Word came yesterday that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp will be appointing someone to fill the position of Superior Court Judge being left vacant by Judge Ralph VanPelt, who announced his resignation earlier this year.

The position would have been on the ballot this year, but with the resignation of VanPelt, the governor can appoint someone to fill the position for two years.  That means there will be no election for the voters to choose.  Instead, the governor will conduct a vetting process and appoint someone to sit on the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit.

Summerville Attorney and Walker County resident Melissa Gifford Hise had already begun campaigning for the positions.  Yesterday’s revelation that the governor would be appointing someone to fill the position means that she can apply for the appointment from the governor, but she can’t be voted on by the residents of Northwest Georgia.  Hise said on her campaign Facebook page, “I received a text (upon inquiry) from Governor Kemp that the nominations process is moving forward, and the matter of appointment has been sent to the Judicial Nominations Commission for applications. This means there will NOT be an election for Superior Court Judge for the seat of Ralph Van Pelt, Jr. I will have to apply for appointment instead of being elected. The appointment process is now open for anyone qualified for the job. I would appreciate your continued support.”

While a superior court judge is a nonpartisan positions, politics often play a big role on who runs for the office and in this case, who gets selected to fill the position.

The Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit comprises Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker Counties.  There are four superior court judges.  Currently those judges are: Judge Kristina Cook Graham, Judge Brian House, Judge Ralph VanPelt and Judge Don Thompson.

Judge Thompson’s position will be on the ballot this year.