Although he

was the only judge of three finalists to fill a Superior Court Judge vacancy,

Fayette State Court Judge Fletcher Sams was passed over for the position

Barnes instead

selected Tommy Richard Hankinson, 54, of Thomaston to fill the post in

the Griffin Judicial Circuit being vacated by the retiring Chief Superior

Court Judge Ben J. Miller Jr. The circuit is comprised of Fayette, Pike,

Spalding and Upson counties.

Hankinson currently

practices law as a partner in the law firm of Adams, Barfield, Hankinson,

Evans and Miller, LLP in Thomaston. Previously, he served as a captain

in the Judge Advocate General's Corps in the U.S. Army.

Hankinson received

both undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia.

Miller, who

has been on the Superior Court bench since 1977, previously served as

District Attorney for the Griffin circuit when he was appointed July 1,

1969. Miller has indicated he plans to become a senior judge, which would

allow him to hear special cases throughout the state when necessary.

Barnes also

appointed A. Harris Adams to fill a pending vacancy on the Georgia Court

of Appeals. Adams, 54, of Marietta, is currently the chief judge of the

Cobb County State Court, where he has served for 18 years.