Just as Gov. Nathan Deal named a new Superior Court Judge in the Pataula Judicial Circuit, his Judicial Nominating Commission sent him the names of four candidates for consideration to fill two vacancies on the Ocmulgee Circuit’s Superior Court bench.

Deal named Early County State Court Judge Thomas Baxley to replace Judge Ronnie Joe Lane in the Pataula Circuit. Lane left the bench to become the new director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission.