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English nominated for Ga. Supreme Court

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Griffin Judicial Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Paschal English Jr. is among a growing list of candidates eyed to fill the seat of Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Norman Fletcher who retires June 30.

The 61-year-old Birmingham, Ala. native, who is affectionately called Pappy, was nominated to fill the treasured post by longtime associate and fellow Thomaston resident Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Johnnie Caldwell Jr., said Barbara Watson, executive assistant to Mike Bowers, the chairman of the Judicial Nominating Committee.

English, who won national fame when he competed during the “Survivor 4: Marquesas” television show in May 2003, said he is thrilled to be nominated.

“I’m honored,” said English when reached Monday at this Thomaston home. “I think it would be premature to say anything else.”

English most recently presided over the case of Holly Harvey, who pled guilty to murdering her grandparents. Caldwell presided over the case of Harvey’s accomplice, Sandy Ketchum.

A total of 22 people have been nominated to fill Fletcher’s seat. Nominations will be accepted until May 18. Officials hope to release a final list in eight days, Watson said.

Nominations were accepted in two different ways.

“In some cases, there were people who nominated themselves; or people were nominated by others, but to the commission it makes no difference,” Watson said.

The qualifications for the post are simple, “They have to be an attorney and they have to reside within the state of Georgia,” Watson added.

Once the list is final, commission officials will be scrambling to schedule interviews. Bowers will oversee that process.

Watson said the commission will have to make haste so that Gov. Sonny Perdue will have enough time to review the applications and make his decision in time for Fletcher’s June 30 retirement.

Other nominees are:

• Judge Cynthia J. Becker, Decatur.

• Judge G. Alan Blackburn, Atlanta.

• Judge Stephen E. Boswell, Jonesboro.

• Judge Neal W. Dickert, Evans.

• Joseph J. Drolet, Atlanta.

• C. Wilson DuBose, Madison.

• Stephen B. Farrow, Dalton.

• James B. (Jimmy) Franklin, Statesboro.

• Judge Denise Majette, Atlanta.

• Robert A. Maxwell, Atlanta.

• Judge Gary McCorvey, Tifton.

• Harold D. Melton, Atlanta.

• Judge Charles B. Mikell, Atlanta.

• Judge Sidney L. Nation, Conyers.

• H. Andrew Owen, Atlanta.

• Judge William M. (Billy) Ray, Lawrenceville.

• Ralph F. (Rusty) Simpson, Tifton.

• Judge J.D. Smith, Gainesville.

• L. Chandler Vreeland, Marietta.

• Judge Amanda F. Williams, Brunswick.

• Judge Michael Malihi.

Malihi and Vreeland have withdrawn their names from the nominee list, Watson said Tuesday.