Deal names Ray, Branch to fill Appeals Court vacancies

Gov. Nathan Deal on Wednesday picked a Gwinnett County judge and an Atlanta lawyer to fill vacancies on the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Superior Court Judge William "Billy" Ray, a former state legislator, will replace Keith Blackwell, whom Deal recently elevated to the Georgia Supreme Court. Elizabeth Branch, a partner with the firm Smith, Gambrell & Russell, wil replace Charles Mikell, who recently told Deal he plans to retire from the bench on Aug. 31.