Gov. Nathan Deal on Thursday afternoon announced his appointments for three new positions on the Georgia Court of Appeals: Appalachian Circuit Superior Court Judge Amanda Mercier; Nels Peterson, the Georgia university system’s top lawyer; and Mountain Circuit District Attorney Brian Rickman.

The state Legislature this year created the three new judgeships. Their terms will begin Jan. 1, and the judges will have to face the voters in 2018 in order to keep their seats.