Ga. Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that he has appointed D. Todd Markle [pictured below] to fill the vacancy in the Superior Court of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Markle will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable Michael D. Johnson. The appointment takes effect upon swearing-in, which should occur within the next few weeks.

Markle currently serves as executive counsel to Deal. Previously, he was a partner with the firm Mabry & McClelland. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia and his law degree from Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. He and his wife, Beverly, have two children.

Johnson resigned his judgeship a few months ago to take on U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA/5) in the July 2012 Democrat primary.