[caption id="attachment_144911" align="alignnone" width="767"](Clockwise, from top left) Amy E. Smith,Solicitor General, State Court of Houston County, T. Rabb Wilkerson, III, – trial attorney, T. Rabb Wilkerson, III, P.C., Joseph Stephen Clockwise from top left: Amy E. Smith, solicitor general, State Court of Houston County; T. Rabb Wilkerson III, trial attorney, T. Rabb Wilkerson III P.C.; Joseph Stephen "Trey" Bennett, general counsel and grants division director, Governor's Office of Planning and Budget; Judge Ralph W. Powell, State Court of Worth County and municipal courts for the cities of Poulan and Warwick and managing partner, Wilmot & Powell LLC; Chief Judge Render M. Heard Jr.,  – Juvenile Courts of the Tifton Judicial Circuit; and Sarah Griffie, chief assistant district attorney, Piedmont Judicial Circuit. (Courtesy photos)[/caption] Six finalists. Three judgeships. One decision-maker. The Judicial Nominating Commission for the state of Georgia has released shortlists of candidates from which Gov. Brian Kemp could fill several superior court vacancies. From judges and a district attorney to a solicitor general, general counsel and trial lawyer, the shortlisted candidates are in the running to fulfill openings in the Houston, Piedmont and Tifton judicial circuits.

Slideshow: Meet the Shortlisted Candidates

Houston Judicial Circuit

In central Georgia's Houston County, a new Superior Court vacancy follows the enactment of House Bill 992, which became effective July 1. After receiving six applications for the new judgeship, the JNC interviewed the half-dozen applicants on July 15. Two days later, the commission released a shortlist containing two candidates for the governor's appointment consideration. Houston County State Court Solicitor General Amy E. Smith and Warner Robins trial attorney T. Rabb Wilkerson III are now in the running for the new judgeship.

Piedmont Judicial Circuit

In northeast Georgia's Piedmont Judicial Circuit, a general counsel and circuit prosecutor are now in the running to replace Judge Wayne D. McLocklin when he retires on July 31. After interviewing all six candidates who applied for the impending judicial vacancy, the JNC released a shortlist containing two candidates for Kemp's appointment consideration. Now Joseph Stephen "Trey" Bennett III, who serves as general counsel and Grants Division director for the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, and Piedmont Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant District Attorney Sarah Griffie are in the running to become the next superior court judge to serve Banks, Barrow and Jackson counties.

Apply Now: State and Superior Court Judges Needed in These Courts

Appointed to the bench by former Gov. Nathan Deal in 2012, McLocklin's departure from the bench at the end of the month will put an end to nearly a dozen years of superior court service. [caption id="attachment_142350" align="alignright" width="200"]Judge Wayne D. McLocklin, piedmont judicial circuit. Courtesy photo Judge Wayne D. McLocklin, Piedmont Judicial Circuit. (Courtesy photo)[/caption] "For the past 11½ years, I have had the privilege, honor and pleasure of serving the people of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit and the state of Georgia as a superior court judge. I have been blessed to conclude my 40-year legal career with service in this position," McLocklin told the Daily Report in June. "I am looking forward to spending more time with my grandchildren, working with my family on our cattle farm, and I will continue to serve my community and state in any way possible." When McLocklin's retires on July 31, he'll be one of three jurists to depart the four-judge bench this year. However, unlike McLocklin, Chief Judge Currie Mingledorff II and Judge Joseph Booth opted to allow voters to elect their replacements during the May 21 nonpartisan primary election. Both Mingledorff and Booth will step down from the circuit bench at the conclusion of their current terms on Dec. 31, 2024.

Power Shift: Judicial Appointments Lag as Retiring Judges Commit to Full Terms

Tifton Judicial Circuit

In south central Georgia's Tifton Judicial Circuit that serves Irwin, Tift, Turner and Worth counties, a pair of jurists are in the running to fill a new superior court judgeship created by the enactment of House Bill 906, which became effective July 1. After receiving six applications for the new judgeship, the JNC interviewed each applicant on July 15 and shortlisted one-third of the candidates two days later. In addition to Tifton Judicial Circuit Juvenile Court Chief Judge Render M. Heard Jr., the JNC selected Worth County State Court Judge Ralph W. Powell—who also serves as a municipal court judge for the cities of Poulan and Warwick and managing partner at Wilmot & Powell in Tifton—for Kemp's appointment consideration.