ATLANTA (AP) – The Georgia House on Thursday approved Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposal to add two justices to the Supreme Court, potentially giving the Republican governor a lasting impact on the state’s highest court.
Georgia’s Constitution already permits up to nine justices, but state law provides for seven.
Under the bill, Deal would appoint justices to fill the new high court seats. If the proposal becomes law, Deal will have appointed at least five justices by the time he leaves office at the end of 2018.
Two sitting justices are expected to retire before Deal’s term ends, because Georgia’s Constitution requires that justices retire by age 75 or risk their retirement benefits. Court spokeswoman Jane Hansen said Tuesday that Chief Justice Hugh Thompson would need to retire by July 2018 and Presiding Justice P. Harris Hines by September 2018.
Deal also appointed Justice Keith Blackwell to the court in 2012.