Georgia courts journal, July 2004

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Journal
Journal

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Journal

July 2004

Journal

A Publication of the Judicial Council of Georgia

Commission Marks 15th Anniversary

The Georgia Commission on Access and Fairness in the Courts recently held a spe-

Stolz, LLC; and Ms. Marla Moore, Associate Director for Court Services, AOC. Each gave their

cial reception to mark the 15th

perspective about the history,

anniversary of

accomplish-

the formation of

ments and goals

the Supreme

of the

Court

Commission.

Commission on

The

Gender Bias in

Supreme Court

the Judicial

Commission on

System. State

Gender Bias in

legislators,

the Judicial

judges, former Commission members and

Speakers for the event were (from left): Ms. Stephanie Chambliss, Justice Carol W. Hunstein, Ms. Linda Klein, and Ms. Marla Moore.

System was created on March 15, 1989, by the

others who have worked to reduce

late Chief Justice Thomas O.

bias in the courts attended the recep- Marshall. Its mandate was to deter-

tion which was held in Atlanta on

mine whether gender bias existed in

February 19, 2004.

Georgia courts and to make recom-

Speakers for the event were

mendations to correct problems

Justice Carol W. Hunstein, Supreme identified.

Court of Georgia; Ms. Linda Klein,

The Commission found that

managing partner of Gambrell &

gender bias was a serious problem

in the treatment of victims of domestic violence, rape, and other sexual offenses. Problems were also perceived in the handling of child custody and child support cases. In addition, the Commission noted sexist and inappropriate treatment of female attorneys, witnesses and litigants in some courtrooms. It also concluded that gender bias was a factor causing women to be seriously underrepresented among Georgia's judges.
The findings of the Commission led directly to efforts to improve court procedures on issues related to domestic violence and diversity, and to improve physical and legal access to the courts for all.
For more information, see www.georgiacourts.org/agencies/ gcafc/index.html
INSIDE

NCSC Names New President

Ms. Mary McQueen of Washington State has been selected as the new president of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). Ms. McQueen has been the director of the Administrative Office of the Washington Courts for the past 9 years. Prior to that time, she served

16 years as a trial court administrator. As president of NCSC, she plans to reach all levels of courts and wants to focus on educating the public about the inner workings of the courts. Ms. McQueen, a native of LaFayette in Walker County, will begin her tenure in August.

People, Places & Events pg 2

A Review of Integrated

Justice Systems in GA

pg 4

Court Technology Committee pg 6

Cordele Public

Defender Office

pg 7

Local Programs Showcase pg 8

Judicial Education Seminar pg 11

2 Georgia Courts Journal July 2004

People, Places and Events ...

In Memoriam
Senior Judge James Emory Findley longtime judge of the Atlantic Judicial Circuit died May 16, 2004, following a lengthy illness. Judge Findley became a senior judge in 1994 after serving 18 years on the superior court bench.
Senior Judge Charles A. Wofford of Atlanta died on May 25, 2004. Judge Wofford was appointed to the superior court bench of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit in 1967 and served until his retirement in 1981.
Senior Judge George E. Oliver of Savannah died on July 2, 2004. Judge Oliver served the Recorder's Court of Chatham County from 1955-1963, the State Court of Chatham County from 1963-70, and the Eastern Judicial Circuit from 1970 until his retirement in 1984.
Judge Billie Jean Davenport, Polk County Magistrate Court, died on February 26, 2004.
Judge Bertram Derr Waln, Norcross Municipal Court, died on January 2, 2004. Judge Waln had sustained injuries in August 2003 from a motorcycle accident.
Retirements
A ceremony was held for retiring Hancock County Probate Court Judge Edith J. Ingram on February 27, 2004.

Judge Marion Guess, DeKalb County Probate Court, retired on February 29, 2004, after serving for 23 years. Judge Guess has been appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue as a senior judge.
Chief Judge Elizabeth Long, Atlanta Judicial Circuit, retired on March 31, 2004. Judge Long now serves as a senior judge.
Judge A. Ronald Cook, Juvenile Court of Spalding County, retired on June 31, 2004, and has been appointed by Gov. Perdue as a senior judge
Transitions
Chief Presiding Judge Nina Hickson, Fulton County Juvenile Court, resigned on April 30, 2004, to return to private practice.
Judge William L. Reilly, Appalachian Judicial Circuit Juvenile Court, resigned his position in April 2004 to accept a post in the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.
In a ruling on April 19, 2004, the Supreme Court of Georgia removed Cherokee County Chief Magistrate Judge Charles T. Robinson, II, from the bench. Judge James E. Drane has assumed the duties of Chief Magistrate.

Appointments
At a swearing-in ceremony held May 12, 2004 in the State Capitol, Governor Sonny Perdue administered the oath of office to Thomas R. Campbell, Jr., of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Judge Campbell fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Judge Elizabeth Long.
Gov. Perdue has appointed Charles Joseph Steedley as District Attorney for the Alapaha Judicial Circuit filling the vacancy left by the voluntary suspension of Robert B. Ellis, Jr.
On June 18, 2004, Gov. Perdue announced appointments of Ms. Shawn E. LaGru, as SolicitorGeneral in DeKalb County, and Mr. Don W. Thompson as SolicitorGeneral in Chattooga County.
Gov. Perdue made several appointments on July 6, 2004, as follows:
Judge Samuel C. Finster, Sr., State Court of Chattooga Co.
Judge James Kelly Brooks, State Court of Charlton County (newly created judgeship)
Mr. Edmund H. Skorupski, Solicitor-General, Charlton Co.
RECYCLE

July 2004 Georgia Courts Journal 3

People, Places and Events ...

Awards
Justice Robert Benham, Supreme Court of Georgia, was presented the 2004 Ben F. Johnson Jr. Public Service Award by the State Bar of Georgia on April 8, 2004, at a ceremony held at Georgia State University in Atlanta.
On November 11, 2003, Mr. Dink NeSmith was recognized for his service on the Judicial Qualifications Commission by JQC Chair Judge Steve Jones, Western Judicial Circuit. Mr. NeSmith now serves on the Governor's Commission for a New Georgia.
Mr. NeSmith (left) accepts a glass sculpture from Judge Steve Jones, Chair, JQC.

Employee Recognition Week
Ms. Bonnie Tinker (left), Mr. Jay B. Martin, and Ms. Ebone Richardson were recognized for excellence.
Staff of the AOC was treated to lunch on May 6, 2004, in celebration of Employee Recognition Week. At the gathering, three employees of the Administrative Office of the Courts were nominated for the Governor's Award of Excellence during Public Employee Recognition Week, May 2-8, 2004.
Deputy Director Jay B. Martin nominated in the Safety category; Ms. Bonnie Tinker, Staff Attorney, nominated in the Customer Service category; and Ms. Ebone Richardson, Administrative Assistant for Research, nominated in the Leadership category.

The Board of Court Reporting (BCR) of the Judicial Council of Georgia held a reception in Atlanta on June 24, 2004, to mark its thirtieth anniversary of service to the courts.
The BCR has developed and implemented testing, certification, and disciplinary procedures for Georgia court reporters since its creation in 1974.
Ms. Leslie Johnson served as Clerk to the Board of Court Reporting for 25 years and was honored during the reception for her contributions. Mr. David Ratley, AOC Director, made the presentation.

Ms. Leslie Johnson (left) and Mr. David Ratley at the June 24th reception.

Preparedness Grant
The Georgia Emergency Management Agency's Terrorism Emergency Response and Preparedness Division approved a grant of $30,000 for emergency and medical equipment including trauma kits, defribrillators, twoway radios, megaphones and reflector vests. The equipment will be distributed to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of Georgia, the AOC, Atlanta Municipal Court, Municipal Court of Valdosta, Greene County Probate Court, and Glynn County courts.
Jury Composition Grant
Justice Hugh Thompson, left, Supreme Court of Georgia, accepts a $2,000 grant from Lauren Barrett, Lawyers Foundation of Georgia, for the Supreme Court Jury Composition Committee.
Correction
Please note: Regarding the article on the DeKalb Juvenile Court Program featured on page 8 of the February 2004 issue of Georgia Courts Journal, it should have been noted that Project Destiny is a program operated by the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, not the Juvenile Court itself.

4 Georgia Courts Journal July 2004

Integrated Justice Systems in Georgia:

Integrated Justice Systems in Georgia

Georgia may not yet have a technically integrated network that connects all parts of the justice system, but a few counties already have computer systems up and running that show what is possible.
Some of the counties described here have integrated their courts and related agencies by agreeing to adopt a common software program. Others have found ways to share data from the different systems already in use. The judges and court administrators interviewed all agree that gaining consensus requires give-and-take by all parties about what data they are willing to share, as well as buy-in from county commissioners. But they also agree that the final product is well worth the time and effort invested.
Chatham County
In the mid-1980s, Chatham County became one of the first in Georgia to integrate recordkeeping for the courts and related agencies through technology. Chatham County needed to upgrade its computer system as a whole, according to Ms. Fran Arnsdorff, Deputy Court Administrator for the Eastern Judicial Circuit. As a result, all agencies moved to a single compatible system. All information is entered into a single database that other agencies can access.
The system sends names of defendants as they are booked into jail to the Public Defender's office to help in scheduling interviews. If an attorney is assigned, the system prints out a voucher giving the attorney's name and amount to be paid.
The most difficult part of the process was deciding what information each organization could share and with whom, Ms. Arnsdorff said. "We started out with basic principles and then sat down and went through the data item by item. One of the main benefits was that we each came to a better understanding of the process and what our roles are. The process is a living, growing thing. We still have frequent user network meetings."

Rockdale County
In Rockdale County, Ms. Joanne P. Caldwell, Clerk of Superior Court, played a leading role -- with the support of her judges -- in encouraging judges and clerks of other courts, as well as the sheriff and DA, to agree to allow their different computer systems to share specific types of data.
All documents submitted are scanned and can be pulled up as a photographic image. Judges can review documents in their offices and fax out orders directly from their computers. Ms. Caldwell says the system has eliminated much of the paperwork that used to clutter the office.
Rockdale's system went online in 1990, Ms. Caldwell said. "On the warrant screen, I can see where the warrant was originally issued, when the first appearance hearing was held, and when the defendant was transferred to the state. Entering the warrant number pulls up all that information, when the case gets to my office, we add the Superior Court case number to the existing database. Appointments of public defenders are also entered into the system. When we enter hearing dates, the system automatically updates the calendar and prints notices for everyone who needs to get them. It also displays continuances granted, and lets us track co-defendants in a case."
The system automatically sends a daily report to the jail on every prisoner scheduled for a court hearing , including time of the appearance. Judges are able to view all docketed civil cases and create their own calendars from open cases. They can enter hearing dates, print documents, etc.

July 2004 Georgia Courts Journal 5

... An Overview

Integrated Justice Systems in Georgia

Clayton County
Clayton County has a well-established system that started in 1978 according to Superior Court Clerk Linda T. Miller. The system was developed by the county's information technology department and is common to all agencies. If an individual comes to court to pay a traffic ticket the system will automatically signal if there are outstanding warrants, permitting an immediate arrest. When a judge hands down a sentence, it is immediately entered into the record in the courtroom and transmitted throughout the system.
Brunswick Judicial Circuit
In the Brunswick Circuit, Superior Court Judge Amanda F. Williams took the lead in 1994 in pushing for technology to integrate the courts, sheriff's office and DA. "Everybody was just so glad to be computerized that nobody fussed about it," Judge Williams said.
Judge Williams likes the detailed information the system provides. "When John Doe comes back through the system, there's a way for me to know it's the same John Doe. Without an integrated justice system, there is a new file on a defendant each time, but with it, we just use the same file. If the DA says there is a criminal history, I can see if a case is pending, warrants are outstanding, or if the defendant has pled. I can tell if the warrant has been served."

Seventh Judicial District
Three circuits in the 7th District -- Lookout Mountain, Douglas, and Paulding -- are also moving to integration, according to Jody Overcash, District Court Administrator.
In the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, all courts are linked together. Judge Jerry Day, Magistrate Court of Walker County, has taken the lead in encouraging integration. The system is built on SUSTAIN, the free software program installed and maintained by the AOC.
Judge David Emerson, Douglas Judicial Circuit, has been the force behind successful integration of systems in Douglas County.
Paulding County court officials are at work on their system.
Henry County
Henry County has taken its first steps to achieving an integrated justice system by enabling exchange of traffic ticket data between the police department and state court computer systems. Chief Judge Ben Studdard, State Court of Henry County, sees this initial project as a test to jumpstart full justice system integration in the county.
With Mr. Clark Rainer, Henry County Systems Analyst, Judge Studdard and colleagues from other courts and the DA and sheriff's offices have met frequently. Since each court and branch of government uses different software, Mr. Rainer has designed a model where each submits specified data to a central XML server, which transfers the data to a requesting agency in a compatible format.
Judge Studdard, with the support of the Henry County Commission, persuaded the General Assembly to pass a local bill that allows the State Court to assess a $5.00 technology fee on civil and criminal cases to assist with court automation. For Judge Studdard, technology integration is not simply a matter of convenience or speed. It is a civic obligation.
"The judge's first duty is to deliver justice. The second duty is to deliver it with professionalism, and part and parcel of that is to deliver it as efficiently as possible. Being able to tell people how much they will have to pay for a traffic ticket is an issue of efficient government and of professional service," Judge Studdard said.

6 Georgia Courts Journal July 2004
National Courts Technology Leaders Brief Court Technology Committee

Chief Justice Norman S. Fletcher has pledged to support the recommendations of the Supreme Court Committee on Court Technology, which held its first meeting in Atlanta on February 20.
Justice Fletcher said the Georgia Courts Automation Commission has been underfunded historically and there is a need for a strategy that will help all the courts. He pledged that as long as he is Chief Justice he would provide the same level of support to the Committee that he gave to the Chief Justice's Commission on Indigent Defense. His successor as Chief will also support its work. He hopes the Committee will produce unanimous recommendations, as the Indigent Defense Commission did.
Mr. Jim McMillan, Director of the Court Technology Lab, National Center for State Courts (NCSC), told the committee members that technology should be used to reduce
Click onto what's happening ...
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complexity, both for clerk's office staff and for judges. He noted that it can eliminate the burden and expense of storing paper documents,
distribute workflow more easily, facilitate case management and provide decision support for judges.
Mr. McMillan stressed that it is not necessary for individual courts to discard existing case management systems in order to achieve a unified system. Technological advances

now enable different systems to communicate with each other and share data.
"It is not bad that Georgia has a lot of different case management systems in its courts," Mr. McMillan said. "Because Georgia has lots of wonderful individualized systems, there is a great opportunity to use services like a case index, name index, and calendaring for integration. One can grow and make the different systems communicate and work together. Systems can be interconnected but not dependent."
The full minutes of the Court Technology meetings, can be viewed at www.georgiacourts.org

Court Technology Committee Update

The Supreme Court Committee on Court Technology met on June 11, 2004. Three subcommittees (see page 7) have been formed to study issues identified as fundamental for the success of court automation in Georgia. The subcommittees will focus on coordination, funding, and standards. Meetings of the full Committee will resume in September, once the subcommittees have completed their work.
At earlier meetings, judges and clerks from each class of court have made presentations on their current state of technological readiness, and what their future needs

are. While each court faces different issues, certain common themes have emerged, especially a desire to end the duplication of effort that results from entering the same data again and again. Judges and clerks also want to have immediate computer access to needed information, whether that data is stored in other courts or other agencies. They also want to be able to transmit information electronically.
All speakers have identified the need for stable and consistent funding and common standards that will allow different case management systems to interact.

Court Technology Subcommittees
System Coordination
Judge John C. Pridgen, Chair, Cordele Judicial Circuit; Judge N. Jackson Harris, CoChair, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit; Ms. Jean H. Rogers, Clerk, Crisp County Superior Court; Judge William J. Self, II, Probate Court of Bibb County; Ms. Jodie Overcash, District 7 Court Administrator; Mr. Carlton W. Blair, Jr., Clerk, Chatham County State Court; Mr. Rudolph N. Patterson, Macon.
Potential Funding Mechanisms
Judge William M. Coolidge, III, Duluth Municipal Court; Judge Cliff L. Jolliff, Juvenile Court of Hall County; Ms. Kimberly Hunnicutt, Court Reporter; Mr. William L. Martin, III, Clerk, Georgia Court of Appeals; Mr. John E. Cowart, Jr., Second District Court Administrator; Judge Brenda S. Weaver, Appalachian Judicial Circuit; Ms. V. Natasha Perdew Silas, Public Defender Standards Council
Standards
Mr. Steven D. Kelley, District Attorney, Brunswick Circuit; Judge Joseph Iannazzone, State Court of Gwinnett County; Ms. Jane Gaguski, Clerk, Lawrenceville Municipal Court Ms. Gayle Collins, Clerk, Whitfield Co. Magistrate Court; Judge Thomas W. Reed, Magistrate Court of Dade County; Ms. Barbara Bledsoe, Clerk, Juvenile Court of DeKalb County; Ms. Sherie M. Welch, Clerk, Supreme Court of Georgia; and Mr. F. Barry Wilkes, Clerk, Liberty County Superior Court

July 2004 Georgia Courts Journal 7

Cordele Circuit First to Adopt

New Public Defender System

On July 1, 2004, the Cordele Judicial Circuit opened the state's first Public Defender

continuing the tradition of providing effective assistance of counsel in a manner which ensures public trust

program created by the Georgia

and confidence," said Mr. Nolan

Indigent Defense Act of 2003. The

Martin, 8th District Court

Cordele Judicial Circuit, which con- Administrator and a member of the

sists of Ben

Tripartite

Hill, Crisp,

Committee.

Dooly, and

The

Wilcox

Tripartite

counties,

Committee and

will serve as

GPDSC staff will

a model for

jointly supervise

the system

the new staff and

that will be

conflict attorneys

instituted in the rest of the state by January 1,

Attendees at the opening of Cordele Circuit's Public Defender Office included: (left to right) Ms. Marla Moore, AOC; Michael Mears, Director, GPDSC; Judge John C. Pridgen, Cordele Judicial Circuit; Nolan Martin, Eighth District Court Administrator.

until the agreement expires on December 31, 2004. The

2005.

Cordele Circuit

Under an agreement with the

Public Defender Office is located in

Cordele Judicial Circuit's Tripartite

renovated office space in Fitzgerald,

Committee, the Georgia Public

opposite the Ben Hill County

Defender Standards Council

Courthouse. The space is provided

(GPDSC) has hired Mr. H. Burton

by the Tripartite Committee. The

Baker as Circuit Public Defender for Committee has also ordered tele-

Georgia's first state-funded Public

phone lines, DSL lines, office fur-

Defender office. The Circuit has ter- nishings, computers, copier/printer/

minated its current contracts with

fax and scanners. "It will be a mod-

local attorneys and hired an investi-

ern day law office, technologically

gator for the office on April 9.

advanced," said Martin.

The agreement has the support

A satellite office will be located

of the local judiciary, including

in Vienna in Dooly County. Plans

Chief Judge Whitfield R. Forrester

are being made to accommodate the

and Judge John Pridgen of the

public defenders office with space in

Superior Court and Juvenile Court

each county jail in the circuit; coun-

Judge Christopher Hughes.

ties will share phone expenses on a

"The Superior Court, Juvenile

pro rata basis.

Court, and Tripartite Committee rec-

The Cordele Circuit's Public

ognized the benefits of early imple-

Defender Office was officially

mentation, including the reduced

opened at a ceremony held in

cost for the local taxpayers, while

Fitzgerald on July 1, 2004.

8 Georgia Courts Journal July 2004
Local Programs Showcase

"Court Visitors of DeKalb"
DeKalb Probate Court Partners with Senior Connections

In response to the need to more closely monitor guardianships of incapacitated adult wards, the Probate Court of DeKalb County and Senior Connections, a local non-profit agency, have partnered in a new volunteer-based advocacy program called Court Visitors of DeKalb.
Incapacitated adult wards are adults who, because of a mental or physical incapacity, are not able to make significant responsible decisions for themselves. The Probate Court, which appoints guardians to protect and care for these adults, has an ongoing obligation to oversee the guardianships and to ensure that each ward receives the proper care. Through the Court Visitor Program, volunteers will have the opportunity to play a vital role in our advocacy system by assisting the Probate Court in fulfilling its obligation. Judge Marion Guess stated, "I am

grateful for the opportunity for this court to partner with Senior Connections to provide a Court Visitor Program. The program will make a significant difference in the court's ability to watch over those incapacitated adults under our protection."
Court Visitor's will have direct contact with guardians, make personal visits to the ward's place of residence, and provide the probate court with current and accurate information about the guardianship and the ward's situation. Such information is vital for successfully managing guardianships.
Since 1973 Senior Connections, a community-based non-profit organization and its volunteer force, has helped adults throughout the Atlanta area maintain their independence and quality of life.
"Senior Connections volunteer force has enabled our agency to

District Administrative Judges
New Superior Court District Administrative Judges have been elected as follows:
Judge F. Gates Peed, First District Chief Judge George F. Nunn, Third District Chief Judge Doris L. Downs, Fifth District Chief Judge Jon B. Wood, Seventh District Chief Judge Hugh W. Stone, Ninth District Judge John M. Ott, Tenth District
All other district administrative judges are continuing their terms.

deliver meals, repair homes, and provide visitors for seniors for over 30 years, and we are happy to offer our help to the Probate Court of DeKalb County for this new and worthwhile project," stated Steve Brazen, Executive Director for Senior Connections.
For more information about the Court Visitor Program call Gordon Fowler, Attorney for the Probate Court of DeKalb County, at (404) 687-3563, or Deirdre Reynolds, Senior Connections' Director of Volunteer Resources, at (770) 2162581.
Essays on the Georgia Supreme Court Published
The University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government has published a book of essays by preeminent Georgia government legal scholar R. Perry Sentell, Jr. Originally published in the Georgia Law Review and the Mercer Law Review, the essays explore historic aspects of the state's highest appellate court.
Essays on the Supreme Court of Georgia, 119 pages, is available for $17.95 (plus tax and shipping). All orders must be prepaid. For ordering details, call 706-542-6377 or go to the online store at www.vinsoninstitute.org/catalog

July 2004 Georgia Courts Journal 9
Local Programs Showcase

Alternative Sentencing Program -- State Court of Cherokee County

For the past seven years, Cherokee County State Court has been sentencing first time

ment are just a few of the values the program introduces to our students."
Candidates for the program are

offenders to something out of the

carefully selected by Chief Judge

ordinary. Rather than placing teen

Gober, Judge Jordan, and Solicitor-

and young adult offenders on proba- General David Cannon, Jr. "We try

tion or sending them to jail, Chief

to pick people who need direction,

Judge C.J. Gober, Jr., and Judge

role models, and self esteem. We

Alan Jordan send

have seen a con-

them to classes at

sistent 92%-94%

the Atlanta Judo

non-recidivism

Academy in

rate for offenders

Woodstock.

who complete the

The Alternative

program."

Sentencing Adult

Offenders

Program (ASAP) is

assigned to the

designed to give judges a sentencing alternative for first-

Students learn discipline at the Atlanta Judo Academy.

Judo Academy must attend one class per week

time offenders. Rather than placing

for 25 weeks, they pay for the cost

these offenders in jail, the program

of their classes, and are subject to

allows them an opportunity to re-

random drug testing. Students have

think their decision-making process- the opportunity to earn colored belts

es and behavior.

which indicate their level of training

Mr. Bob Byrd, owner of Atlanta and are encouraged to enter compet-

Judo Academy, says, "Self-respect,

itive matches as they develop their

respect for others, a sporting disci-

skills.

pline, and a sense of accomplish-

ASAP Participant Cites Benefits

Upon completion of the ASAP program, students come to court for a review by the judge. Many express gratitude for positive changes the discipline has brought to their lives.
For more information, contact Chief Judge Gober, Cherokee County State Court, at 678-4936480 or Mr. Bob Byrd, Atlanta Judo Academy, at (770) 592-4572.
AOC Research Division Website
The Research Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has recently developed its own website. The site includes court caseload reports for the Superior, State, Magistrate, Juvenile, Probate, and Municipal courts. A research staff directory and other research documents are also available.
The website can be viewed at http://research.georgiacourts.org/
Any questions or suggestions regarding the website should be directed to, Dr. Greg Arnold at 404-656-6413 or arnoldg@gaaoc.us

"I've learned self-respect, discipline, and it has given me a path, and a good start on a better one than the one I was on. I needed an opportunity to straighten my life out, ASAP has done that."
Justin J.

Please Recycle

10 Georgia Courts Journal July 2004
AOC Staff Write State, National Standards

STATE CRIMINAL CODE REFORM
The Judicial Council has approved a proposal to create an interagency committee to develop a computerized standard statute table that would simplify Georgia's criminal code numbering system.
"The criminal justice system of Georgia does not currently have a uniform standard statute table for use in arrests, charging, prosecution, adjudicating and recording dispositions," said Mr. Michael Neuren, AOC Client Services Manager.
Confusion results because of simple human error: misdemeanors entered as felonies, crucial subsection information that identifies a specific charge inadvertently left out, etc. Additionally, each law enforcement entity, the courts and other justice agencies use different statute tables.
"Many use tables that lack detail, making accurate reporting impossible. For example, the Georgia Crime Information Center and the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety each use their own statute tables, leading to conflicts in disposition-reporting from the

courts. This is to the detriment of case counting and any statistics the AOC attempts to compile," Mr. Neuren said.
Mr. Neuren noted that a computerized standard statute table will eliminate duplicate data entry, ensure accurate and uniform charges on criminal complaints, and recognize only valid statute numbers while notifying users if incorrect numbers have been entered. He also encourages updating and using standard code tables for topics like Case Categories and Case Disposition Types.
The Standard Code and Statute Table Committee approved by the Judicial Council will be made up of judges from various levels of court, as well as representatives of other agencies. It will meet several times a year. The Council may seek Federal funding for its work.
Not only the courts, but law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and other agencies will benefit. "Unless statewide standard statute and codes tables are cooperatively developed, a coordinated Justice Information System is much more difficult, if not impossible, to implement," Mr. Neuren commented.

NATIONAL TRAFFIC COURT STANDARDS
Mr. Bob Bray and Ms. Zaina Ajkaie of the Administrative Office of the Courts of Georgia have been selected to develop national technology standards for traffic courts.
As part of the Judicial Standards Committee sponsored by the Department of Justice and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, Mr. Bray and Ms. Ajkaie are drafting Traffic Court Functional Standards. The standards document, to be compiled by the National Center for State Courts, will provide a reference point for courts seeking to build or buy case management systems. The standards outline the basic requirements of an efficient system. Courts will be able to utilize these standards in Requests for Purchase or Proposals to assure that the technology they are considering for purchase is capable of performing required functions. When completed, these standards will be included with those for other kinds of courts and will be managed by the Department of Justice.

Supreme Court Adopts Videoconferencing Rules

The Supreme Court of Georgia has adopted Uniform Rules for Telephone and Video-conferencing in Georgia courts that became effective July 1, 2004.
Separate versions of the

Uniform Rules have been adopted for Superior and State Courts, Juvenile Court, Probate Court, and Magistrate Court.
As before, judges may conduct pre-trial or post-trial proceedings in civil actions by telephone confer-

ence with attorneys for all parties. The new rules on video-conferencing govern specific proceedings in criminal cases.
The full text of the Supreme Court order can be viewed at www.georgiacourts.org

July 2004 Georgia Courts Journal 11

Georgia Judges Attend Judicial

Education Seminar

Representatives of Georgia's judges, courts administrators, and judicial educators attended the Advanced Leadership Institute in Judicial Education (LIJE) workshop on March

16-20, in Memphis, Tennessee.

The purpose of the LIJE program is to create a more unified

and informed judiciary and ultimately to improve the quality of

justice in state courts.

As a result of the

LIJE, significant steps

have been taken

toward achieving a

more organized and

networked judicial

education organization

that is based upon an

increasingly strong

professional organiza-

tion of state judicial

educators. Chief Magistrate

Some of the Georgia contingent at the Advanced Leadership Institute in Judicial Education in Memphis, TN.

Judge Michael Baird,

Clayton County, said, "I enjoyed the opportunity to participate. In

addition to the substantive topics that were covered, the opportuni-

ty to interact with judges from the various classes of courts is most

helpful. Through that type of small group reflection, we learn that

the challenges that face our respective courts are more similar than

one might imagine. The chairs of the training councils for the

State, Superior, and Magistrate courts are in agreement that we

should try to focus on more merged training in the future. I appre-

ciate the opportunity to participate and thank ICJE and the Council

of Superior Court Judges for covering the cost of the program."

Attendees
Superior Court Judge Albert Rahn, Atlantic Circuit Judge John Allen, Chattahoochee Circuit Judge John Simpson, Coweta Circuit Judge Bonnie Oliver, Northeastern Circuit Judge Thomas Hodges, Northern Circuit Judge Robert Castellani, Stone Mtn. Circuit
State Court Judge Bridgette Cambpell, Cobb County Sr. Judge Jack McLaughlin, DeKalb Co.
Judge Brenda Cole, Fulton County Judge Gayle Hamrick, Richmond County
Judge Jeanette Little, Troup County
Magistrate Court Judge Michael Baird, Clayton County Judge David Wood, DeKalb County
Court Administrators, Educators Ms. Marla Moore, AOC
Mr. Doug Ashworth, CSCJ Mr. Richard Reaves, ICJE Dr. Lynda Hanscome, ICJE Ms. Kathy Mitchem, ICJE

Mark Your Calendar...
The next meeting of the Judicial Council of Georgia will take place August 20, 2004, at the Wyndam Atlanta Hotel.

"Your Guide to the Georgia Courts Brochure" is Available!
Call 404-656-5171 to request copies.

Judge Phipps Speaks to Summer Law Interns

Judge Herbert Phipps, Court of Appeals of Georgia, was the keynote speaker at the Atlanta Bar Association's 2004 Summer Law Internship Program Kick Off Breakfast on June 25, 2004.
Judge Phipps' remarks to the group of judges, lawyers, and interns stressed the "Importance of Being Honorable." He recalled his impressions of the legal profession during his teenage years and the impact of the visit on career day at his school of Mr. C.B. King, the only black lawyer in south Georgia during segregation.
Honor, regardless of profession, is essential to those who strive to do well, for those who want to succeed,

"because doing well, alone, is not enough... you should live by the rule that you don't have the right to claim that you are doing well Judge Herbert Phipps unless you are also doing good."
Judge Phipps noted that even though honor may compel one to stand alone on an issue or make one unpopular in the eyes of those watching, an honorable person must "have the courage to do the right thing when the whole world is

watching; have the courage to do the right thing when no one is watching."
The summer interns are high school students in the Atlanta Public Schools who are assigned to law firms and judges.
Coming Soon!
The 2004-2005 Georgia Courts Directory will be in the mail soon! Your complimentary copy should arrive in late August. Additional copies are available for $20. For more details, call Ashley
Stollar, 404-656-6783.

Georgia Courts Journal
Administrative Office of the Courts
244 Washington Street, S.W., Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30334-5900

PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID ATLANTA, GA PERMIT #1880

NORMAN S. FLETCHER Chief Justice
DAVID L. RATLEY Director
COURTS JOURNAL STAFF Billie Bolton Ashley G. Stollar Philippa Maister