The state Judicial Nominating Commission has chosen to interview 26 of 56 applicants for an open Court of Appeals seat, intending on recommending a shortlist of candidates to Gov. Brian Kemp.

Kemp's selection, replacing the late Judge Stephen Goss, would run for election in 2022. Interviews were scheduled for Nov. 18.

The commission listed the 26 names of interviewees on its website; the Daily Report has identified 14 nominees who are sitting judges. They are:

  • Neera A. Bahl
  • William Wright Banks
  • Elizabeth Baum
  • Tabitha Ponder Beckford
  • Nancy Nash Bills, judge, Rockdale County State Court
  • Christopher S. Brasher, judge, Fulton County Superior Court
  • Jimmie H. Brown, judge, Sumter County Superior Court
  • Carolyn C. "Tippi" Burch
  • David L. Cannon Jr., judge, Blue Ridge Circuit Superior Court
  • Jonathan K. Chason, judge, South Georgia Superior Court
  • John W. Daniel
  • Kimberly Burroughs Debrow
  • Thomas Mills Fleming
  • Dustin W. Hightower, judge, Coweta Circuit Superior Court
  • Benjamin A. Land, judge, Chattahoochee Circuit Superior Court
  • Luke A. Lantta
  • Meng Lim, judge, Tallapoosa Circuit Superior Court
  • Katherine K. Lumsden, judge, Houston Circuit Superior Court
  • John T. "Trea" Pipkin, judge, Henry County Superior Court
  • Naveen Ramachandrappa
  • Randolph G. Rich,  judge, Gwinnett County Superior Court
  • Bradford L. Rigby
  • Lawton E. Stephens,  judge, Western Circuit Superior Court
  • Mack Taylor
  • James G. Tunison, judge, Southern Circuit Superior Court
  • Paige R. Whitaker, judge, Fulton County Superior Court