Gov. Nathan Deal (Photo: Photo: Chris Rank/Bloomberg) Gov. Nathan Deal (Photo: Photo: Chris Rank/Bloomberg)

The vacancy was created when the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Billy Ray for a federal court seat.

The JNC provided short lists for open seats on the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. The remaining candidates on those lists include: W. Wright Banks, deputy attorney general in the Georgia Department of Law; state Senate Majority Leader William S. Cowsert of Cowsert & Heath in Athens; Judge Melanie B. Cross of the Tifton Judicial Circuit; Judge Asha F. Jackson of the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit; Judge Ural Glanville of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit; Judge C. LaTain Kell Sr. of the Cobb Judicial Circuit; Judge Shawn Ellen LaGrua of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit; Joyce Gist Lewis of Shingler Lewis in Atlanta; Judge Todd Markle of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit; Emily K. Richardson, assistant district attorney in the Douglas Judicial Circuit; James C. Thornton of Thornton & Graham in LaGrange; Judge Gail S. Tusan of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit; Christopher P. Twyman of Cox, Byington, Twyman & Johnson in Rome; state Rep. Andrew J. Welch III, R-McDonough, of Smith, Welch, Webb & White; and Judge Paige Reese Whitaker of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit.