Who’s on the Bench: A Voter’s Guide to Judicial Candidates on the May Ballot

Most of us don’t spend a lot of time thinking about judicial races. There are no party labels, very little campaigning, and often very little information. Yet these are the people who will make decisions that affect property, liberty, and in some cases, life itself.

This guide is not an endorsement of any candidate. It is simply an effort to lay out who is on the ballot, what their professional background looks like, and how they got to where they are.

The information below is drawn from publicly available records and the May 2026 ballot . In some cases—particularly with challengers—public information is limited. Where that is the case, it is noted.

🏛️ Supreme Court of Georgia

Charlie Bethel (Incumbent) vs. Miracle Rankin

Charlie Bethel (Incumbent)

Law School: University of Georgia School of Law
Background: Business litigation; former member of the Georgia State Senate
On the Bench: Since 2018 (appointed)

Miracle Rankin (Challenger)

Law School: Not widely published
Background: Limited publicly available information on legal practice

Note: Public information on some challengers is limited, which can make direct comparisons difficult for voters.

Ben Land (Incumbent)

Law School: Mercer University School of Law
Background: Former Superior Court judge; trial law experience
On the Bench: Since 2022 (appointed)
Opposition: None (write-in only)

Sarah Hawkins Warren (Incumbent) vs. Jen Auer Jordan

Sarah Hawkins Warren (Incumbent)

Law School: Duke University School of Law
Background: Former Solicitor General of Georgia; appellate law and constitutional litigation
On the Bench: Since 2020 (appointed)

Jen Auer Jordan (Challenger)

Law School: Mercer University School of Law
Background: Prosecutor; criminal law experience

⚖️ Court of Appeals of Georgia

Trent Brown (Incumbent) vs. Will Wooten

Trent Brown (Incumbent)

Law School: University of Georgia School of Law
Background: Former state court judge; civil and criminal trial law
On the Bench: Since 2018 (appointed)

Will Wooten (Challenger)

Law School: University of Georgia School of Law
Background: Prosecutor; criminal law experience

Sara Doyle (Incumbent)

Law School: University of Georgia School of Law
Background: Appellate law
On the Bench: Since 2009 (elected)
Opposition: None (write-in only)

Elizabeth D. Gobeil (Incumbent) vs. Fatima Harris Felton

Elizabeth D. Gobeil (Incumbent)

Law School: University of Georgia School of Law
Background: Former executive counsel to the governor; government and appellate law
On the Bench: Since 2018 (appointed)

Fatima Harris Felton (Challenger)

Law School: North Carolina Central University School of Law
Background: Trial attorney; civil litigation experience

David Todd Markle (Incumbent)

Law School: Emory University School of Law
Background: Former Superior Court judge; trial law
On the Bench: Since 2020 (appointed)
Opposition: None (write-in only)

J. Wade Padgett (Incumbent)

Law School: University of Georgia School of Law
Background: Former Superior Court judge; civil and criminal trial law
On the Bench: Since 2022 (appointed)
Opposition: None (write-in only)

⚖️ Superior Court – Gwinnett Judicial Circuit

Tracie H. Cason (Incumbent)

Law School: Georgia State University College of Law
Background: Former prosecutor
On the Bench: Approximately since 2012
Opposition: None (write-in only)

Angela D. Duncan (Incumbent)

Law School: Emory University School of Law
Background: Civil litigation
On the Bench: Since approximately 2021
Opposition: None (write-in only)

R. Timothy Hamil (Incumbent)

Tim Hamil (Incumbent)

Law School: University of Georgia School of Law
Background: Former district attorney; prosecution
On the Bench: Since approximately 2018
Opposition: None (write-in only)

Open Seat (To Succeed George F. Hutchinson)

BT “Gutter” Parker

Background: Trial attorney; civil litigation

Regina J. Matthews

Background: Government or prosecutorial legal experience

Ramona Toole

Background: Civil or family law

Note: This is one of the few contested local judicial races without an incumbent. Publicly available background information on candidates is limited.

Tracey D. Mason (Incumbent)

Law School: Georgia State University College of Law
Background: Former prosecutor
On the Bench: Since approximately 2018
Opposition: None (write-in only)

⚖️ State Court of Gwinnett County

Erica K. Dove (Incumbent)

Law School: Mercer University School of Law
Background: Former prosecutor
On the Bench: Incumbent
Opposition: None (write-in only)

Ronda S. Colvin (Incumbent)

Law School: University of Georgia School of Law
Background: Former Solicitor General
On the Bench: Incumbent
Opposition: None (write-in only)

Closing Thoughts

Judicial races are often the least visible part of the ballot, but they carry long-term consequences. Unlike legislative offices, these positions are not about policy preferences—they are about judgment, temperament, and experience.

In many of these races, especially those without challengers or with limited public information, voters are left with incomplete data. That makes it all the more important to understand what information is available.

In Part 2, we’ll take a closer look at disciplinary records, bar complaints, and what the public record says about how these candidates have conducted themselves in the legal professi

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