Judicial elections are nonpartisan by law, but party lines have been drawn anyway in the one statewide campaign to fill an opening on the Georgia Court of Appeals this year.

A campaign spokesman for Ken Shigley sent out a news release Tuesday promoting endorsements from Republicans and portraying opponent Ken Hodges as “a lifelong Democrat.”

The news release came from political consultant Brian Robinson, former spokesman for Gov. Nathan Deal, and quoted former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich praising Shigley in a television commercial running on the Fox News channel. The release said Gingrich is “joining a chorus of support from conservative” leaders. Also quoted is former Georgia GOP chair Sue Everhart calling Shigley's opponent a Democrat.

“He has run for office four times as a Democrat,” Everhart is quoted saying of Hodges. “I think the voters deserve to know the truth. I support Ken Shigley.”

Those four campaigns are no secret. One would be one for attorney general, when Hodges was the Democratic nominee and Sam Olens won as the Republican in the race. The others would be the three times Hodges was elected district attorney in Dougherty County, the location of his hometown, Albany. He is now a trial lawyer with offices in Albany and Atlanta.

The news release quotes Shigley saying, “I appreciate the support of these great leaders who have devoted much of their lives to serving Georgians. … As a judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals, I will demonstrate conservative values by applying the law not making the law, limiting myself to two terms and will not get a judicial pension under current law.”

Hodges said Tuesday that he has actively sought and earned support from people of all political views and backgrounds. Hodges said Shigley is “trying to politicize what is a nonpartisan race.” Hodges added, “I have endorsements from both sides.”

Hodges noted his campaign chair is Republican former U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss. His announced supporters include Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson and Republican district attorneys Vic Reynolds of Cobb County and Danny Porter of Gwinnett County. And Hodges has Democratic supporters, including former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes and former Attorney General Thurbert Baker.

Hodges and Shigley are competing to fill the opening created by the departure of Judge John Ellington, who is running unopposed for the opening on the Georgia Supreme Court created by the planned retirement of Justice Carol Hunstein.

The nonpartisan judicial elections will be held May 22, the same day as both parties' primaries for other races.