counsel)

Ernest H. “Bucky” Woods, III was born and reared in Habersham County, Georgia.  Mr. Woods began his law practice in 1980 in Cobb County, Georgia with the law firm of Sellers, Krause, & Woods. In 1983, he moved back home and began a general practice of law; and in 1988 organized the firm of Oliver & Woods with William R. “Bill” Oliver. In 1987, Mr. Woods was appointed as Solicitor of the State Court of Habersham County by Governor Joe Frank Harris and was re-elected to that post in 1988. In 1992, Mr. Woods ran successfully for one of two Superior Court Judge positions in the Mountain Judicial Circuit of Georgia (encompassing Habersham, Rabun, and Stephens Counties). In 1999, he was elevated to the position of Chief Judge for the Mountain Judicial Circuit where he held that position until 2010 when he retired from the bench and returned to private practice with the law firm of Oliver & Weidner, LLC (now Weidner Law Firm, LLC), reuniting with his former law partner, Bill Oliver
Mr. Woods’ practice areas are varied; but generally, he handles litigation in the areas of criminal, DUI, domestic, and corporate law.

Education:

He graduated from Habersham Central High School in 1973; and after high school he received a B.A. degree in Political Science from Mercer University in 1977. He received his law degree in 1980 from Atlanta Law School and became a member of the State Bar of Georgia that same year.
He is admitted to practice in State and Federal Courts. He has successfully argued cases before the Georgia Supreme Court and Georgia Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. He is certified as lead counsel in death penalty cases in the Mountain Judicial Circuit.

Other:

  • Organizing Director for Southern Bancorp, Inc and Southern Bank & Trust (2005-2020)
    • On April 1, 2020 Southern Bank & Trust merged with Pinnacle Financial Corporation (Pinnacle Bank)