With state Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee announcing her plans to retire at the end of August, officials have released a timetable for selecting her successor.

Applicants must be licensed attorneys of at least 35 years of age who live in the eastern grand division of the state. The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will accept applications through Dec. 12. The panel plans to interview candidates on Jan. 4 at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

The council usually narrows the list down to three finalists at the end of its public hearings. The slate will will then undergo background checks and vetting by the governor’s office before Bill Lee either makes his choice or asks for another list. The governor’s nominee must be confirmed by the General Assembly before being sworn into the state’s court of last resort.