Officials narrowing list of candidates for 5th Superior Court judge in Hall, Dawson counties

A short list of names for a new Superior Court judgeship in the judicial circuit that includes Hall and Dawson counties was expected to go to Governor Nathan Deal's office Thursday, an official said.

 

The Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission interviewed seven candidates for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit position on Wednesday, according to Dana McGuire, a contact for the commission.

 

In an email to AccessWDUN, McGuire identified the candidates as William C. Akins, Larry A. Baldwin, II, Clinton Bearden, Lindsay Burton, Michelle Hall, Edward L. Hartness and Shiv Sachdeva.

 

"Only the Governor’s office makes the short list public," she added.

 

In the field of seven, there are four current judges. Baldwin is a State Court judge in Hall County, Burton serves as Chief Juvenile Court judge, Bearden is Associate Judge of Dawson County Majistrate Court and Hall presides over Flowery Branch Municipal Court.

 

Prior to his appointment to the bench in 2008, Baldwin was elected Solicitor-General for State Court in 2004.

 

Burton, appointed to the bench in 2013, was previously Chief Assistant D.A. in the circuit.

 

Hall, a former prosecutor, also works in DUI defense, divorce law, family law and criminal defense, according to her practice website. She ran for State Court in Hall County last year and was defeated by John Breakfield.

 

Two of the candidates currently serve as Assistant District Attorneys in Hall and Dawson counties. They are William C. Akins and Shiv Sachdeva.

 

Edward L. Hartness is a Gainesville attorney.  His firm covers areas ranging from business law to domestic violence cases.

 

Bearden, a native of Dawson County, is in law practice with Georgia's Speaker of the House, David Ralston. In addition to general practice, Bearden serves as Vice Chairman of the Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority, according to his firm's website.

 

The fifth judgeship was created earlier this year by the Georgia Legislature when it approved HB 138. Deal will appoint a judge for the initial two-year term which begins in January.

 

Members of the bar and the public were allowed to submit nominations for the appointment. Bar members were also allowed to submit their own names to the commission.