In Georgia’s Southern Judicial Circuit, two attorneys vying to fill a vacancy created by the impending December retirement of Judge James Hardy will face off in a runoff election on June 21.

Having secured less than 50% plus one vote to win during the May 24 nonpartisan primary election, Catherine Mims Smith of the Southern Circuit District Attorney’s Office, who got 46.01% of the vote, according to the secretary of state’s office website, will be in a runoff against Valdosta attorney William Whitesell (34.62%) for the soon-to-be vacated superior court seat. The circuit includes Brooks, Colquitt, Echols, Lowndes and Thomas counties.