Gov. Nathan Deal (Photo: John Disney/ ALM)

Even as Gov. Nathan Deal swears in his last pick for the Georgia Supreme Court on Tuesday, short lists await on his desk for three more open judicial positions around the state.

The Judicial Nominating Commission has sent the governor seven names on three short lists for openings that remain. The vacancies are in the Superior Courts of the Flint and Piedmont Judicial Circuits and the State Court of Dougherty County in the South Georgia city of Albany. Those chosen will add to what is already a record number of judicial appointments made by one governor. Deal already has named five justices for the Supreme Court and 15 judges for the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Despite his record influence, the governor's choices have diluted the diversity of the high court. Deal's two terms as governor will see the Supreme Court go from two women and two African-Americans out of seven to one woman and two African-Americans of nine. Deal has increased the representation of women on the Court of Appeals. But there again, he has diluted the influence of African-Americans by adding more whites.

The governor created many of those appointment opportunities for himself, expanding the high court by two justices and the intermediate court by three. He also made effective use of the two-for-one technique by moving judges up and then replacing them at their lower court level—as he did when he moved Charlie Bethel from the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court. Deal then chose Rep. Chris Coomer of Cartersville, his floor leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, to replace Bethel. (Bethel also was Deal's floor leader in the Georgia Senate before Deal put Bethel on the bench last year.)

Despite Deal's skill at rewarding political loyalty, he takes pride in his efforts to promote judges committed to criminal justice reform, particularly accountability courts that offer offenders a path to avoid prison with treatment, counseling, public service and job requirements.

“I've had the opportunity to appoint more judges than any other governor in the state of Georgia,” Deal told the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers at a recent gathering in downtown Atlanta. “I assure you, I'm making sure they understand this is an important public policy issue.”

The vacancies Deal will fill next in the Flint and Piedmont Judicial Circuits were created by the resignations of Judges Arch McGarity and David Motes, respectively, the JNC announced. The vacancy on the Dougherty County State Court came when Deal appointed Judge Victoria Darrisaw to the Dougherty Judicial Circuit Superior Court.

The JNC said the governor's office will contact these candidates to schedule interviews.

Flint Judicial Circuit

• Sheryl Drake Freeman, senior deputy chief assistant district attorney, Clayton County District Attorney's Office

• Pandora E. Palmer, owner/solo practitioner, Pandora E. Palmer

• Holly W. Veal, associate judge, Henry County Magistrate Court; solo practitioner, The Veal Law Firm

Piedmont Judicial Circuit

• Nicholas Primm, partner, Bradford & Primm

• Wanda L. Barnett – solo practitioner, Wanda L. Barnett and Associates

Dougherty County State Court

• Leisa G. Johnson, chief public defender, Dougherty Judicial Circuit

• John M. Stephenson Sr., judge, Magistrate Court of Dougherty County