The Judicial Nominating Commission has chosen three finalists for the newly created fifth judgeship for the Alcovy Judicial Circuit:

• Lori B. Duff - Managing Partner, Jones & Duff, LLC

• Robert Stansfield - Partner, Greer, Stansfield, & Turner, LLP

• William "Ken" Wynne, Jr. - District Attorney, Alcovy Judicial Circuit

The next step will be for Governor Sonny Perdue to interview the final candidates and chose the next judge, spokesperson Bert Brantley said, but no timetable has yet been given. When the governor interviews the candidates, a current Superior Court judge from a different circuit and a state lawyer will also sit in if available.

"The governor takes these decisions very seriously and understands how important his role is to appoint judges. The JNC has clearly done a great job at looking at candidates," Brantley said.

See covnews.com for previous comments from the finalists.