Atlanta, November 19, 2025– Governor Brian Kemp has appointed Carl Santos Cansino as Solicitor General of Washington County, Georgia, marking a historic achievement for the Filipino-American legal community in the state.
Cansino becomes only the second Filipino-American to serve as a solicitor general in Georgia, following the Hon. Justin Cabral, who has served as Solicitor General of Lowndes County since 2012.
As Solicitor General, Cansino will prosecute misdemeanor, criminal, and traffic offenses on behalf of the Washington County State Court. He succeeds Michael Howard, who resigned from the position in July amid controversy.
A Distinguished Legal Career
Cansino brings over two decades of legal experience to his new role. For 21 years, he has operated The Cansino Law Firm in Milledgeville, handling criminal matters in both state and federal courts. He has also served as appointed municipal court prosecutor for the cities of Eatonton, Milledgeville, and Sandersville.
Prior to establishing his firm in 2004, the Sebring, Florida native spent seven years as an assistant district attorney in the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit.
“‘Always do the right thing’ is a quote from my former boss and friend, Fred Bright, who was the DA in the Ocmulgee Circuit for so many years,” Cansino said. “Those words ring true and should serve as a mantra for all prosecutors.”
Commitment to Justice
Expressing gratitude for Governor Kemp’s confidence in him, Cansino pledged to honor the appointment with dedication and integrity.
“I will do everything in my power to make him proud of his appointment,” he stated. “To do this, I will simply do my very best to uphold the rule of law and to apply the facts given in each case.”
Cansino is a graduate of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. The Tennille resident was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in September 1996.
His appointment represents another step forward in diversifying Georgia’s legal leadership and providing representation for the state’s growing Asian-American community.
