The inscription behind the Georgia Court of Appeals Bench. (Courtesy photo: Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts) The inscription behind the Georgia Court of Appeals bench. (Courtesy photo/Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts)

(See below for a correction notice.)

Six months before the November 2020 presidential election that already dominates the national news, Georgians will vote on a host of judgeships, including an open seat on the Court of Appeals.

Four lawyers have announced their candidacies for the spot being vacated by Presiding Judge Sara Doyle, who is running for the Supreme Court against former U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Georgia. That race has already drawn more than $500,000 in donations.

The Court of Appeals candidates have raised only a fraction of that amount and trail several incumbent appeals court judges who will face the voters—but so far, no announced opponents—in the May 19 election.

The lawyers seeking Doyle’s seat are general practitioner Tabitha Ponder Beckford, business litigator Audrey Berland, prosecutor Kimberly Bourroughs Debrow and insurance defense litigator Nicole Leet.

Campaign disclosure reports for funds raised through June 30 showed that Leet and Beckford had each raised over $20,500—with Leet holding $20,415 on hand and Beckford holding $17,900.

Leet, a partner at Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske in Atlanta, touted her background litigating in the trial and appellate courts. ”I’ll bring that day-to-day experience to the Court of Appeals,” said Leet, who has served as president of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.

Leet graduated from Cumberland Law School at Samford University.

Beckford, a founder of the Ponder Law Group, noted her work on the Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee. She is from Moultrie and is familiar with the dearth of lawyers in rural areas.

Her work in that area has broadened her experience, she said: “Practicing law in rural areas, you tend to work in various areas of the law.”

She graduated from Walter S. George Law School at Mercer University.

Berland, whose LinkedIn profile says she is a counsel at Ichter Davis, said she had not yet formally kicked off her campaign. She did not report any funds raised.

Noting she has practiced for nearly 25 years, Berland said ”I have had the opportunity to represent clients on both sides of the ‘V’—including Fortune 500 companies, small businesses and individuals.”

Debrow, a senior assistant district attorney in DeKalb County, also did not report raising money, but her campaign is chaired by Leah Ward Sears, the former state Supreme Court chief justice whose races required large fundraising efforts. Debrow helped Sears build her first private appellate practice after leaving the bench.

“I have the background and experience that can help the bench,” said Debrow, who is president-elect of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys.

Of the incumbents at the Court of Appeals judges running in 2020, four report having raised funds.

Judge Elizabeth Gobeil had $77,278 on hand. Judge Todd Markle had $57,101 on hand. Judge Christian Coomer had $55,448 on hand. And Judge Trent Brown had $47,064 on hand.

Judge Stephen Goss did not report raising money.

Correction: The first version of this article misreported that Judge Todd Markle had not raised any money. His campaign raised more than $60,000 and has $57,101 on hand.