Georgia judge nominees include good mix of legal expertise

Thirty-eight of the 48 judges and lawyers nominated to be Georgia's next Supreme Court justice have applied for the job, the state Judicial Nominating Commission said.

Those vying for a seat on the high court bench include a good mix of trial judges, prosecutors, lawmakers, state officials and civil attorneys.

The judicial panel, chaired by Atlanta lawyer and former state Attorney General Mike Bowers, will conduct interviews with each of the candidates on June 29 and 30 at the State Bar of Georgia headquarters. The commission will then send Gov. Sonny Perdue a short list of recommendations.

Perdue's appointee will succeed Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, who is retiring from the court at the end of the month.

Those applying to be the next state Supreme Court justice are:

Superior Court Judge Lynn Akeley-Alderman of the Enotah Judicial Circuit (Towns and Union counties)

Georgia Inspector General Elizabeth P. Archer

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Cynthia J. Becker

Bainbridge lawyer Joshua C. Bell

Atlanta lawyer Al Bridges

Cheryl Custer, executive director of the state Judicial Qualifications Commission

Macon lawyer Stephen Louis A. Dillard

C. Wilson DuBose, chairman of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council

Dahlonega lawyer Bruce M. Edenfield

Superior Court Judge Christopher C. Edwards of the Griffin Judicial Circuit (Fayette, Pike, Spalding and Upson counties)

Stephen B. Farrow, member of the state transportation board

Rome lawyer David Guldenschuh

State Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton)

Atlanta lawyer Thomas D. Harper

Cobb County District Attorney Pat Head

Garland Hunt, member of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles

Atlanta lawyer James P. Kelly III

Atlanta lawyer John K. Larkins Jr.

Troup County State Court Judge Jeannette Little

Assistant Fulton County District Attorney Marc Mallon

Douglas County District Attorney David McDade

Decatur lawyer Christopher J. McFadden

U.S. Attorney David Nahmias

Assistant Cobb County District Attorney Dana Norman

Paulding County Superior Court Judge James Osborne

Superior Court Judge Samuel Ozburn of the Alcovy Judicial Circuit (Newton and Walton counties)

Atlanta lawyer J. Robert Persons

State Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge)

Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge William Ray II

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall Sr.

Atlanta lawyer Ken J. Shigley Sr.

Atlanta lawyer George Shingler

Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley

Henry County State Court Judge Ben W. Studdard III

Assistant Gwinnett County District Attorney Dawn Taylor

Atlanta lawyer Rocco Testani

Douglas County Juvenile Court Judge Peggy Walker