Gov. Brian Kemp's Judicial Nominating Commission has launched the process to replace Justice Robert Benham, who last month upended two appellate court campaigns by announcing he'd retire from the bench earlier than planned.

Kemp's JNC Wednesday invited the public to nominate people for consideration. "Nominations should be submitted to the Commission either by email at [email protected] or by letter addressed to: Judicial Nominating Commission, c/o Vincent Russo, 500 14th Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30318," the announcement said. The JNC requested that nominators include a current email address for anyone nominated.

The deadline for nominations is Feb. 7, with applications due to the commission by Feb. 21.

Some applicants will be chosen for interviews, the announcement said, adding, "The Commission will select and recommend to the Governor a short list from those applicants interviewed and found to be 'qualified' or 'well qualified' for this position."

Benham had indicated last year that he would finish his term, which ends Dec. 31, prompting four candidates to start campaigning for the rare open seat on the high court. One candidate was Presiding Judge Sara Doyle of the Georgia Court of Appeals, prompting eight candidates to launch campaigns for her seat.

With Benham's announcement that he'd resign on March 1, the race for his seat vanished, leaving Kemp's appointment as the only path to Benham's seat for Doyle and the three other candidates: former Rep. John Barrow, D-Georgia; former state Rep. Beth Beskin, R-Atlanta; and Judge Horace Johnson of Alcovy Circuit Superior Court. They would have to apply for JNC consideration, along with anyone else who is nominated.

Doyle has said, if she is not chosen for the Supreme Court, she will run for her current seat on the Court of Appeals. Only two of the original eight candidates for the open seat have said they will stay in the race: Bennett Bryan, who heads appellate litigation for the DeKalb County Law Department, and Tabitha Ponder Beckford, a staff attorney for the state Judicial Council's standing Access to Justice Committee.

Beckford also is on a JNC shortlist for a separate Court of Appeals seat to be filled by Kemp.