Three of the eight candidates vying for what was initially an open Court of Appeals seat are actively staying in the race, in which they now face the incumbent, Presiding Judge Sara Doyle.

Tabitha Ponder Beckford's campaign told supporters by email Monday that Justice Robert Benham's announcement that he'll leave the state Supreme Court earlier than expected "has created a domino effect in our race that makes it unclear what will happen next year with regards to our Court of Appeals race, but I want to continue to build momentum as I strongly believe this race is far from over."

Beckford, a staff attorney for the state Judicial Council's standing Access to Justice Committee, is also on a short list for a separate Court of Appeals seat to be filled Gov. Brian Kemp.

If she does not get that nod, she'll face Doyle and at least two other candidates in the May election for Doyle's seat. They are Bennett Bryan, who heads appellate litigation for the DeKalb County Law Department, and Kimberly Bourroughs Debrow, a DeKalb County senior assistant district attorney, who both said last week they were staying in the race.

Mediator Judy Farrington Aust, of counsel at Goodman McGuffey, said last week she was suspending her fundraising and spending but added she "will reevaluate when the picture is a bit clearer." She told the Daily Report this week that she would end her campaign.

Four other candidates have already suspended their campaigns: Audrey Berland, a business litigator with Ichter Davis; Lee Kynes, an appellate attorney; Nicole Leet, an insurance defense litigator with Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske; and Lyndsey Rudder, a Fulton County deputy district attorney.