Lawyers well-versed in political law are giving mixed reviews to a suit challenging Gov. Nathan Deal’s authority to fill by appointment three new judgeships on the Georgia Court of Appeals.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday, seeks to stop the swearing-in of Deal’s appointees, Amanda Mercier, Nels Peterson and Brian Rickman. The plaintiffs are a former Macon city commissioner, a minister and three attorneys, including Georgia NAACP President Francys Johnson.