Gov. Nathan Deal appointed three new judges—including one for the Georgia Court of Appeals—and a solicitor general Friday.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge D. Todd Markle will fill the vacancy on the Court of Appeals, Deal announced Friday. Markle will step into the place of Judge Billy Ray, appointed by President Donald Trump to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Ray already has begun work in federal court.

Markle previously served as the governor's executive counsel. Markle earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University.

Also Friday, Deal filled three other openings.

Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit Juvenile Court Judge Mark Murphy will move up to the Superior Court to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Michael Murphy. Murphy earned a bachelor's degree from Georgia Tech and a law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law.

Pandora Palmer will fill the vacancy in the State Court of Henry County created by the resignation of the Judge James Chafin III. Palmer is a solo in McDonough. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law.

J. Skye Gess will fill the solicitor general vacancy within the State Court of Baldwin County created by the passing of the Judge Maxine Blackwell Gonzalez. Gess is an assistant district attorney for the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University.

The appointments will take effect upon swearing in.