Gov. Brian Kemp's Judicial Nominating Commission on Tuesday released the names of 56 judges and lawyers who completed application forms to be considered for an opening on the Court of Appeals of Georgia created by the August death of Judge Stephen Goss.

Vincent Russo, a JNC co-chairman, said the panel would select some of the candidates for interviews set for Nov. 18. A recommended shortlist of nominees would then be forwarded to the governor for his first appellate court appointment since taking office in January.

Presuming the governor does not make his decision almost immediately after the JNC interviews, the appointee to the appeals court will not have to face the May 19, 2020, election. An opinion of the state attorney general states that a new judge must face the first election that is more than six months after his or her appointment. So Kemp's appointment likely will face the voters in 2022. giving her or him more than two years to establish a base of support and a record on the court.