The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments has conducted interviews in Johnson City of candidates for the impending circuit court vacancy in the 1st Judicial District. After interviewing candidates and conducting a vote, the council submitted three nominees to Gov. Bill Haslam. Nominees for the judgeship are Jerome Cochran of Elizabethton, James Edwin Lauderback of Johnson City and Lois Bunton Shults-Davis of Unicoi. The 1st Judicial District serves Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington Counties. The judicial vacancy was created by the announcement that Thomas Seeley Jr. is retiring effective June 30.