38 applicants for seat on state Supreme Court

ATLANTA - Of the 47 people nominated for a seat on the state Supreme Court, 38 of them followed through and actually applied for the job.

Seven of the original group were from northeast Georgia or have northeast Georgia ties. Six of them are still in the running for the post to be vacated later this year when Chief Justice Leah Sears Ward retires.

They are: Superior Court Judge Lynn Akeley-Alderman of the Enotah Judicial Circuit, which includes Towns and Union counties; Dahlonega attorney Bruce M. Edenfield; state Department of Transportation board member Stephen B. Farrow, who represents the 9th Congressional District which includes Gainesville and other parts of northeast Georgia; State Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge); and Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge William Ray II; and Assistant Gwinnett County District Attorney Dawn Taylor.

The others are (according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution):

Georgia Inspector General Elizabeth P. Archer

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Cynthia J. Becker

Bainbridge lawyer Joshua C. Bell

Atlanta lawyer Al Bridges

Cheryl Custer, executive director of the state Judicial Qualifications Commission

Macon lawyer Stephen Louis A. Dillard

C. Wilson DuBose, chairman of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council

Superior Court Judge Christopher C. Edwards of the Griffin Judicial Circuit (Fayette, Pike, Spalding and Upson counties)

Rome lawyer David Guldenschuh

State Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton)

Atlanta lawyer Thomas D. Harper

Cobb County District Attorney Pat Head

Garland Hunt, member of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles

Atlanta lawyer James P. Kelly III

Atlanta lawyer John K. Larkins Jr.

Troup County State Court Judge Jeannette Little

Assistant Fulton County District Attorney Marc Mallon

Douglas County District Attorney David McDade

Decatur lawyer Christopher J. McFadden

U.S. Attorney David Nahmias

Assistant Cobb County District Attorney Dana Norman

Paulding County Superior Court Judge James Osborne

Superior Court Judge Samuel Ozburn of the Alcovy Judicial Circuit (Newton and Walton counties)

Atlanta lawyer J. Robert Persons

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall Sr.

Atlanta lawyer Ken J. Shigley Sr.

Atlanta lawyer George Shingler

Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley

Henry County State Court Judge Ben W. Studdard III

Atlanta lawyer Rocco Testani

Douglas County Juvenile Court Judge Peggy Walker

Bibb County Magistrate Judge Erica Woodford