ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed five new members to join the board overseeing the state's public defender system.

Deal announced the appointments to the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council on Wednesday.

The appointees are Donna Avans Seagraves, G.S. "Gator" Hodges, Lamar Paris, Ron Cross and David Sims.

Seagraves is a veteran public defender who lives in Athens.

Hodges is a Butts County commissioner and veteran police officer.

Paris is a Union County commissioner, and Cross chairs the Columbia County Commission.

Sims is a veteran trial lawyer who has worked in Savannah and Atlanta.