Judicial Nominating Commission Recommends Applicants to Fill Judicial Vacancies

Atlanta - Governor Perdue's Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) submitted recommendations to fill State Court vacancies in Fulton and Hall Counties and Superior Court vacancies in the Augusta and Towaliga Judicial Circuits.

"I appreciate the hard work and tremendous amount of time invested by the members of the Commission," said Governor Perdue. "The collective insight of the Commission is invaluable. I look forward to reviewing the Commission's recommendations."

House Bill 446 signed by Governor Perdue on May 14, 2003, created a new Fulton County State Court position to be filled by the Governor. The following applicants were recommended to Governor Perdue:

• Christopher Brasher - Senior Assistant Attorney General, State of Georgia Department of Law
• David N. Schaeffer - Partner, Kidd & Vaughan, LLP
• Craig L. Schwall - Presiding Magistrate Judge of Fulton County
• John M. Turner - Chief Trial Attorney, State Court Division, Fulton County Conflict Defender, and
• Andrette Watson - Assistant District Attorney, DeKalb County

House Bill 836 signed by Governor Perdue on June 3, 2003 created a new Hall County State Court position to be filled by the Governor. The following applicants were recommended to Governor Perdue:

• B.E. Roberts, III - Chief Magistrate of Hall County
• Ann Shuler - Partner, Stephens and Shuler, and
• Robert A. "Bo" Weber, Jr. - Partner- Smith, Gilliam, Williams & Miles

The JNC submitted applicants for the Superior Court vacancy in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. The vacancy was created by Judge Robert L. Algood's resignation effective July 1, 2003. The following applicants were recommended to Governor Perdue:

• Michael Annis - Partner, Huguenin & Annis
• Danny Craig - District Attorney, Augusta Judicial Circuit
• Sheryl Jolly - Office of Solicitor-General of Richmond County
• William Sams - Sole Practitioner, and
• Jim Wall - County Attorney, Richmond County; Partner- Burnside, Wall, Daniel, Ellison & Revell

The JNC submitted applicants for the Superior Court vacancy in the Towaliga Judicial Circuit. The vacancy was created by Judge Byron Smith's resignation effective July 1, 2003. The following applicants were recommended to Governor Perdue:

• Bill Fears - Sole Practitioner
• Norman Smith - Sole Practitioner, and
• Kevin Wangerin - Bullard, Moody, Garcia & Wangerin