April 08, 2026
JNC recommends candidates for Superior Courts of the Atlanta and Atlantic Judicial Circuits
The Judicial Nominating Commission has submitted recommendations to fill vacancies within the Superior Courts of the Atlanta and Atlantic Judicial Circuits. The vacancies in the Superior Court of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit were created by the resignations of the Honorable Jane C. Barwick and the Honorable Shermela J. Williams. The vacancies in the Superior Court of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit were created by the resignations of the Honorable Glen A. Cheney and the Honorable Robert L. Russell.
Governor Kemp will fill the vacancies from among the lists. The Governor’s Office will contact candidates to schedule interviews.
The following names were submitted to Governor Kemp:
Atlanta Judicial Circuit
- David H. Emadi – Executive Director, State Ethics Commission
- Nicholas N. Joy – Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office
- Charlene S. McGowan – General Counsel, Office of the Georgia Secretary of State
- Debbie-Ann Rickman – Magistrate Judge, Fulton County Magistrate Court
Atlantic Judicial Circuit
- Christy Carroll Balbo – Juvenile Court Judge, Atlantic Judicial Circuit
- Charles B. Dixon – partner, Dixon & Lasseter, Attorneys at Law, P.C.
- Billy J. Nelson, Jr. – District Attorney, Atlantic Judicial Circuit