With litigation pending over whether Georgia Supreme Court Justice Keith Blackwell's job is really open for Gov. Brian Kemp to fill, the Judicial Nominating Commission has provided a shortlist of candidates to fill it.

Blackwell announced his resignation Feb. 28—the Friday before qualifying began on Monday for candidates in the 2020 elections. But he said he would stay until November. Two lawmakers who tried to qualify for the seat and were turned down—Athens attorney and former U.S. Rep. John Barrow and Beth Beskin, a partner at the Atlanta offices of Freeman Mathis & Gary—have tried to force Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to reinstate the election and reopen qualifying for Blackwell's seat. They argued the job is not really open until he leaves and should be on voting ballots as planned for May 19.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Emily Richardson rejected both petitions for writs of mandamus on March 16. Appeals are pending before the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the JNC moved quickly to take nominations and consider candidates. The governor now has a shortlist for that seat plus another on the Southern Judicial Circuit Superior Court, created by the resignation of Judge James G. Tunison, Jr. The JNC said Kemp's office will contact the candidates to schedule interviews.

The Supreme Court nominees are:

  • Sara L. Doyle – Georgia Court of Appeals judge.
  • Carlton LaTain "Tain" Kell – Cobb Judicial Circuit Superior Court judge.
  • Shawn Ellen LaGrua – Atlanta Judicial Circuit Superior Court judge.
  • J. Wade Padgett – Augusta Judicial Circuit Superior Court judge.
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The nominees for Southern Judicial Circuit Superior Court are:

  • Tracy K. Chapman – Southern Judicial Circuit assistant district attorney.
  • Christina "Tina" L. Folsom – Langdale Vallotton, of counsel.
  • Gregory A. Voyles – solo practitioner.