Nathan Deal to pick from 11 finalists for three appeals court slots
Gov. Nathan Deal wants to add two justices to the Georgia Supreme Court next year. But first he must tap three judges to the Court of Appeals by the end of this year.
More than 100 attorneys applied for the sought-after gig after lawmakers agreed to expand the court from 12 to 15 judges. The Judicial Nominating Commission whittled the list down to 11 finalists after the latest round of interviews on Monday.
Among the contenders are six superior court judges - two from Atlanta - a state court judge, a veteran litigator and a north Georgia prosecutor who was recently appointed by Deal to the state's medical marijuana commission.
Also on the list are two attorneys with ties to Attorney General Sam Olens: Britt Grant, the AG's Solicitor General, and Nels Peterson, a Board of Regents vice chancellor who was one of Olens' top deputies.
- Joe C. Bishop – Chief Superior Court Judge, Pataula Judicial Circuit
- Ural D. Glanville – Superior Court Judge, Atlanta Judicial Circuit
- Britt C. Grant – Solicitor General, Office of the Attorney General
- Stephen D. Kelley – Superior Court Judge, Brunswick Judicial Circuit
- Amanda D. Mercier – Superior Court Judge, Appalachian Judicial Circuit
- Nels S.D. Peterson – Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs & Secretary to the Board of Regents, University System of Georgia
- Eric A. Richardson – State Court Judge, Fulton County
- Brian M. Rickman – District Attorney, Mountain Judicial Circuit
- Charles L. Ruffin – Shareholder and partner, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
- Lawton E. Stephens – Superior Court Judge, Western Judicial Circuit
- Gail S. Tusan – Superior Court Judge, Atlanta Judicial Circuit
About the Author
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
