BAINBRIDGE — A. Wallace Cato, chief judge of the South Georgia Judicial Circuit, will not seek re-election in 2016.

Upon completion of his current term, Cato will have served in the judgeship for 38 years and seven months.

He previously was the South Georgia Judicial Circuit district attorney for eight and one-half years.

Cato expressed appreciation to citizens of the circuit for allowing him to serve them for 47 years.

“It was an honor to serve them,” he said.