Justice Carley to leave bench next July

AJC:

Justice George Carley will step down from the Georgia Supreme Court next July, giving Gov. Nathan Deal the chance to appoint Carley's successor.

The justice taking Carley's place will have to run for re-election in 2014, the court said in a statement released Tuesday.

“I am announcing this now to notify potential candidates before the election cycle gets into full swing,” said Carley, who had already announced  that he did not plan to run for re-election.

When he steps down, Carley, 73, will leave the high court as its chief justice. The court voted unanimously last month to have him serve as chief for two months before he leaves the court.