Forty-seven lawyers, judges, prosecutors and state lawmakers have been nominated to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court of Georgia.
The state Judicial Nominating Commission had set a Thursday deadline for nominations for a successor to Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, who is stepping down at the end of the month. Justice Carol Hunstein will be the court's new chief justice, but Gov. Sonny Perdue gets to fill Sears' open seat on the state high court bench.
Among those nominated were Yvette Miller, chief judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals; U.S. Attorney David Nahmias; state lawmakers David Ralston and Bill Hamrick; District Attorneys Pat Head and David McDade and numerous state court judges.
The nominees have until June 22 to decide whether to formally apply for the position. One has already declined his nomination —former state Attorney General Mike Bowers, who chairs the state Judicial Nominating Commission. The commission will conduct 20-minute interviews of each applicant on June 29 and 30. The panel will send a handful of recommendations to Perdue, who will then decide who will be Georgia's next justice.
The nominees 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
Superior Court Judge Michael P. Boggs of the six-county Waycross Judicial Circuit
Superior Court Judge Phil Brown of the Macon Judicial Circuit (Bibb, Crawford and Peach counties)
Atlanta lawyer Mike Bowers (Declined)
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
Anne Proffitt Dupre, University of Georgia law professor
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
Augusta lawyer Barry Fleming
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.
Dahlonega lawyer Steven Leibel
Peach County Magistrate Judge Laurens Lee
Troup County State Court Judge Jeannette Little
Assistant Fulton County District Attorney Marc Mallon
Savannah lawyer Zena McClain
Douglas County District Attorney David McDade
Decatur lawyer Christopher J. McFadden
Chief Judge Yvette Miller of the Georgia Court of Appeals
U.S. Attorney David Nahmias
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
Atlanta lawyer Richard S. Thompson
Douglas County Juvenile Court Judge Peggy Walker
Bibb County Magistrate Judge Erica Woodford
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