Deal names his lawyer a Fulton County Superior Court judge

By Christopher Seward

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed his executive counsel to fill a vacancy on the Fulton County Superior Court.

D. Todd Markel of Atlanta will be sworn in within the next few weeks, the governor’s office said Wednesday.

Markel will fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Judge Michael D. Johnson, who stepped down last month to run for the 5th congressional seat now held by Democratic U.S. Rep. John Lewis.

Markel is a partner with the firm Mabry & McClelland. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Mercer University.