A former solicitor with the State Court of Hall County, Jerry Rylee, passed away Wednesday at the age of 79.
According to Rylee's obituary from Memorial Park Funeral Home in Gainesville, he served in a variety of roles in the legal system in North Georgia throughout his career.
Rylee, an East Hall High School graduate and Gillsville native, began studying for his career in public service by attending evening school at Atlanta Law School in 1962.
He started his career in the U.S. District Court at an entry-level position, eventually rising to the position of Court Clerk to a U.S. District Judge. Once he passed the bar exam, he left the Federal Court and entered into the private practice of law for several years in Atlanta.
Governor Joe Frank Harris then appointed Rylee in 1983 as Solicitor of the State Court of Hall County.
"Jerry was somewhat overwhelmed his first day on the job when he discovered that he had inherited a 12,000-case backlog and two legal secretaries as support staff," his obituary reads. "Being the only prosecutor in the office, Jerry found himself working late at night and on the weekends in order to reduce the backlog of cases. Due to his hard work, revenues generated by the State Court increased by $1,500,000.00 over the next three years."
After four years in private practice and as a Special Assistant Attorney General, Governor Zell Miller appointed Rylee as Solicitor General for the second time.
He retired after 30 years of public service.
Memorial Park Funeral Home in Gainesville is in charge of arrangements. Rylee's full obituary can be found here.
