Gov. Nathan Deal

Gov. Nathan Deal's Judicial Nominating Commission has announced a March 16 deadline for the public to submit names of potential candidates for as many as four vacancies on the 15-member state Court of Appeals.

The panel set a March 30 deadline for applications for any candidates wishing to be considered for the positions.

The panel interviews applicants it considers “qualified” and submits a shortlist to the governor.

Three vacancies will exist soon—with the recent Senate confirmations of Judge Lisa Branch to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, Judge Tripp Self for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia in Macon and Judge Gary Andrews' announcement that he will retire in July.

Judge Billy Ray also is waiting on a confirmation vote for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta.

The panel, chaired by Randy Evans of Dentons and Pete Robinson of Troutman Sanders, noted that “only the persons in this nomination pool will be considered in filling the other additional vacancies. Additional nominations will not be solicited or accepted.”

Evans himself is awaiting a U.S. Senate confirmation vote for his nomination to be U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg.

More information on the application process can be found at the JNC website.