The Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) recommended the following four candidates to Gov. Brian Kemp (R) for consideration to succeed retired Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Behnam:
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- Judge Carla W. McMillian of the Georgia Court of Appeals
- Judge Verda Colvin of Bibb County Superior Court
- Judge Sara Doyle of the Georgia Court of Appeals
- Judge Shawn LaGrua of Fulton County Superior Court
Benham retired on March 1, 2020. Twenty-two candidates submitted applications to the JNC, which interviewed nine before selecting its four recommendations. The JNC consists of 18 members who are appointed by the governor.
Under Georgia law, if a vacancy appears on the Georgia Supreme Court, the position is filled by assisted appointment. The governor chooses an appointee from a list of candidates compiled by the JNC. The interim judge must run in the next general election held at least six months after the appointment, and, if confirmed by voters, he or she may finish the rest of the predecessor’s term.
Benham’s replacement will be Kemp’s first nominee to the nine-member state supreme court.
Additional reading: Robert Benham Georgia Supreme Court Judicial selection in Georgia Georgia judicial elections Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission
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