Judge Carla McMillian of Tyrone on short list for Ga. Supreme Court

Former Fayette State Court Judge Carla Wong McMillian of Tyrone is on the governor’s short list for an open seat on the Georgia Supreme Court, the top court in the state.

Judge McMillian currently is Vice Chief Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals. She was one of four finalists — all women — on the list given to Gov. Brian Kemp by the Judicial Nominating Commission.

She was first appointed to a vacancy on the State Court of Fayette County in 2010 by then-Gov. Sonny Perdue. She was then elected to a full term on that court in 2012 with 66 percent of the vote.

A year later, Gov. Nathan Deal appointed her to the Court of Appeals. On her resume, Judge McMillian said she was the first Asian-American to be elected to statewide office as a result of her uncontested election in 2014.

Judge McMillian is running for reelection to her Appeals Court post in the May 19 nonpartisan election.

She lives with her family in Tyrone.

The vacancy comes after the retirement of Justice Robert Benham, who was the court’s first African American member.

The other three finalists are Verda Colvin, Sara Doyle and Shawn LaGrua.