(l-r) Carolyn "Tippi" Cain Burch, sole practitioner and owner of The Burch Firm; Jeremy U. Littlefield, member and co-founder of Robbins Alloy Belinfante Littlefield; Judge Shondeana Crews Morris of the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court; Judge J. Wade Padgett of the Columbia Judicial Circuit Superior Court; and Judge Jeffrey A. Watkins of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit Superior Court. (Courtesy photos)

Three Superior Court judges and two lawyers are in the running to become the next judge to join the Georgia Court of Appeals bench. The Judicial Nominating Commission of Georgia has released its shortlist of candidates from which Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to fill a vacancy created by the death of Judge Clyde L. Reese in December. The shortlisted candidates include sole practitioner Carolyn "Tippi" Cain Burch of The Burch Firm in Columbus, Robbins Alloy Belinfante Littlefield co-founder and litigator Jeremy U. Littlefield of Atlanta, Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Shondeana Crews Morris, Columbia Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge J. Wade Padgett and Cherokee Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Jeffrey A. Watkins.

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Scroll Through The Judicial Candidates

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After receiving nominations from 113 judicial candidates in February, the JNC offered interviews to 19 candidates. Of them, Burch, Littlefield, Morris, Padgett and Watkins remain in the running to become the state's newest intermediate appellate judge. However, it's not yet clear when the governor will make the appointment. |

Read more: 113 Jurists Vying to Become Judge of Georgia Court of Appeals: See Who's on the List