(Credit: MQ-Illustrations/Adobe Stock)
The Judicial Nominating Commission of Georgia has shortlisted nine candidates to fill judgeships in the Atlantic, Coweta, Dougherty and Macon judicial circuits. Now two judges and seven attorneys are in the running for gubernatorial appointment to superior court benches. With the exception of the Macon Judicial Circuit, from which Chief Judge Howard Z. Simms resigned, the remaining circuits are gaining judgeships as a result of legislation passed during the 2023 session of the Georgia General Assembly.
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Scroll Through Slideshow to See Shortlisted Judicial Candidates

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Atlantic Judicial Circuit

In the Atlantic Judicial Circuit that encompasses Bryan, Evans, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Tattnall counties, a judge and two lawyers are being considered for a seat on the circuit's superior court bench. The JNC shortlisted McIntosh County State Court Judge C. Jean Bolin alongside Liberty County Solicitor General Mark A. Hendrix and Jonathan A. Porter, a Husch Blackwell partner who's listed as being based in Washington, D.C.   |

Coweta Judicial Circuit

In the Coweta Judicial Circuit made up of Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether and Troup counties, Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to pick between a pair of prosecutors to fill a newly created judgeship. According to an announcement by the JNC, Coweta Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant District Attorney C. Jephson Bendinger and Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Sarah Stimac Japour have been recommended as judicial candidates for appointment consideration.

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Diversity Scarce Among 16 Judges Appointed so Far in 2023

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Dougherty Judicial Circuit

Servicing only Dougherty County, the Dougherty Judicial Circuit may soon welcome solo practitioner and mediator Joseph W. Dent to its superior court bench. As of Sept. 14, Dent stood alone as the sole judicial candidate shortlisted by the JNC for the judgeship created by legislation passed during the 2023 session of the Georgia General Assembly.   |

Macon Judicial Circuit

Macon Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Howard Z. Simms. (Courtesy photo)
Meanwhile in the Macon Judicial Circuit, the resignation of Simms has created an opening on the superior court bench that services Bibb, Crawford and Peach counties. After 13 years of superior court service, he retired in July, according to a court announcement. "My favorite part about all of these years was the people that I got to know and the people who I will always remember and think the world of," said Simms in the court announcement. As the announcement detailed his plans to trade "his judge's robe for his golf shoes and clubs" with plans of "dedicating as much time as possible to the game ... on as many courses as possible," the JNC's announcement highlighted three candidates in the running to fill Simms' vacancy on the bench. Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge Sharon H. Reeves and Macon attorneys Kevin B. Hicks and Kenneth R. Smith are now being considered for appointment to the circuit bench. Kemp is expected to fill each vacancy with a shortlisted candidate after conducting additional interviews.