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At least nine lawyers and judges nominated to become candidates for judicial appointment are now under review for vacancies on the Atlanta and Cherokee judicial circuit superior court benches. JaDawnya Baker, Alice Benton, Edward Chase, David Emadi, Arnold Ragas, Christopher Ward and LaToya Williams have been nominated to become judicial candidates in the running for gubernatorial appointment to the Fulton County Superior Court. And Samir Patel and Jesse Vaughn have been nominated to become judicial candidates under consideration for a vacancy on the Cherokee Judicial Circuit that services Bartow and Gordon counties.

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Slideshow: Click to Learn the Nominees' Legal Roles

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Feedback Sought 'in the Strictest Confidence'

Tasked with researching judicial applicants and reporting its findings to the Judicial Nominating Commission of Georgia, the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers' Judicial Applicant Review Committee sought feedback on each of the nominees from those "familiar with" them. "Your feedback is very important. You must provide a basis for any candidate you rank as qualified or not qualified," read a pair of emailed committee notices announcing the nominated candidates. "If you do not provide comments to substantiate a qualified or not qualified individual, your feedback will not be considered by the committee. All feedback is kept in the strictest confidence." After also offering an opportunity for email recipients to provide their assessment through a confidential phone call, the Judicial Applicant Review Committee closed the feedback window on the evening of Oct. 2. The Judicial Nominating Commission of Georgia is expected to cultivate a shortlist of candidates for the Atlanta and Cherokee judicial circuit vacancies after considering the feedback collected on the nominated candidates and any additional applicants.