Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Christopher Brasher has made plans to retire Dec. 1 — setting off a chain of events that will undo the upcoming election and hand the job over for Gov. Brian Kemp to fill.

Brasher, 56, notified Kemp in a resignation letter dated Jan. 28. Brasher asked that his resignation be accepted immediately but made effective Dec. 1. Brasher’s current term ends this year, and he would have been up for re-election in the May primary. He told the Daily Report Tuesday that he expects the timing of his announcement so close to the judicial elections will give Kemp the opportunity to appoint his successor.