The inscription behind the Georgia Court of Appeals bench. (Courtesy photo/Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts)
The chain reaction set off by Justice Robert Benham’s announcement last week that he would retire months earlier than expected includes four Court of Appeals candidates suspending their campaigns, two vowing to stay in and one delaying their decision.
Eight lawyers had signed up to run for what they expected would be an open seat because Presiding Judge Sara Doyle was running for Benham’s Supreme Court seat in the May 2020 election. But Benham on Dec. 5 said he would resign March 1. That gave Gov. Brian Kemp the opportunity to choose Benham’s replacement, ending the race among Doyle and three other announced candidates.
