During the Three Governors Controversy, which court ruled that Thompson was the successor?

• A. The United States Supreme Court
• B. The Supreme Court of Georgia
• C. The Georgia General Assembly
• D. The Governor's Office

Answer: (B)

The question hinges on who has the authority to resolve a sudden, ambiguous succession in Georgia’s government. In this crisis, the state’s highest court interpreted the situation and determined that Melvin Thompson, as lieutenant governor, was the lawful successor to the governorship. The Georgia Constitution provides for the lieutenant governor to step in if the current governor can’t serve, and the Supreme Court of Georgia used that framework to settle who should hold the office. This ruling established a clear, judicially supported line of succession and helped restore orderly governance after the death of Eugene Talmadge before he could take office. The other bodies mentioned—like the U.S. Supreme Court or the Legislative branch acting alone—do not resolve state-level succession disputes in this way, which is why the Georgia Supreme Court is the correct answer.