The Judicial Nominating Commission sent Gov. Nathan Deal a short list Tuesday of candidates to consider for openings on the Georgia Court of Appeals.

The Nominating Commission sent the governor 13 names after interviewing 40 candidates Monday. Those candidates came from an original 211 lawyers nominated before the March 16 deadline.

Deal has the option of choosing from the short list—or outside it—to fill openings created by the departures of those President Donald Trump has nominated to the federal bench: Judge Lisa Branch has moved to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit; Judge Tripp Self has filled a job on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia; and Judge Billy Ray has been nominated for the Northern District of Georgia—although Ray's confirmation is still pending.

Also, Judge Gary Andrews has announced he plans to retire.

The following names are on the short list submitted to the governor and posted on the JNC website:

• W. Wright Banks – deputy attorney general, Georgia Department of Law
• J.P. Boulee – judge, Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit
• E. Trenton Brown, III – judge, Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit
• Ural Glanville – judge, Atlanta Judicial Circuit
• Elizabeth Gobeil – judge, State Board of Workers' Compensation
• Stephen S. Goss – judge, Dougherty Judicial Circuit
• Shawn Ellen LaGrua – judge, Atlanta Judicial Circuit
• Joyce Gist Lewis – partner/managing member, Shingler Lewis
• Todd Markle – judge, Atlanta Judicial Circuit
• Emily K. Richardson – assistant district attorney, Douglas Judicial Circuit
• James C. Thornton – member, Thornton & Graham
• Gail S. Tusan – judge, Atlanta Judicial Circuit
• Christopher P. Twyman – partner, Cox, Byington, Twyman & Johnson