Rev. Garland Hunt is the new commissioner of Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice.

The state board unanimously appointed the Georgia pastor to the position on Wednesday. He was nominated by Gov. Sonny Perdue, R-Ga., on May 11.

Hunt is the vice president of Wellington Boone Ministries and is co-pastor of The Father's House Church in Norcross, Ga.

The new commissioner has a strong legal background. Hunt has been a staff attorney for the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and holds law degrees from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

He replaces Albert Murray, who served as the Peach State's juvenile justice commissioner for six years.