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On October 14, 2004, aretirement reception washeld for Jay B. Martin,

Administrative Office of the CourtsDeputy Director since 1999.

Mr.Martincame tothe AOCafterservingas courtadminis-trator fortheFultonCountyJuvenile Court. Prior to his work injudicial administration, Mr. Martin

Journal

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Journal

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Journal

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GA Publication of the

Judicial Council of Georgia

November 2004

• People, Places & Events pg 2

• Model Courts pg 4

• Grant Update pg 5

• Commission on Interpreters pg 6

• Election Results pg 7

• Local Programs Showcase pg 8

• Directory Corrections pg 10

INSIDE

Journal

Jay B. Martin,AOC DeputyDirector, Retires

Judicial CouncilRecommendations

The Judicial Council ofGeorgia met on August 20,2004 in Atlanta to consider

requests for additional superiorcourt judgeships. Requests from theAppalachian Circuit, Cobb Circuit,Dublin Circuit and Southern Circuitwere approved by vote of theCouncil. These recommendationswill be sent to the Governor and theGeneral Assembly for considerationin the 2005 legislative session.

No legislation creating superiorcourt judgeships was passed duringthe 2004 session of the GeneralAssembly. Therefore, the six cir-cuits recommended for new judge-ships at the August 2003 Judicial

Council meeting remain on the tablefor consideration by the Legislature.The Council ranked the six carry-over circuits and the four newly-approved circuits in priority order asfollows:

1. Southern (5th judgeship),2. Gwinnett (9th judgeship),3. Flint (3rd judgeship),4. Cherokee (4th judgeship),5. Appalachian (3rd judgeship),6. Dublin (3rd judgeship),7. Coweta (6th judgeship), 8. Cobb (10th judgeship),9. Southern (6th judgeship), and10. Gwinnett (10th judgeship).

continued on pg 3

continued on pg 3

Standing (l-r): Judge Philip West, Judge Jon B. Wood, Judge George Nunn, Judge Hal Craig,Judge Robin Nash, Judge John Ott, Judge Gibbs Flanders, Judge Hugh Stone, Judge Dan Coursey,Judge Mike Bracewell, Judge Jim McDonald, Judge Haynes Townsend, Judge Gates Peed.

Seated (l-r): Judge Ed Carriere, Judge Melinda Anderson, Judge John Salter, Judge Susan Tate,Chief Justice Fletcher, Judge Doris Downs, Judge Linda Hunter, Judge Wallace Cato, Chief JudgeJ.D. Smith. Not pictured: Presiding Justice Leah Ward Sears, Presiding Judge John H. Ruffin, Jr. (8/20/04)

Mr. Jay B. Martin and wife,Sandy.

In Memoriam

Senior Judge Joe C. Crumbleyof Jonesboro died October 26, 2004.Judge Crumbley served on theClayton County superior courtbench from 1977 until his retirementin 1992. He served four years in theUS Airforce before attending lawschool and entering private practice.

Judge William M. Coolidge,III, of Buford, died unexpectedly onOctober 30, 2004. Judge Coolidgewas the current president of theCouncil of Municipal Court Judgesand served as chief judge for theCity of Norcross and as associatejudge in Duluth and Sugar Hill.

Appointments

Judge Danny S. Shepard, StateCourt of Miller County, was swornin by Gov. Sonny Perdue in a cere-mony held in the Governor’s officeon September 9, 2004.

At a swearing in ceremony onOctober 20, 2004, in the StateCapitol, Governor Sonny Perdueadministered the oath of office toJudge Beverly Collins, CobbCounty State Court. Judge Collinsfills a newly-created Division I seat.Judge Maria B. Golick was swornin to replace Judge Collins on theDivision II bench.

On October 5, 2004, Gov.Perdue announced his appointmentof Judge Seay V. Poulakos to anewly-created seat on the CowetaCounty State Court.

The state’s newly appointedPublic Defenders were sworn-in onJuly 21, 2004, by Chief JusticeNorman S. Fletcher, Supreme Courtof Georgia. The ceremony was heldin the House Chambers of the StateCapitol Building.

Juvenile CourtJudge John Worcester-Holland

was appointed to theJuvenile Court bench ofthe AppalachianJudicial Circuit onSeptember 10,2004. JudgeWorcester-Holland fills thevacancy createdby the resigna-tion of JudgeWilliam L.Riley in April.

On September 9, 2004, JudgeLeRoy Burke, III, was appointed toa new full-time position on theJuvenile Court bench in the EasternJudicial Circuit. Judge Burke previ-ously served on the Recorder’sCourt of Chatham County.

Judge William H. Sams wasappointed on September 2, 2004, toserve a part-position on the JuvenileCourt bench in the Augusta JudicialCircuit.

HonorsChief Judge N. Kent

Lawrence, State Court of ClarkeCounty, has been appointed to theCommittee on DUI/Drug Courts ofthe National Association of DrugCourt Professionals. The ClarkeCounty State Court has been selectedas a national mentor court for theNational Drug Court Institute’sPlanning Initiative to provide train-ing for DUI/Drug courts.

Judge Donald Peppers, StateCourt of Walker County, was hon-ored with the Ogden DoremusAward presented by the Council ofState Court Judges on October 15,2004.

Portrait Unveiling

On July 19, 2004, former ChiefJustice Harold N. Hill was honoredfor his service on the Supreme Courtof Georgia.Justice Hillwas a mem-ber of thecourt from1975 to1986, serv-ing as ChiefJustice from1982 to1986. The unveiling ceremony wasattended by members of theSupreme Court and Court ofAppeals, judges from throughout thestate, former colleagues, family, andfriends.

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November 2004 • Georgia Courts Journal • 3

served in the US Army and retiredin 1992 as a full Colonel. During his30 year army career he was sta-tioned in Korea,Germany,Vietnam,Thailand, and anumber of state-side bases.

After thedeparture of for-mer AOCDirector GeorgeLange, Mr.Martin served asInterim Director for a year and ahalf. Mr. Martin also created theHuman Resources Division andserved as its manager. He served asstaff to the Judicial EmergencyManagement Task Force and devel-

oped a procedures manual to helpGeorgia courts plan for disasters.

At the reception, Mr. DavidRatley, AOCDirector spoke forthe agency whenhe said, “Wethank you for yourcontributions tothe Georgia AOCand we thank youfor being ourfriend.”

ChiefJustice Norman S.

Fletcher, Supreme Court of Georgia,recognized Mr. Martin’s achieve-ments over the past five years. Avideotaped message from JusticeRobert Benham was shown to thoseassembled.

AOC staff presented Mr. Martinwith an engraved timepiece inappreciation of his hard work.

Other giftsincluded aneasel, a redberet, and artsupplies forretirement pur-suits.

The after-noon receptionwas attended

by members of the Supreme Courtand Court of Appeals, various trialcourt judges from around the state,staff members of the AOC, familyand friends.

Retirement Reception cont.

Other BusinessThe Council approved the budg-

et request totaling $62,504,435 forFY2006 as recommended by theBudget Committee. The requestincludes continuation funds of$48,973,242 plus $13,531,192 inenhancement items. Judge JohnSalter, chair of the Judicial Council

budget committee, reported that inearly August the committee met inAmericus and unanimouslyapproved both the 2006 continuationand the 2005 supplemental appropri-ations request.

Chief Justice Fletcherannounced appointment of JudicialCouncil Standing Committees asfollows: Records Retention, CourtFees, Standard Code and StatuteTable, Casecount Methodology, andCross Jurisdictional Issues.

Judges named to chair thesecommittees are as follows:

Standard Code & StatuteJudge Wayne PurdomState Court of DeKalb County;

Committee on Court FeesChief Judge Hugh StoneSuperior Court, Enotah Circuit;

Records RetentionJudge Barrett WhittemoreWhitfield County Magistrate Court;

Casecount MethodologyChief Judge Joe BishopSuperior Court, Pataula Circuit;

Cross-Jurisdictional IssuesJustice Harris HinesSupreme Court of Georgia.

Judicial Council cont.

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Chief Justice Fletcher speaks to Mr. and Mrs.Martin about plans for the future.

Mr. Martin dons hisnew beret.

The next meeting of the Judicial Council

will be held on

Friday, December 10, 2004

at the

Crowne Plaza Ravinia4355 Ashford Dunwoody

Atlanta, Georgia

Judicial Council

In August 2004, the Model CourtsProject, Child Placement Projectand the National Council of

Juvenile and Family Court Judgesheld a strategic planning meeting tokick-off the formation of the“Visitation Protocol Project.”Participants from across Georgia andother states took partin the two-day meet-ing held in Atlanta atthe Romae T. PowellJuvenile JusticeCenter.

Examining theIssues

The purpose ofthe August meetingwas to bring togetherjudges, attorneys, social workers,service and treatment providers, andother court professionals to examinethe issues and concerns surroundinga child who has been placed tem-porarily outside the home.Participants discussed minimumstandards for family time, reviewedbest practices and examined the rolesof justice system professionals. Thegroup will develop a structuredprocess for family visits to enhancejudicial decision-making.Participants will meet again inDecember to discuss the issue ofdomestic violence as it relates tofamily visitation.

Over the summer, the ModelCourts Project and the ChildPlacement Project conducted a CourtAssessment Study. Staff traveledacross the state visiting juvenilecourts, observing court hearings andreviewing case files. A report from

this study will be available inJanuary 2005.

Other EndeavorsThe Model Courts Project Fall

Workshop, “Back to Basics,” tookplace in October in Ellijay, Georgia.Participants reviewed the National

Council of Juvenileand Family CourtJudges’ ResourceGuidelines and dis-cussed key perform-ance measures. Eachmodel court sitereported on progressin court improvementgoals over the pastyear.

Often the permanen-cy plan for a child in foster care isbased on the most convenient orreadily available resource, and maynot precisely serve the child’s bestinterests. The Model Courts Projectplans to review permanency optionsfor children in foster care and makerecommendations for a comprehen-sive approach to making permanencydecisions. “The Promise ofPermanency Report” will reviewstatutorily prescribed options and

outline a proposed model for a pre-sumptive order of preference for per-manency options.

Model Courts ProjectThe Model Courts Project is part

of a nationwide effort to improve thecourt process regarding child abuseand neglect cases. Juvenile courtjudges, court staff and related agen-cies collaborate to improve courtprocedures and implement “bestpractices.” The Model CourtsProject, created in January 2000, is ajoint project of the Council ofJuvenile Court Judges and the ChildPlacement Project. Ms. Lori Bramlettserves as coordinator for the project.

Eight model court sites operateacross the state. They are in theAppalachian, Dublin, andSouthwestern Judicial Circuits, andBartow, Cobb, Fulton, Houston, andTroup counties.

For more information on the ModelCourts Project, please contact LoriBramlett at 404-463-6480 [email protected] Information is alsoavailable online at http://www.childwel-fare.net/mrb/projects/


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Model Courts: Family Visitation Protocol Project

Courts Directory Now Available!The 2004-2005 Georgia Courts

Directory is now available!

Copies are $20.For more details, call

Ashley Stollar, 404-656-6783.


Since July 1, 2004, theLegislative andGovernmental Affairs

Division of the AOC has securedgrants totaling more than$1,150,000 to support the work ofGeorgia courts. The grant applica-tions were submitted by Ms. JaneMartin, Assistant Director forGrants and Performance Outcomes,and Mr. Al Frazier, AOC GrantsManager.

Grants expand Drug CourtsGeorgia will gain seven new

drug courts this year, thanks to asuccessful Byrne Grant application.The $223,214 federal grant, whencombined with $74,404 in matchingfunds from the courts, will provide$297,618 to expand Georgia’s suc-cessful drug court model to the newsites. The new felony adult drugcourts will be in the superior courtsof the Towaliga, Bell-Forsyth,Tallapoosa, Western, and GwinnettJudicial circuits, and in Sumter andBaldwin Counties. Each circuit orcounty will receive $31,887 toimplement the program.

A $50,000 grant was awarded toallow the Muscogee CountyJuvenile Drug Court to continueoperation. State Attorney GeneralThurbert E. Baker recently recom-mended approval of the applicationfor funding from settlement agree-ment funds.

Grants support DUI courtsThe Governor’s Office of

Highway Safety has agreed to pro-vide $474,200 to support the contin-ued operations of DUI Court pro-

grams in Hall County, Athens-Clarke County and ChathamCounty. These courts provide inten-sive case management, treatmentand judicial oversight of DUIoffenders who multiple convictions.Georgia is one of only two statesselected as national demonstrationprojects by the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration.

Electronic Traffic Citations The National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, through theGovernor’s Office of HighwaySafety, has provided $175,300 toinstall a web-based Uniform TrafficCitation Electronic CommunicationProgram. Theprogram willfacilitate electron-ic transmission oftraffic citationdata to theGeorgiaDepartment ofMotor VehicleSafety. The AOCInformationTechnology divi-sion is designingand developingthe traffic court case managementsystem.

New projects find support• A $65,000 grant from the GeorgiaCivil Justice Foundation was award-ed to underwrite the work of theGeorgia Supreme Court JuryComposition Committee. (see photo.)

The Georgia Bar Foundationalso approved a $20,000 grant to thecommittee from Interest on Lawyer

Trust Fund Accounts (IOLTA). Thegoal of the committee, chaired byJustice Hugh Thompson, is tostreamline and automate the systemof compiling jury lists by creating acomprehensive, all-inclusive masterlist for each jurisdiction that willbetter represent community diversity.

• Additionally, the Georgia CivilJustice Foundation has provided$45,000 to underwrite a Spanishversion of the People’s Law School.The program provides an overviewof the civil legal system, includinginformation on how the courts work.

• The federal State Justice Instituteawarded $15,594to help DeKalbCounty ProbateCourt establish amodel CourtVisitor program.

• The AOC and7th District CourtAdministratorJody Overcashalso won fundingfrom the Childrenand Youth

Coordinating Council for two pro-grams for juveniles. The Councilawarded $33,146 for a JuvenileMediation Program aimed at help-ing first offenders resolve conflicts,and $10,500 for the New HorizonProgram for Juvenile Delinquencyto expand juvenile court programsfor youth.

Grants Update: Support for Court Initiatives

Justice Hugh Thompson accepts a checkfrom Mr. Fred Smith of the Georgia CivilJustice Foundation on behalf of the JuryComposition Committee. Also pictured areAOC staff members: Mr. Al Frazier, Ms. JaneMartin, and Ms. Leslie Johnson.

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Circuit Boundary

County Boundary

Georgia Judicial Districts

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Dublin Chattahoochee

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Do you need a quick referencefor finding the WesternCircuit? Tired of flippingthrough the Georgia CourtsDirectory to the tiny black andwhite map of the Circuits?Ever wonder if Toombs Countyis in the Toombs Circuit?

Fret not, the answers arenear. With a new 11�x14�color map of the Judicial

Circuits and Districts you�ll beable to quickly find that theWestern Circuit is actually ineast Georgia and that ToombsCounty is a far piece from theToombs Circuit.

The map is easy to use andfree of charge. For more infor-mation on obtaining a map,contact Ashley Stollar at 404-656-6783.

Commission on InterpretersMs. Angie Rivera, ProjectAdministrator for the Commissionon Interpreters, talks about theCommission’s current projects.

Q. What is the purpose of theGeorgia Commission onInterpreters?A.R. TheCommissionwas created todevelop crite-ria for train-ing and certi-fication ofcourt foreign-language inter-preters and to establish standards ofconduct, register interpreters, andcollect data.

Q. What has the Commission beeninvolved in lately?A.R. Fall is always a busy time forus. We’ve just sent out certification

renewal notices to our interpreters.Our second oral certification examfor the year has just been completedwith 14 applicants participating.

Q. How often is testing availablefor interpreters?A.R. This year the Commission hasalready conducted two oral examsand three written exams. The nextwritten exam is scheduled forNovember 15.

Q. How many foreign-languageinterpreters are available inGeorgia?A.R. Because of license renewalsstill coming in, we don’t have anexact count just yet. Each year wenormally have 50-75 newly-regis-tered interpreters and five new certi-fied interpreters.

Q. Where can I go to find contactinformation for interpreters in myarea?A.R. Our website http://www.geor-giacourts.org/agencies/Interpreters/index.html provides a full listing ofcertified and registered interpreterswho are available for use in thecourts.

Q. I don’t see any interpreterslisted in my county. Can inter-preters work anywhere in thestate?A.R. Yes. Interpreters may workanywhere in the state.

Q. Are there any projects newprojects that you’re working on?A.R. Currently, I’m working with acommittee to develop a DVD forstates to use as a training tool onhow to administer oral certificationexams effectively.

Ms. Angie Rivera

Judicial Circuit Map

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Superior Court

Judge Eugene M.Benton

Alcovy JudicialCircuit;

Judge Ural GlanvilleJudge Michael Johnson

Atlanta JudicialCircuit;

Judge Sheryl B. JollyAugusta Judicial Circuit;

Judge Bobby PetersChattahoochee Judicial Circuit;

Judge Steve SchusterCobb Judicial Circuit;

Judge Bobby ChasteenCordele Judicial Circuit;

Judge Dennis BlackmonCoweta Judicial Circuit;

Judge Ronnie BatchelorGwinnett Judicial Circuit;

Judge Greg A. AdamsJudge Mark Scott

Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit;

Judge Hal HinesleyToombs Judicial Circuit;

Judge Mike BoggsWaycross Judicial Circuit.

State Court

Judge Judd DrakeCandler County;

Judge Hermann CoolidgeChatham County;

Judge Bob PrestonCoffee County;

Judge Barbara MobleyDeKalb County;

Judge Randy RichGwinnett County;

Judge Richard Lynn Waters, Jr.Mitchell County

Judge Nancy BillsRockdale County;

Judge Grady K. ReddickScreven County;

Judge James IrvinStephens County;

Judge Russ BarnesSumter County.

Probate Court

Judge Gene LoweryCatoosa County;

Judge Wesley LewisColquitt County;

Judge Pam BusbyCrawford County

Judge Hal HamrickDouglas County;

Judge Lynwood Jordan Jr.Forsyth County;

Judge Kelley PowellHenry County

Judge Allen GayIrwin County;

Judge Arthur BufordJeff Davis County;

Judge Andrew BennettQuitman County;

Judge Mitzi WaySchley County;

Judge Gloria DubberlyTattnall County;

Judge Suzanne JohnsonTift County;

Judge TJ. HudsonTreutlen County;

Judge Kenneth FowlerTwiggs County;

Judge Calvin BennettWare County;

Judge Lucy J. BryantWarren County.

2004 Judicial Election ResultsThe following judges will take office January 1, 2005.

“Your Guide to the

Georgia Courts

Brochure” is

Available!

Call 404-656-5171 torequest copies.


Fulton County Family Court One Stop Program

Local Programs Showcase

Fulton County Superior CourtOne Stop program offers vic-tims of domestic violence or

stalking a simple blessing: conven-ience. Believed to be unique inGeorgia, the program offers individ-uals who seek a temporary protec-tive order (TPO) a full array of legalservices at a single location.

The program wasintroduced to the coun-ty by Ms. JudithCramer, District 5Court Administrator,adapting a model sheobserved inJacksonville, Florida.Cases are heard by twodedicated judges:Fulton CountyMagistrates JudgeRichard E. Hicks andJudge Fred C. Eady,who sit as superior court judges bydesignation.

One Stop went into operation inFulton County in February 2003. Iteliminated the confusion and stressvictims previously experienced asthey were sent from one office toanother to complete the steps toobtain a TPO.

“We didn’t need any money todo it. We just needed cooperation,”Ms. Cramer said.

According to Family DivisionDirector Granvette E. Matthews, thefeedback she receives shows OneStop has succeeded. When clientsarrive – and in August 2004 alone,

the program served 229 individuals– they go through an initial screen-ing to determine residency andwhether the case involves domesticviolence or stalking. The client isthen given the appropriate petitionform; staff review it to make sure itis properly filled out. If the victimhas visible injuries, photographs are

taken. The victim isoffered help finding shel-ter and clothing by anadvocate from thePartnership AgainstDomestic Violence.Victims are also offeredfree cell phones andchargers, provided bydonations, that enablethem to call 911 in anemergency.

One Stop collabo-rates with the Atlanta

Volunteer Lawyers Foundation,which provides free representationto qualified individuals. Foundationlawyers interview clients and pro-vide representation in court. Victimsmay choose to represent themselvesor hire a private attorney. To expe-dite the process, ex parte hearingson petitions for a TPO are held threetimes a day.

Family DivisionClose communication between

the One Stop program and theFamily Court judges is a key to suc-cess. Since creation of the FamilyDivision, spearheaded by Judge

Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore,most cases involving domesticissues are assigned to one of thethree Family Division judges.Judges serve in Family Division for18 month terms. Currently JudgeCynthia D. Wright, Judge Wendy L.Shoob and Judge Melvin K.Westmoreland serve the FamilyDivision.

Family Division judges hear allcases involving divorce, custody,legitimation, alimony, separation,annulment and many other domesticlegal matters. If a TPO is soughtinvolving a case already in FamilyDivision, the Family Division judgeassigned will decide whether to hearthe matter or allow it to remain onthe Domestic Violence Calendar.

Family Law InformationCenter

Other services of FamilyDivision include the Family LawInformation Center (FLIC), whichoffers legal forms and informationon a range of issues, on-site paterni-ty and drug and alcohol testing, on-site domestic mediation, case evalu-ation, a staff psychologist, socialservice coordinators and guardiansad litem. Through FLIC, eligibleparties can also obtain 30 minutes offree legal consultation offeredthrough a contract with AtlantaLegal Aid.

Contact Ms. GranvetteMatthews at 404-224-0505 for addi-tional information.

“We didn’tneed any

money to doit. We just

neededcooperation.”

Ms. Judith Cramer,Court Administrator

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Local Programs ShowcaseChatham Court Website one of Top Ten

The website of the ChathamCounty courts has beennamed one of the Top 10

Court Websites for the second time.The sitewasselectedfrom over2,400reviewed.Courtsmust offermultiplee-services to be ranked in the TopTen.

The award-winning website,www.chathamcourts.org, was creat-ed by Carlton W. Blair, Jr., Clerk ofChatham County State Court.

www.chathamcourts.orgThe website provides links to all

courts in Chatham County: Superior,State, Magistrate, Probate,Recorder’s as well as several

Municipal courts. It enables individ-uals to pay traffic fines online,whether the fines are outstanding oryet to be addressed. E-filing forstate court cases is also available.The website offers interactive fea-tures: indexing case data by arraign-ment date or the case status, searchthe docket by party or attorney, andreview judges’ calendars. It haslinks to information for jurors, indi-gent defendants and victim witnesses.

Mr. Blair said the Chathamwebsite went online in 2000.“Before it was implemented, I spentabout 50 hours creating a frame-work for the website, then visited allthe courts in our jurisdiction andasked them to participate. Gettingbuy-in took a while, because theconcept was new at the time, butthey all participated in somedegree,” he said.

The court website has now beenfolded into the Chatham Countywebsite, http://www.chathamcounty.org/chatcourts.html Whilesome features have been lost, thesite retains much of its overallusability.

E-FilingE-filing initially attracted a

large number of users but in timemany law firms near the courthousereturned to the practice of hiringstudents to file cases, rather thanpay the $15 e-filing fee. Firms thathandle collections and other bulkfilings continue to e-file at the $3-4bulk rate.

E-fines have also proved suc-cessful for State and Recorder’scourts. So has the Recorder’s Courtpractice of listing court schedules bypolice officer badge numbers. Thisgives police officers notice of theirhearings online, any time, andreduces no-shows on court dates.

Future SitesMr. Blair is now creating a newwebsite for his court, www.state-court.org which will have all of theoriginal features plus new ones.

Individuals who have completedall the requirements of probationexcept the term may use e-proba-tion, enabling them to report month-ly to a probation officer online, andpay any fine, probation or other,due. �

Mr. Carlton Blair, Clerk,State Court of Chatham Co.

Citation from Justice Served whoseannual list is widely recognized

http://justiceserved.com/top10sites.cfm

“They’ve done it again…a repeat winner from2000, the ChathamCounty courts have

banded together to offera one-stop web presence

with e-filing, fine pay-ment, jury postponement,docket index and forms.”

AG OpinionOFFICIAL OPINIONDisbursement of partial pay-ments received by superior courtclerks. Local governing authoritiesare not authorized to enact localordinances that differ from OCGA§ 15-6-95 which establishes anorder of priority for the distributionof partial payments toward criminalfines, forfeitures, or costs that arereceived by clerks of superiorcourt. (11/1/04 2004-10)


SUPERIOR COURTAppalachian CircuitChief Judge Brenda [email protected]

SENIOR JUDGESSuperior CourtJudge George H. Bryant93 Brown CircleHartwell, GA 30643-7002

Magistrate CourtAdd: Senior Judge Samuel NesbittDelete from Pickens Magistrate Court

STATE COURTMiller CountyDelete: Judge Robert ThomasAdd: Judge Danny Shepard154 S. First StreetPO Box 585Colquitt, GA 39837-0585229-758-5288/F [email protected]

JUVENILE COURTAugusta CircuitDelete: Judge Hugh HaddenAdd: Judge H. William Sams, Jr.

Eastern CircuitAdd: Judge LeRoy Burke, III197 Carl Griffin DriveSavannah, GA 31405-1362912-652-6764/F [email protected]

Delete from Chatham CountyRecorder’s Court

Griffin CircuitPresiding Judge Tarey SchellPO Box 1469Griffin, GA 30224770-467-4376

Assoc. Judge Ben J. Miller, Jr.PO Drawer 671Thomaston, GA 30286706-647-5466

Piedmont CircuitJudge Kevin Guidry706-387-6246

MAGISTRATE COURTCalhoun CountyDelete: Judge Maurice A. Duff

Catoosa CountyJudge George W. Mueller, Jr.798 LaFayette StreetRinggold, GA 30736

Cherokee CountyChief MagistrateJudge Benjamin Cade Abney

Burke CountyJudge Ed GrunewaldPO Box 401Waynesboro, GA 30830-0401706-554-2050/F 554-8772

Fannin CountyDelete: Judge R. Steve Stanley

Greene CountyDelete: Judge Richard W. SchmidtAdd: Judge Peter J. Rice, Jr.106 S. Main StreetGreensboro, GA 30642

Fulton CountyDelete: Judge Mark Harper

Gwinnett CountyDelete: Judge Chung Lee

Hancock CountyJudge Robert L. BurtonFAX 706-444-6178

Jackson CountyJudge Billy ChandlerJudge Sherri Evans5000 Jackson Parkway, Suite 230Jefferson, GA 30549706-387-6356/F 387-6369

Liberty CountyJudge Amy L. Owens502 Windsor CourtHinesville, GA 31313912-876-6212/F 876-6212

McIntosh CountyJudge Ralph E. PoppellJudge Teresa K. JenningsJudge Joseph R. RobertsonPO Drawer 459Darien, GA 31305

Oglethorpe CountyJudge Ashley BarnettPO Box 356Lexington, GA 30648706-743-8321/F 743-3177

Twiggs CountyDelete: Judge Kenneth FowlerAdd: Judge David Brown

MUNICIPAL COURTAlbanyDelete: Judge Paula T. Hanington

Add: Judge William H. Gregory, IIPO Box 607Albany, GA 31702-0607229-431-3036/F 431-2249

BarnesvilleJudge A. Henry Abreu404 Thomaston StreetBarnesville, GA 30204770-358-2121/F 358-1950

2004-2005 Georgia Courts Directory CorrectionsPlease note these corrections and additions.


HelenaDelete: Judge Steven HarrisonAdd: Judge Tom Everett101 SW Railroad StreetMount Vernon, GA 30445912-583-4121

KingslandJudge Robert C. Sweatt, Jr.PO Box 1117Kingsland, GA 31548912-729-3700/F 729-3720

KennesawJudge Donald W. Singleton2325 Log Cabin DriveOlde Ivy, Suite 105Smyrna, GA 30080770-432-2922/F 495-9925

LeslieDelete: Judge James SizemoreAdd: Judge Plez HardinPO Box 226Leslie, GA 31764229-942-0758

LyonsJudge Sherri Paul McDonaldPO Box 296Vidalia, GA 30475-0296912-537-3404/F 537-3730

RiverdaleJudge Thomas S. Robinson, III142 Mitchell Street, Suite 401Atlanta, GA 30303404-521-1211/F 521-1727

Sale CityJudge Richard L. Waters, Jr.PO Box 188Camilla, GA 31730229-336-3962/F 336-9163

SmyrnaJudge Timothy W. Wolfe3059 Vinings Ferry DriveAtlanta, GA 30339-4343770-435-8616/F 805-0494

WrightsvilleJudge Matthew WatersPO Box 151

Wrightsville, GA 31096478-864-9370/F 864-9372

US DISTRICT COURTNORTHERNClerkLuther D. Thomas404-215-1600

SUPERIOR COURT CLERKBulloch CountyStreet address:20 Siebald Street

Morgan CountyPO Drawer 551

SOLICITOR GENERALChattooga CountyDelete: Don W. ThompsonAdd: Sanford M. Hill

DISTRICT COURTADMINISTRATORSDistrict 2John [email protected]

2004-2005 Georgia Courts Directory Corrections

Commission on Access and Fairness Activities

Please note these corrections and additions.

The Georgia Commission onAccess and Fairness in theCourts continues work on

upcoming projects.

A draft of the Handbook forGeorgia Court Officials onCourtroom Accessibility forIndividuals is under review bymembers of the Commission. Thefinal version is projected to be com-pleted in December 2004.

Judge Nina Radakovich, CityCourt of Atlanta, Judge Nelly F.Withers, Juvenile Court of DeKalbCounty, Ms. Marla Moore, AOCSenior Associate Director, and Ms.Stephanie Chambliss, GCAFCProgram Manager, were among par-ticipants at the 26th Annual NationalAssociation of Women JudgesConference and Gender FairnessWorkshop. The Conference washeld October 7-10, in Indianapolis,Indiana.

The GCAFC is co-sponsoringthe 2005 Annual Conference of theNational Consortium on Racial andEthnic Fairness in the Courts. Themeeting will be held in Atlanta inApril, 2005.

Contact Ms. Stephanie Chambliss at404-463-3927 for additional infor-mation.

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Administrative Office of the Courts244 Washington Street, S.W., Suite 300Atlanta, GA30334-5900

Georgia CourtsJournal

NORMANS. FLETCHER

Chief Justice

DAVIDL. RATLEY

Director

COURTSJOURNALSTAFF

Billie Bolton

Ashley G. Stollar

Philippa Maister

PRESORTSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

ATLANTA, GAPERMIT #1880

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Administrative Judge:Judge John M. Ott

District Court Administrator:L. Tom Gunnels

Circuits:Alcovy, Augusta, Northern,Piedmont, Toombs and Western.

The Tenth Judicial AdministrativeDistrict and the Superior Courts ofGeorgia recently hosted a regionalGuardian Ad Litem Training semi-nar. Presented by the AtlantaVolunteer Lawyers Foundation, thesession explained many facets ofprotecting the best interests of chil-

dren to forty-four participants fromthe Augusta and Toombs Circuits.

Daniel A. Bloom, AtlantaVolunteer Lawyers Foundation, leadan instructor group of medical doc-tors, attorneys, child psychologists,and child advocates in the eight-hour course directed toward attor-neys and lay-people who serve asguardians ad litem. Attendees wereinstructed on how to begin the jobof a guardian, how to keep files andrecords, how to communicate withlawyers and the courts, and how toremain objective in their work.

Judge Neal W. Dickert, AugustaJudicial Circuit, said, “Being aguardian ad litem in a disputed cus-

tody case is a complex and multi-faceted job. The program addressedall the issues necessary to enable theparticipants to do this job effective-ly. We could not have been morepleased with the program andresponse from the attendees.”

The Augusta Judicial Circuitwill soon require GAL training as aprerequisite for service.

The Tenth Judicial Circuit willhost a second training session inAthens, in early 2005, for theWestern, Piedmont, Alcovy andNorthern Circuits. For additionalinformation, contact Mr. TomGunnels, 706-312-7230.

10th JAD Holds Training

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