Frank Wood was showered with accolades for his professionalism and work ethic when he was sworn in as the new chief assistant district attorney (DA)for the Appalachian Judicial Circuit Friday, January 14.
Wood took his oath from Chief Superior Court Judge Brenda Weaver in front of a crowd of family, friends and district attorney’ staff in the jury assembly room of the Fannin County Courthouse.
As chief assistant DA, Wood, who works out of District Attorney B. Alison Sosebee’s Fannin County office, will now have added responsibilities for both the Gilmer and Pickens offices. He will be assisting other assistant district attorneys with trial preparation, trials and caseloads. Those duties will also be added to his Fannin caseload.
Sosebee, in introducing Wood, said, “Frank has one of the best work ethics I have ever seen.”
Sosebee told of how when extra help was needed, in any of the circuit’s offices, he was always the first to volunteer. As a result, he has tried cases throughout the circuit.
Sosebee remembered one of the first cases her office tried after COVID-19 restrictions were eased. She talked of its extreme difficulty and long witness list.
She told how she offered to help Wood try the case, only to be told, “No, no. I got this.”
Sosebee talked of the growth and evolution she has seen in Wood since he joined her office seven-and-a-half years ago. “He has excelled,” she said.
Sosebee used the example of the Arches at the University of Georgia in describing Wood.
These have three pillars, one standing for wisdom, one for justice and one for moderation. It takes all three to support the arches, she said. “They apply to us in prosecuting. He has exhibited all of those characteristics,” Sosebee said.
Prior to administering the oath, Weaver told Wood of her “full confidence” in his abilities.
She credited him for always being prepared and always working very hard.
Weaver also applauded Wood for knowing the difference in seeking convictions and seeking justice, a challenge she said she gives any time she swears in a new attorney.
Excellent and respectful were two words the chief superior court judge used to describe Wood.
Wood is a native of Fannin County, the son of Dr. Frank and Karen Zachary Wood.
He graduated from Fannin County High School, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and earned his law degree from Cumberland Law School in Birmigham, Alabama.