Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Todd Markle has joined the board of directors of Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice.

Appleseed is a nonprofit organization whose mission is "to increase justice in Georgia through law and policy reform and community engagement."

Markle's court tweeted the news of his involvement with Georgia Appleseed Tuesday, saying "his trial and appellate court experience adds value to the deep knowledge base of this state-wide nonprofit."

Markle was a Fulton County Superior Court judge until then-Gov. Nathan Deal appointed him to the Court of Appeals last December. Markle had previously served as chief legal adviser to Deal. He also served as an initial chairman of the Criminal Justice Reform Council, which made recommendations for reducing recidivism and helped launch the efforts that became a national model.

On the Georgia Appleseed board, Markle will serve alongside Georgia Supreme Court Presiding Justice David Nahmias, who was already a member of the board.

The board is chaired by Mary Benton of Alston & Bird. Brian Gordon of DLA Piper serves as vice chairman. Harold Franklin of King & Spalding is secretary.

"We seek a Georgia where the voices of poor people, children and marginalized people are heard and where injustices that no one should endure are resolved," Georgia Appleseed said on its website. "Our projects have inspired hundreds of lawyers and other volunteers to donate thousands of hours of service in objective legal and factual research and analysis; in report preparation; and in policy advocacy. We do not take on individual client representation. Rather we provide meaningful opportunities for lawyers to do pro bono work to advance systemic law and policy changes using a variety of legal skills in ways that will ultimately benefit a large number of people."

Georgia Appleseed is a member of the 18-center Appleseed network, founded nearly 25 years ago by the 35th reunion class of the Harvard Law School Class of 1958.