G G G Journal Journal G November 2004 Journal Journal A Publication of the Judicial Council of Georgia Judicial Council Recommendations The Judicial Council of Georgia met on August 20, 2004 in Atlanta to consider requests for additional superior court judgeships. Requests from the Appalachian Circuit, Cobb Circuit, Dublin Circuit and Southern Circuit were approved by vote of the Council. These recommendations will be sent to the Governor and the General Assembly for consideration in the 2005 legislative session. No legislation creating superior court judgeships was passed during the 2004 session of the General Assembly. Therefore, the six circuits recommended for new judgeships at the August 2003 Judicial Council meeting remain on the table for consideration by the Legislature. The Council ranked the six carryover circuits and the four newlyapproved circuits in priority order as follows: 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), and 10. Gwinnett (10th judgeship). continued on pg 3 Jay B. Martin, AOC Deputy Director, Retires On October 14, 2004, a retirement reception was held for Jay B. Martin, Administrative Office of the Courts Deputy Director since 1999. Mr. Martin came to the AOC after serving as court adminis- trator for the Fulton County Mr. Jay B. Martin and wife, Sandy. Juvenile Court. Prior to his work in judicial administration, Mr. Martin 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 Judge J.D. Smith. Not pictured: Presiding Justice Leah Ward Sears, Presiding Judge John H. Ruffin, Jr. (8/20/04) INSIDE People, Places & Events Model Courts Grant Update Commission on Interpreters Election Results Local Programs Showcase Directory Corrections pg 2 pg 4 pg 5 pg 6 pg 7 pg 8 pg 10 2 Georgia Courts Journal November 2004 People, Places and Events ... In Memoriam Senior Judge Joe C. Crumbley of Jonesboro died October 26, 2004. Judge Crumbley served on the Clayton County superior court bench from 1977 until his retirement in 1992. He served four years in the US Airforce before attending law school and entering private practice. Judge William M. Coolidge, III, of Buford, died unexpectedly on October 30, 2004. Judge Coolidge was the current president of the Council of Municipal Court Judges and served as chief judge for the City of Norcross and as associate judge in Duluth and Sugar Hill. Appointments Judge Danny S. Shepard, State Court of Miller County, was sworn in by Gov. Sonny Perdue in a ceremony held in the Governor's office on September 9, 2004. At a swearing in ceremony on October 20, 2004, in the State Capitol, Governor Sonny Perdue administered the oath of office to Judge Beverly Collins, Cobb County State Court. Judge Collins fills a newly-created Division I seat. Judge Maria B. Golick was sworn in to replace Judge Collins on the Division II bench. On October 5, 2004, Gov. Perdue announced his appointment of Judge Seay V. Poulakos to a newly-created seat on the Coweta County State Court. The state's newly appointed Public Defenders were sworn-in on July 21, 2004, by Chief Justice Norman S. Fletcher, Supreme Court of Georgia. The ceremony was held in the House Chambers of the State Capitol Building. Juvenile Court Judge John Worcester-Holland was appointed to the Juvenile Court bench of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit on September 10, 2004. Judge WorcesterHolland fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge William L. Riley in April. On September 9, 2004, Judge LeRoy Burke, III, was appointed to a new full-time position on the Juvenile Court bench in the Eastern Judicial Circuit. Judge Burke previously served on the Recorder's Court of Chatham County. Judge William H. Sams was appointed on September 2, 2004, to serve a part-position on the Juvenile Court bench in the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Honors Chief Judge N. Kent Lawrence, State Court of Clarke County, has been appointed to the Committee on DUI/Drug Courts of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. The Clarke County State Court has been selected as a national mentor court for the National Drug Court Institute's Planning Initiative to provide training for DUI/Drug courts. Judge Donald Peppers, State Court of Walker County, was honored with the Ogden Doremus Award presented by the Council of State Court Judges on October 15, 2004. Portrait Unveiling On July 19, 2004, former Chief Justice Harold N. Hill was honored for his service on the Supreme Court of Georgia. Justice Hill was a member of the court from 1975 to 1986, serving as Chief Justice from 1982 to 1986. The unveiling ceremony was attended by members of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, judges from throughout the state, former colleagues, family, and friends. Retirement Reception cont. served in the US Army and retired oped a procedures manual to help in 1992 as a full Colonel. During his Georgia courts plan for disasters. 30 year army career he was sta- At the reception, Mr. David tioned in Korea, Ratley, AOC Germany, Director spoke for Vietnam, the agency when Thailand, and a he said, "We number of state- thank you for your side bases. contributions to After the the Georgia AOC departure of for- and we thank you mer AOC Director George Lange, Mr. Chief Justice Fletcher speaks to Mr. and Mrs. Martin about plans for the future. for being our friend." Chief Martin served as Justice Norman S. Interim Director for a year and a Fletcher, Supreme Court of Georgia, half. Mr. Martin also created the recognized Mr. Martin's achieve- Human Resources Division and ments over the past five years. A served as its manager. He served as videotaped message from Justice staff to the Judicial Emergency Robert Benham was shown to those Management Task Force and devel- assembled. November 2004 Georgia Courts Journal 3 AOC staff presented Mr. Martin with an engraved timepiece in appreciation of his hard work. Other gifts included an easel, a red beret, and art supplies for retirement pur- suits. The after- Mr. Martin dons his new beret. noon reception was attended by members of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, various trial court judges from around the state, staff members of the AOC, family and friends. Judicial Council cont. Other Business The Council approved the budget request totaling $62,504,435 for FY2006 as recommended by the Budget Committee. The request includes continuation funds of $48,973,242 plus $13,531,192 in enhancement items. Judge John Salter, chair of the Judicial Council Judicial Council The next meeting of the Judicial Council will be held on Friday, December 10, 2004 at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Atlanta, Georgia budget committee, reported that in early August the committee met in Americus and unanimously approved both the 2006 continuation and the 2005 supplemental appropriations request. Chief Justice Fletcher announced appointment of Judicial Council Standing Committees as follows: Records Retention, Court Fees, Standard Code and Statute Table, Casecount Methodology, and Cross Jurisdictional Issues. Judges named to chair these committees are as follows: Standard Code & Statute Judge Wayne Purdom State Court of DeKalb County; Committee on Court Fees Chief Judge Hugh Stone Superior Court, Enotah Circuit; Records Retention Judge Barrett Whittemore Whitfield County Magistrate Court; Casecount Methodology Chief Judge Joe Bishop Superior Court, Pataula Circuit; Cross-Jurisdictional Issues Justice Harris Hines Supreme Court of Georgia. 4 Georgia Courts Journal November 2004 Model Courts: Family Visitation Protocol Project In August 2004, the Model Courts Project, Child Placement Project and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges held a strategic planning meeting to kick-off the formation of the "Visitation Protocol Project." Participants from across Georgia and other states took part in the two-day meeting held in Atlanta at the Romae T. Powell Juvenile Justice Center. Examining the Issues The purpose of the August meeting was to bring together judges, attorneys, social workers, service and treatment providers, and other court professionals to examine the issues and concerns surrounding a child who has been placed temporarily outside the home. Participants discussed minimum standards for family time, reviewed best practices and examined the roles of justice system professionals. The group will develop a structured process for family visits to enhance judicial decision-making. Participants will meet again in December to discuss the issue of domestic violence as it relates to family visitation. Over the summer, the Model Courts Project and the Child Placement Project conducted a Court Assessment Study. Staff traveled across the state visiting juvenile courts, observing court hearings and reviewing case files. A report from this study will be available in January 2005. Other Endeavors The Model Courts Project Fall Workshop, "Back to Basics," took place in October in Ellijay, Georgia. Participants reviewed the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' Resource Guidelines and discussed key performance measures. Each model court site reported on progress in court improvement goals over the past year. Often the permanency plan for a child in foster care is based on the most convenient or readily available resource, and may not precisely serve the child's best interests. The Model Courts Project plans to review permanency options for children in foster care and make recommendations for a comprehensive approach to making permanency decisions. "The Promise of Permanency Report" will review statutorily prescribed options and outline a proposed model for a presumptive order of preference for permanency options. Model Courts Project The Model Courts Project is part of a nationwide effort to improve the court process regarding child abuse and neglect cases. Juvenile court judges, court staff and related agencies collaborate to improve court procedures and implement "best practices." The Model Courts Project, created in January 2000, is a joint project of the Council of Juvenile Court Judges and the Child Placement Project. Ms. Lori Bramlett serves as coordinator for the project. Eight model court sites operate across the state. They are in the Appalachian, Dublin, and Southwestern Judicial Circuits, and Bartow, Cobb, Fulton, Houston, and Troup counties. For more information on the Model Courts Project, please contact Lori Bramlett at 404-463-6480 or bramletl@gaaoc.us Information is also available online at http://www.childwelfare.net/mrb/projects/ 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. November 2004 Georgia Courts Journal 5 Grants Update: Support for Court Initiatives Since July 1, 2004, the Legislative and Governmental Affairs Division of the AOC has secured grants totaling more than $1,150,000 to support the work of Georgia courts. The grant applications were submitted by Ms. Jane Martin, Assistant Director for Grants and Performance Outcomes, and Mr. Al Frazier, AOC Grants Manager. Grants expand Drug Courts Georgia will gain seven new drug courts this year, thanks to a successful Byrne Grant application. The $223,214 federal grant, when combined with $74,404 in matching funds from the courts, will provide $297,618 to expand Georgia's successful drug court model to the new sites. The new felony adult drug courts will be in the superior courts of the Towaliga, Bell-Forsyth, Tallapoosa, Western, and Gwinnett Judicial circuits, and in Sumter and Baldwin Counties. Each circuit or county will receive $31,887 to implement the program. A $50,000 grant was awarded to allow the Muscogee County Juvenile Drug Court to continue operation. State Attorney General Thurbert E. Baker recently recommended approval of the application for funding from settlement agreement funds. Grants support DUI courts The Governor's Office of Highway Safety has agreed to provide $474,200 to support the continued operations of DUI Court pro- grams in Hall County, Athens- Trust Fund Accounts (IOLTA). The Clarke County and Chatham goal of the committee, chaired by County. These courts provide inten- Justice Hugh Thompson, is to sive case management, treatment streamline and automate the system and judicial oversight of DUI of compiling jury lists by creating a offenders who multiple convictions. comprehensive, all-inclusive master Georgia is one of only two states list for each jurisdiction that will selected as national demonstration better represent community diversity. projects by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Additionally, the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation has provided Electronic Traffic Citations $45,000 to underwrite a Spanish The National Highway Traffic version of the People's Law School. Safety Administration, through the The program provides an overview Governor's Office of Highway of the civil legal system, including Safety, has provided $175,300 to information on how the courts work. install a web-based Uniform Traffic Citation Electronic Communication The federal State Justice Institute Program. The awarded $15,594 program will to help DeKalb facilitate electron- County Probate ic transmission of Court establish a traffic citation model Court data to the Visitor program. Georgia Department of The AOC and Motor Vehicle 7th District Court Safety. The AOC Information Technology division is designing Justice Hugh Thompson accepts a check from Mr. Fred Smith of the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation on behalf of the Jury Composition Committee. Also pictured are AOC staff members: Mr. Al Frazier, Ms. Jane Martin, and Ms. Leslie Johnson. Administrator Jody Overcash also won funding from the Children and developing and Youth the traffic court case management Coordinating Council for two pro- system. grams for juveniles. The Council awarded $33,146 for a Juvenile New projects find support Mediation Program aimed at help- A $65,000 grant from the Georgia ing first offenders resolve conflicts, Civil Justice Foundation was award- and $10,500 for the New Horizon ed to underwrite the work of the Program for Juvenile Delinquency Georgia Supreme Court Jury to expand juvenile court programs Composition Committee. (see photo.) for youth. The Georgia Bar Foundation also approved a $20,000 grant to the committee from Interest on Lawyer 6 Georgia Courts Journal November 2004 Commission on Interpreters Ms. Angie Rivera, Project Administrator for the Commission on Interpreters, talks about the Commission's current projects. renewal notices to our interpreters. Our second oral certification exam for the year has just been completed with 14 applicants participating. Q. What is the purpose of the Georgia Commission on Interpreters? A.R. The Commission was created to develop criteria for training and certification of court foreign- Ms. Angie Rivera language interpreters and to establish standards of conduct, register interpreters, and collect data. Q. What has the Commission been involved in lately? A.R. Fall is always a busy time for us. We've just sent out certification Q. How often is testing available for interpreters? A.R. This year the Commission has already conducted two oral exams and three written exams. The next written exam is scheduled for November 15. Q. How many foreign-language interpreters are available in Georgia? A.R. Because of license renewals still coming in, we don't have an exact count just yet. Each year we normally have 50-75 newly-registered interpreters and five new certified interpreters. Q. Where can I go to find contact information for interpreters in my area? A.R. Our website http://www.georgiacourts.org/agencies/Interpreters/ index.html provides a full listing of certified and registered interpreters who are available for use in the courts. Q. I don't see any interpreters listed in my county. Can interpreters work anywhere in the state? A.R. Yes. Interpreters may work anywhere in the state. Q. Are there any projects new projects that you're working on? A.R. Currently, I'm working with a committee to develop a DVD for states to use as a training tool on how to administer oral certification exams effectively. CLAYTON Y FANNIN as 9 T DO Coweta TROUP MERIWETHER 6 HARRIS TALBOT Chattahoochee MUSCOGEE TOWNS RABUN HABERSTEPHENS FRANKLIN HART Georgia Judicial Districts Circuit Boundary County Boundary Pi E estern T WILKES oombs TALIAFERRO W HANCOCK BALDWIN WASHINGT WILKINSON JOHNSON TWIGGS Dublin B LAURENS 8 TREUTLEN Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Map Do you need a quick reference for finding the Western Circuit? Tired of flipping through the Georgia Courts Directory to the tiny black and white map of the Circuits? Ever wonder if Toombs County is in the Toombs Circuit? Fret not, the answers are near. With a new 11"x14" color map of the Judicial Circuits and Districts you'll be able to quickly find that the Western Circuit is actually in east Georgia and that Toombs County is a far piece from the Toombs Circuit. The map is easy to use and free of charge. For more information on obtaining a map, contact Ashley Stollar at 404656-6783. 2004 Judicial Election Results The following judges will take office January 1, 2005. Superior Court Judge Eugene M. Benton Alcovy Judicial Circuit; Judge Ural Glanville Judge Michael Johnson Atlanta Judicial Circuit; Judge Sheryl B. Jolly Augusta Judicial Circuit; Judge Bobby Peters Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit; Judge Steve Schuster Cobb Judicial Circuit; Judge Bobby Chasteen Cordele Judicial Circuit; Judge Dennis Blackmon Coweta Judicial Circuit; Judge Ronnie Batchelor Gwinnett Judicial Circuit; Judge Greg A. Adams Judge Mark Scott Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit; Judge Hal Hinesley Toombs Judicial Circuit; Judge Mike Boggs Waycross Judicial Circuit. "Your Guide to the Georgia Courts Brochure" is Available! State Court Judge Judd Drake Candler County; Judge Hermann Coolidge Chatham County; Judge Bob Preston Coffee County; Judge Barbara Mobley DeKalb County; Judge Randy Rich Gwinnett County; Judge Richard Lynn Waters, Jr. Mitchell County Judge Nancy Bills Rockdale County; Judge Grady K. Reddick Screven County; Judge James Irvin Stephens County; Judge Russ Barnes Sumter County. Call 404-656-5171 to request copies. November 2004 Georgia Courts Journal 7 Probate Court Judge Gene Lowery Catoosa County; Judge Wesley Lewis Colquitt County; Judge Pam Busby Crawford County Judge Hal Hamrick Douglas County; Judge Lynwood Jordan Jr. Forsyth County; Judge Kelley Powell Henry County Judge Allen Gay Irwin County; Judge Arthur Buford Jeff Davis County; Judge Andrew Bennett Quitman County; Judge Mitzi Way Schley County; Judge Gloria Dubberly Tattnall County; Judge Suzanne Johnson Tift County; Judge TJ. Hudson Treutlen County; Judge Kenneth Fowler Twiggs County; Judge Calvin Bennett Ware County; Judge Lucy J. Bryant Warren County. 8 Georgia Courts Journal November 2004 Local Programs Showcase Fulton County Family Court One Stop Program Fulton County Superior Court One Stop program offers victims of domestic violence or the program served 229 individuals they go through an initial screening to determine residency and stalking a simple blessing: conven- whether the case involves domestic ience. Believed to be unique in violence or stalking. The client is Georgia, the program offers individ- then given the appropriate petition uals who seek a temporary protec- form; staff review it to make sure it tive order (TPO) a full array of legal is properly filled out. If the victim services at a single location. has visible injuries, photographs are The program was taken. The victim is introduced to the county by Ms. Judith Cramer, District 5 "We didn't need any offered help finding shelter and clothing by an advocate from the Court Administrator, adapting a model she observed in Jacksonville, Florida. money to do it. We just needed Partnership Against Domestic Violence. Victims are also offered free cell phones and Cases are heard by two cooperation." chargers, provided by dedicated judges: donations, that enable Fulton County Magistrates Judge Richard E. Hicks and Ms. Judith Cramer, Court Administrator them to call 911 in an emergency. One Stop collabo- Judge Fred C. Eady, rates with the Atlanta who sit as superior court judges by Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, designation. which provides free representation One Stop went into operation in to qualified individuals. Foundation Fulton County in February 2003. It lawyers interview clients and pro- eliminated the confusion and stress vide representation in court. Victims victims previously experienced as may choose to represent themselves they were sent from one office to or hire a private attorney. To expe- another to complete the steps to dite the process, ex parte hearings obtain a TPO. on petitions for a TPO are held three "We didn't need any money to times a day. do it. We just needed cooperation," Ms. Cramer said. Family Division According to Family Division Close communication between Director Granvette E. Matthews, the the One Stop program and the feedback she receives shows One Family Court judges is a key to suc- Stop has succeeded. When clients cess. Since creation of the Family arrive and in August 2004 alone, Division, spearheaded by Judge Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore, most cases involving domestic issues are assigned to one of the three Family Division judges. Judges serve in Family Division for 18 month terms. Currently Judge Cynthia D. Wright, Judge Wendy L. Shoob and Judge Melvin K. Westmoreland serve the Family Division. Family Division judges hear all cases involving divorce, custody, legitimation, alimony, separation, annulment and many other domestic legal matters. If a TPO is sought involving a case already in Family Division, the Family Division judge assigned will decide whether to hear the matter or allow it to remain on the Domestic Violence Calendar. Family Law Information Center Other services of Family Division include the Family Law Information Center (FLIC), which offers legal forms and information on a range of issues, on-site paternity and drug and alcohol testing, onsite domestic mediation, case evaluation, a staff psychologist, social service coordinators and guardians ad litem. Through FLIC, eligible parties can also obtain 30 minutes of free legal consultation offered through a contract with Atlanta Legal Aid. Contact Ms. Granvette Matthews at 404-224-0505 for additional information. November 2004 Georgia Courts Journal 9 Local Programs Showcase Chatham Court Website one of Top Ten The website of the Chatham County courts has been named one of the Top 10 Court Websites for the second time. The site was selected from over 2,400 reviewed. Courts must offer multiple Mr. Carlton Blair, Clerk, State Court of Chatham Co. e-services to be ranked in the Top Ten. The award-winning website, www.chathamcourts.org, was creat- ed by Carlton W. Blair, Jr., Clerk of Chatham County State Court. www.chathamcourts.org The website provides links to all courts in Chatham County: Superior, State, Magistrate, Probate, Recorder's as well as several AG Opinion OFFICIAL OPINION Disbursement of partial payments received by superior court clerks. Local governing authorities are not authorized to enact local ordinances that differ from OCGA 15-6-95 which establishes an order of priority for the distribution of partial payments toward criminal fines, forfeitures, or costs that are received by clerks of superior court. (11/1/04 2004-10) Municipal courts. It enables individuals to pay traffic fines online, whether the fines are outstanding or yet to be addressed. E-filing for state court cases is also available. The website offers interactive features: indexing case data by arraignment date or the case status, search the docket by party or attorney, and review judges' calendars. It has links to information for jurors, indigent defendants and victim witnesses. "They've done it again... a repeat winner from 2000, the Chatham County courts have banded together to offer a one-stop web presence with e-filing, fine payment, jury postponement, docket index and forms." Citation from Justice Served whose annual list is widely recognized http://justiceserved.com/top10sites.cfm Mr. Blair said the Chatham website went online in 2000. "Before it was implemented, I spent about 50 hours creating a framework for the website, then visited all the courts in our jurisdiction and asked them to participate. Getting buy-in took a while, because the concept was new at the time, but they all participated in some degree," he said. The court website has now been folded into the Chatham County website, http://www.chatham county.org/chatcourts.html While some features have been lost, the site retains much of its overall usability. E-Filing E-filing initially attracted a large number of users but in time many law firms near the courthouse returned to the practice of hiring students to file cases, rather than pay the $15 e-filing fee. Firms that handle collections and other bulk filings continue to e-file at the $3-4 bulk rate. E-fines have also proved successful for State and Recorder's courts. So has the Recorder's Court practice of listing court schedules by police officer badge numbers. This gives police officers notice of their hearings online, any time, and reduces no-shows on court dates. Future Sites Mr. Blair is now creating a new website for his court, www.statecourt.org which will have all of the original features plus new ones. Individuals who have completed all the requirements of probation except the term may use e-probation, enabling them to report monthly to a probation officer online, and pay any fine, probation or other, due. 10 Georgia Courts Journal November 2004 2004-2005 Georgia Courts Directory Corrections Please note these corrections and additions. SUPERIOR COURT Appalachian Circuit Chief Judge Brenda Weaver weaverb@gajudges.org SENIOR JUDGES Superior Court Judge George H. Bryant 93 Brown Circle Hartwell, GA 30643-7002 Magistrate Court Add: Senior Judge Samuel Nesbitt Delete from Pickens Magistrate Court STATE COURT Miller County Delete: Judge Robert Thomas Add: Judge Danny Shepard 154 S. First Street PO Box 585 Colquitt, GA 39837-0585 229-758-5288/F 758-9880 dshepard@bellsouth.net JUVENILE COURT Augusta Circuit Delete: Judge Hugh Hadden Add: Judge H. William Sams, Jr. Eastern Circuit Add: Judge LeRoy Burke, III 197 Carl Griffin Drive Savannah, GA 31405-1362 912-652-6764/F 652-6744 lburke@chathamcounty.org Delete from Chatham County Recorder's Court Griffin Circuit Presiding Judge Tarey Schell PO Box 1469 Griffin, GA 30224 770-467-4376 Assoc. Judge Ben J. Miller, Jr. PO Drawer 671 Thomaston, GA 30286 706-647-5466 Piedmont Circuit Judge Kevin Guidry 706-387-6246 MAGISTRATE COURT Calhoun County Delete: Judge Maurice A. Duff Catoosa County Judge George W. Mueller, Jr. 798 LaFayette Street Ringgold, GA 30736 Cherokee County Chief Magistrate Judge Benjamin Cade Abney Burke County Judge Ed Grunewald PO Box 401 Waynesboro, GA 30830-0401 706-554-2050/F 554-8772 Fannin County Delete: Judge R. Steve Stanley Greene County Delete: Judge Richard W. Schmidt Add: Judge Peter J. Rice, Jr. 106 S. Main Street Greensboro, GA 30642 Fulton County Delete: Judge Mark Harper Gwinnett County Delete: Judge Chung Lee Hancock County Judge Robert L. Burton FAX 706-444-6178 Jackson County Judge Billy Chandler Judge Sherri Evans 5000 Jackson Parkway, Suite 230 Jefferson, GA 30549 706-387-6356/F 387-6369 Liberty County Judge Amy L. Owens 502 Windsor Court Hinesville, GA 31313 912-876-6212/F 876-6212 McIntosh County Judge Ralph E. Poppell Judge Teresa K. Jennings Judge Joseph R. Robertson PO Drawer 459 Darien, GA 31305 Oglethorpe County Judge Ashley Barnett PO Box 356 Lexington, GA 30648 706-743-8321/F 743-3177 Twiggs County Delete: Judge Kenneth Fowler Add: Judge David Brown MUNICIPAL COURT Albany Delete: Judge Paula T. Hanington Add: Judge William H. Gregory, II PO Box 607 Albany, GA 31702-0607 229-431-3036/F 431-2249 Barnesville Judge A. Henry Abreu 404 Thomaston Street Barnesville, GA 30204 770-358-2121/F 358-1950 November 2004 Georgia Courts Journal 11 2004-2005 Georgia Courts Directory Corrections Please note these corrections and additions. Helena Delete: Judge Steven Harrison Add: Judge Tom Everett 101 SW Railroad Street Mount Vernon, GA 30445 912-583-4121 Kingsland Judge Robert C. Sweatt, Jr. PO Box 1117 Kingsland, GA 31548 912-729-3700/F 729-3720 Kennesaw Judge Donald W. Singleton 2325 Log Cabin Drive Olde Ivy, Suite 105 Smyrna, GA 30080 770-432-2922/F 495-9925 Leslie Delete: Judge James Sizemore Add: Judge Plez Hardin PO Box 226 Leslie, GA 31764 229-942-0758 Lyons Judge Sherri Paul McDonald PO Box 296 Vidalia, GA 30475-0296 912-537-3404/F 537-3730 Riverdale Judge Thomas S. Robinson, III 142 Mitchell Street, Suite 401 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-521-1211/F 521-1727 Sale City Judge Richard L. Waters, Jr. PO Box 188 Camilla, GA 31730 229-336-3962/F 336-9163 Smyrna Judge Timothy W. Wolfe 3059 Vinings Ferry Drive Atlanta, GA 30339-4343 770-435-8616/F 805-0494 Wrightsville Judge Matthew Waters PO Box 151 Wrightsville, GA 31096 478-864-9370/F 864-9372 US DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN Clerk Luther D. Thomas 404-215-1600 SUPERIOR COURT CLERK Bulloch County Street address: 20 Siebald Street Morgan County PO Drawer 551 SOLICITOR GENERAL Chattooga County Delete: Don W. Thompson Add: Sanford M. Hill DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATORS District 2 John Cowart jcowart0738@bellsouth.net Commission on Access and Fairness Activities The Georgia Commission on Access and Fairness in the Courts continues work on upcoming projects. A draft of the Handbook for Georgia Court Officials on Courtroom Accessibility for Individuals is under review by members of the Commission. The final version is projected to be completed in December 2004. Judge Nina Radakovich, City Court of Atlanta, Judge Nelly F. Withers, Juvenile Court of DeKalb County, Ms. Marla Moore, AOC Senior Associate Director, and Ms. Stephanie Chambliss, GCAFC Program Manager, were among participants at the 26th Annual National Association of Women Judges Conference and Gender Fairness Workshop. The Conference was held October 7-10, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The GCAFC is co-sponsoring the 2005 Annual Conference of the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts. The meeting will be held in Atlanta in April, 2005. Contact Ms. Stephanie Chambliss at 404-463-3927 for additional information. PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ATLANTA, GA PERMIT #1880 10th JAD Holds Training Administrative Judge: Judge John M. Ott District Court Administrator: L. Tom Gunnels Circuits: Alcovy, Augusta, Northern, Piedmont, Toombs and Western. The Tenth Judicial Administrative District and the Superior Courts of Georgia recently hosted a regional Guardian Ad Litem Training seminar. Presented by the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, the session explained many facets of protecting the best interests of chil- dren to forty-four participants from the Augusta and Toombs Circuits. Daniel A. Bloom, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, lead an instructor group of medical doctors, attorneys, child psychologists, and child advocates in the eighthour course directed toward attorneys and lay-people who serve as guardians ad litem. Attendees were instructed on how to begin the job of a guardian, how to keep files and records, how to communicate with lawyers and the courts, and how to remain objective in their work. Judge Neal W. Dickert, Augusta Judicial Circuit, said, "Being a guardian ad litem in a disputed cus- eorgia Courts Journal G Administrative Office of the Courts 244 Washington Street, S.W., Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30334-5900 NORMAN S. FLETCHER Chief Justice DAVID L. RATLEY Director COURTS JOURNAL STAFF Billie Bolton Ashley G. Stollar Philippa Maister tody case is a complex and multifaceted job. The program addressed all the issues necessary to enable the participants to do this job effectively. We could not have been more pleased with the program and response from the attendees." The Augusta Judicial Circuit will soon require GAL training as a prerequisite for service. The Tenth Judicial Circuit will host a second training session in Athens, in early 2005, for the Western, Piedmont, Alcovy and Northern Circuits. For additional information, contact Mr. Tom Gunnels, 706-312-7230.