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Wednesday, Jun. 03, 2009

Two with Macon ties among high court nominees

Nominations to replace Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears on the Georgia Supreme Court are due later this week, and so far 26 names have been submitted.

They include Macon attorney Steve Dillard and Georgia Court of Appeals Chief Judge Yvette Miller, who is from Macon. Nominations are due Thursday to the Judicial Nominating Commission, which will interview candidates this month in Atlanta and send a short list to Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Perdue will name his appointment to replace Sears, who is retiring. The governor’s appointee will finish out her term, which lasts through 2010. An election will be held next year to choose a new Georgia Supreme Court justice for a full six-year term.

The governor’s appointee won’t replace Sears as chief justice, but will be a member of the court. The justices themselves choose the court’s chief justice.

Dillard, a politically active Republican who co-chaired presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee’s campaign in the 8th Congressional District, said he was “honored” to be nominated by state Sen. Cecil Staton, R-Macon. But there are some big names on the nomination list, including Atlanta area U.S. Attorney David Nahmias and various current judges and district attorneys.

Said Dillard: “I think there are obviously some very talented people in the mix, but I felt like this was the right time.”

Anyone can nominate a candidate, and nominations should be sent to Judicial Nominating Commission Chairman Michael Bowers by Thursday at 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., NW, Suite 700, Atlanta, GA, 30308. They can also be faxed to (866) 547-3433 or sent by e-mail to bwatson@balch.com.

The 26 names received so far, according to Bowers’ office, are: Cynthia J. Becker, Michael P. Boggs, Stephen Louis A. Dillard, C. Wilson Dubose, Bruce Edenfield, Stephen B. Farrow, Barry A. Fleming, Thomas D. Harper, Patrick H. Head, Garland Hunt, James P. Kelly III, John K. Larkins Jr., Jeanette L. Little, Zena E. McClain, J. David McDade, Yvette M. Miller, David E. Nahmias, James R. Osbourne, Samuel D. Ozburn, William M. Ray II, Craig L. Schwall Sr., Ken J. Shigley Sr., Mary E. Staley, Benjamin W. Studdard III, Richard S. Thompson and Peggy H. Walker.

Sears, who announced her retirement this year, was the youngest Supreme Court chief justice in state history, as well as the first female. Nationwide she was the first black woman to obtain the position.

To contact writer Travis Fain, call 744-4213.