Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed Judge Keith Blackwell to the Georgia Supreme Court effective July 19.

Blackwell will fill a seat left vacant by the pending departure ofChief Justice George Carley, whose resignation becomes effective July 17.

Deal, a Republican, said the court will benefit from Blackwell's experience on "both sides of the bench." Blackwell has worked as a judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals since former Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue appointed him in 2010. He's worked as a lawyer in civil practice and formerly was an assistant district attorney in Cobb County.

His appointment marks Deal's first for the state Supreme Court.

Tags: Governor Nathan Deal, State Supreme Court, Judge Keith Blackwell, Chief Justice George Carley