G G G Journal Journal G Journal March 2005 Journal A Publication of the Judicial Council of Georgia New Year Marked by Transitions -- New Chief Judge for Court of Appeals Takes Office The Honorable John H. Ruffin, Jr., took the oath of office to become Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia on January 5, 2005. Chief Judge Ruffin was introduced and sworn-in by US District Court Judge Anthony A. Alaimo. Speakers at the event included Judge J.D. Smith of the Court of Appeals and Justice Robert Benham of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court of Appeals were present, along with many judges from the Augusta area and Judge Ruffin's family and friends. Chief Judge Ruffin is the first AfricanAmerican to serve as chief judge. He was appointed to the Court of US District Court Judge Anthony A. Alaimo (left) gives the oath of office to Chief Judge Ruffin. Fletcher Addresses the General Assembly Of his impending retirement from the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Fletcher said, "I have been richly blessed with wonderful family and friends, strong faith, good health, and the great privilege of serving on your Supreme Court for 15 years. I deeply treasure the close friendships made with so many members of the General Assembly over these years." For highlights of Chief Justice Fletcher's remarks, see page 3. Appeals in 1994 by Governor Zell Miller after serving eight years on the superior court bench of the Augusta Judicial Circuit. Chief Judge Ruffin's legal career includes extensive civil rights litigation. A Burke County native, he attended Morehouse College and Howard University School of Law. Bernes Begins First Term on Court of Appeals Judge Debra Bernes, elected as the seventieth judge of the Court of Appeals, was sworn-in at the Capitol on December 27, Judge Debra Bernes 2004. INSIDE People, Places & Events pg 2 Profile: Judge Del Buttrill pg 4 E-Filing with OXCI pg 5 Juvenile Court Showcase pg 6 Conasauga Drug Court pg 9 Directory Corrections pg 10 Electronic Traffic Citations pg 11 2 Georgia Courts Journal March 2005 People, Places and Events ... In Memoriam Senior Judge George Arthur Horkan, Jr. of Moultrie died February 2, 2005, at the age of 78. Judge Horkan served the Superior Courts of the Southern Judicial Circuit for more than 30 years, during most of that time as the Chief Judge. Judge Horkan took senior judge status in 1994, but continued to hear cases until recently. Prior to taking the bench, he served as District Attorney for the Southern Circuit. Judge John V. Harper of Americus died December 19, 2004, following a sudden illness. He was 45 years of age. Judge Harper was elected to the bench of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit in 2000, his second term of office would have begun in 2005. He was a graduate of Georgia Southwestern College and the Walter F. George School of Law. Retirement Judge John Girardeau of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit has announced his retirement for March 31, 2005. Judge Girardeau has served on the superior court bench since 1987. He served as president of the Council of Superior Court Judges and has been active in the creation of drug courts in Georgia. Ninth District Court Administrator George Collins retired on December 31, 2004 after serving 16 years. See page 3 for photo. Appointments At a swearing-in ceremony held January 24, 2005 in the Capitol Education Center in Atlanta, Governor Sonny Perdue administered the oath of office to Judge James R. Osborne, Paulding Judicial Circuit. Judge Osborne was appointed to fill the vacancy created by Judge W.A. Foster's retirement. Judge Osborne served as the District Attorney for the Paulding Circuit prior to his appointment. Mr. F. Andrew "Drew" Lane was appointed to succeed Judge Osborne as District Attorney of the Paulding Circuit. On December 22, 2004, Judge James R. Whitfield, was appointed to the Juvenile Court bench in the Cobb Judicial Circuit. Judge Whitfield fills the vacancy created by Judge Stephen Schuster's election as a superior court judge. Judge Jim E. Wilbanks was appointed to the Juvenile Court bench of the Conasauga Judicial Circuit on December 30, 2004. Mr. Claud L. "Tex" McIver, III of Atlanta was appointed to the Judicial Nominating Commission on February 15, 2005. Honors Chief Justice Norman S. Fletcher was awarded the Weltner Freedom of Information Award from the Georgia First Amendment Foundation in a ceremony in Atlanta on March 5, 2005. Chief Justice Fletcher was selected because his Supreme Court decisions and opinions have consistently supported the public's right to know. On January 13, 2005 in Atlanta, Judge Adele Grubbs, Cobb Judicial Circuit, was awarded the State Bar of Georgia Justice Robert Benham Award. Save the Date The next meeting of the Judicial Council of Georgia will be Wednesday, June 8, 2005 at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront Hotel. FY 03 Annual Report Available The FY 03 Annual Report has recently been mailed. For additional copies, please contact the AOC at 404-656-5171. The annual report includes court caseload information for Calendar Year 2002. New Year Marked by Transitions Justice Sears Begins Third Term Following her successful reelection campaign Presiding Justice Leah Ward Sears took the oath of office on December 14, 2004 to begin her third term on the Supreme Court of Georgia. The ceremony, held in the Supreme Court courtroom was attended by members of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Music was provided by the Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy choir, of which Justice Sears's daughter is a member. Friends, family members, and colleagues enjoyed a reception following the program. On March 3, 2005, the justices of the Supreme Court elected Justice Chief Justice Norman S. Fletcher, left, administers the oath of office to Presiding Justice Leah Ward Sears. Sears to become the court's next Chief Justice. Georgia's first female Chief Justice will assume the position on July 1, 2005. Justice Carol Hunstein was elected as the new Presiding Justice. George Collins Retires District Court Administrators gathered on December 10, 2004 to wish long-time Ninth District Court Administrator George Collins well on his retirement. Front row (l-r): Mr. George Collins and Ms. Judith Cramer. Middle row: Ms. Cathy McCumber, Mr. John Cowart, Mr. Danny DeLoach, and Ms. Jody Overcash. Back row: Mr. Tom Gunnels, Mr. Fred Roney, Mr. Nolan Martin, and Mr. Greg Jones. March 2005 Georgia Courts Journal 3 2005 State of Judiciary Address Chief Justice Norman S. Fletcher delivered the State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the General Assembly on Wednesday, February 9, 2005. Below are some of the highlights of his remarks. New Public Defender System v Forty-two circuit public defender offices opened on January 1, 2005. Georgia's new system is being recognized nationally for excellence. Budget v "The judiciary is in the justice business, and justice is not, nor should it ever be, a matter of politics." Nonpartisan Elections v Urged legislators to pass a measure so that probate and magistrate court judges are elected in nonpartisan races. Judgeships v Requested creation of new superior court judgeships which the Judicial Council has already approved. The need for 10 new superior court judgeships has been determined through valid and established criteria based on growing court caseloads in these circuits. Court of Appeals v Fund additional judgeships and office space for the Court of Appeals. Administrative Office of the Courts v Continues their efforts to provide current and essential information technology to courts throughout the state. Profile: Judge Del Buttrill 4 Georgia Courts Journal March 2005 Judge Del Buttrill, Probate Court of Henry County, was present in the House Chambers on January 27, 2005, for the reading of House Resolution 59, recognizing and commending his service to Henry County. In part, the House Resolution reads, "By the example he has made of his life, Judge Del Buttrill makes this world a better place in which to live, and it is only fitting and proper that he be appropriately recognized as one of Georgia's most distinguished citizens and public servants." On February 5, 2005, the Flint Judicial Circuit held a community appreciation service in honor of Judge Buttrill and his outstanding contributions to the county. The event, held at the Salem Judge Del Buttrill Baptist Church in McDonough, featured local speakers and musical performances by church choirs. Speakers included Judge Arch McGarity, Judge A.J. "Buddy" Welch, Judge Ben Studdard, and Judge James T. Chafin, Jr., all of the Henry County courts; Judge DeWitt Simonton, Spalding County Probate Court; Senior Probate Judge Eugene Lawson; Mr. Tommy K. Floyd, Flint Judicial Circuit District Attorney; and Ms. Marla Moore of the AOC. All expressed admiration for and good wishes to Judge Buttrill. First elected as Henry County Probate Judge in 1982, Judge Buttrill has recently undergone treatment for lung cancer and faces a continuing battle with the disease. Power, Justice & Prejudice Georgia Commission Hosts Conference The 17th Annual Meeting of the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts will be held in Atlanta April 13-16, 2005. The theme of the conference is "Power, Justice and Prejudice." The Georgia Commission on Access and Fairness in the Courts is hosting the meeting which will be held at the Omni Hotel, CNN Center, Atlanta. Speakers will address issues confronting the ower stice judiciary, prose- cutors, public defenders, etc., including deliv- rejudice ery of civil legal services, prosecutorial discretion, April 13-16, 2005 the impact of domestic violence on women of color, minorities in the juvenile justice system, and remov- ing language and access barriers in the courts. Invited speakers include Justice Robert Benham, Supreme Court of Georgia; former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young; Judge Barbara J. Mobley, State Court of DeKalb County; Honorable Gwendolyn R. Keyes, District Attorney of the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit; and Ms. Phyllis Holmen, Georgia Legal Services. For more information, contact Ms. Stephanie Chambliss at chamblis@gaaoc.us or by phone: 404-463-3927. Click onto what's happening ... www.georgiacourts.org March 2005 Georgia Courts Journal 5 E-filing with OXCI, Rules of Court Ademonstration of emerging electronic filing (e-filing) technology was given by Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) communications. This demonstration confirmed the AOC Technology Division on the ability to transmit and receive January 26, 2005 for members of key data field items to and from a the Supreme Court distant location Clerk's staff. A using national mock death penal- standards. This is ty appeal was suc- an integral step cessfully filed as toward fulfilling an example of the the goal of inte- pioneering data- grated justice exchange system. through data shar- The system, ing. It enables based on Open XML Court Interface (OXCI), Ms. Sukhada Tapshalkar, Mr. Richard Baker, and Emerging Technology Group Manager Rex McElrath developed the OXCI project. data and documents to be easily transmitted from is part of a national effort to imple- one database to another database for ment electronic filing and data case filings. exchange in all levels of state The technology can be adapted courts. to allow the exchange of other data The OXCI success places and transactions setting the stage Georgia in the vanguard of e-filing so that courts and other agencies technology. The work will assist in will soon be able to exchange infor- implementation of standards-based mation over the Internet. The Supreme Court of Georgia and AOC Brochure Washington County Superior Court are pilot sites for the project. Uniform Rules Web Page The AOC has been working for several months with the Supreme Court Clerks' Office and the Office of the Reporter of Decisions to create and maintain a web page with an up-to-date, comprehensive set of the Uniform Rules of the Court. The Uniform Rules of the Superior Courts and the State Courts were recently added. The page has links to the Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules, the State Bar of Georgia Handbook, Rules of the Office of Bar Admissions, Rules of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, Code of Judicial Conduct, Unified Appeal Procedure, Uniform Transfer Rules, Supreme Court Rule on Interpreters, as well as the Uniform Rules for all levels of court. See http://www.georgiacourts.org/rules.html Services provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts are outlined in a new edition of the AOC brochure. To request copies of the brochure call 404656-5171. Court of Appeals Revises Rules The Court of Appeals of Georgia by administrative order on December 6, 2004 has amended its rules effective January 6, 2005. Copies of the rules are posted at www.gaappeals.us and printed paper copies are available at the Office of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals, located in the State Judicial Building, Atlanta, Georgia. The following rules have been revised in some manner: Rules 1-2, 4, 6, 9, 14, 17-19, 23-33, 37-38, 40-41. For further information, contact Mr. William L. Martin, Clerk/Court Administrator at martinw@gaapeals.us or 404-657-8352. 6 Georgia Courts Journal March 2005 Juvenile Court Showcase Douglas County Addresses Children's Mental Health Issues Douglas County Juvenile Court has adopted a computerized mental health assessment to help judges and court staff obtain information on the mental health of the children they serve. The goal is early identification of mental health problems. The court has assigned two intake workers to administer a mental health questionnaire to every child involved in delinquency proceedings. Ms. Jenny McDade, Director, Juvenile Programs Administration, stated, "We use the process to detect mental health issues that may be affecting the child's behavior. The assessment does not provide a diagnosis, but it helps in making immediate referrals to licensed practitioners for further assessment and a diagnosis." In two recent cases, the assessment led to investigations of abuse in the home and the child's removal by the courts. The Mauldin Pattern Assessment test that Douglas County uses was created by John Mauldin, Ph.D., founder of PsyPractice in LaGrange. It consists of a set of master questions that explore: the child's sense of emotional support, safety, rules, rule violation, and coping abilities. Based on the child's responses, another set of tests may be given to explore the responses more deeply. For example, a positive response to the statement, "I don't feel that I have anything to live for," would trigger addi- tional ques- tions about ideas of sui- cide and deliv- er a risk score for suicide. The subtests Judge Peggy Walker provide data on risk factors including alcohol use, drug abuse, suicide, homicide, psychosis, per- sonality disorders such as an anger or an eating disorder, violent behav- iors and anxiety or depression. Opening Avenues for Treatment Children's responses open up avenues for treatment. A child who has experienced a death in the family can be referred for grief counseling, which could prevent more serious problems such as anxiety or depression from overwhelming the child. "If we do a better job of connecting families with services at the point of entry we can do a better job of keeping them out of the court system," said Judge Peggy Walker. "They are resorting to the courts because they don't know how to connect to the services." For further information, contact Jenny McDade at 770-920-7121. Jackson County Courthouse On November 11, 2004 an Open House was held at the new Jackson County Courthouse located in Jefferson. Judges and attorneys from around the Piedmont Judicial Circuit and north Georgia were invited to tour the new facility after business hours. Chief Judge Robert W. Adamson, Judge David Motes and Judge Joseph Booth, all of the superior courts of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit, proudly showed visitors the new jury rooms, courtrooms, offices and other features of the courthouse. Many other Jackson County officials attended the event sponsored by the Piedmont Bar Association. From left: Mr. Wayne Wilbanks, Jackson County construction consultant; Chief Judge Robert W. Adamson, Piedmont Circuit; Judge Thomas Hodges, Northern Circuit; Judge Purnell Davis, Toombs Circuit; and Mr. Tom Gunnels, Tenth District DCA celebrate the opening of the Jackson County Courthouse. March 2005 Georgia Courts Journal 7 Juvenile Court Showcase Two Middle Georgia Circuits Work to Curb Truancy Juvenile Court Judges Thomas C. Rawlings, Middle Circuit, and Philip Spivey, Ocmulgee Circuit, have adopted a problemsolving approach to children referred to court for frequent school absences. The first step for these judges is a solution tailored to the individual child. In the Middle Circuit, schools refer a child to the juvenile court after at least five unexcused absences. Typically Judge Rawlings invites the child and family to appear informally before him to identify the causes underlying the absences and possible solutions. In issuing the invitation, Judge Rawlings makes it clear that the meeting is voluntary, and there is no presumption of wrongdoing. The parties may bring their attorneys or choose a formal hearing instead. If the parties fail to attend the initial meeting or the truancy continues, and is willful on the part of parents or child, a formal petition alleging truancy is filed by the District Attorney. "We try to dispose of 80% of the cases informally," Judge Rawlings said. "Sometimes the truancy is because parents don't know that medical services can be accessed at the school, so they keep a child home for treatment. We serve as an information source for families and are able to divert many cases to social service." He has found that children stay away from school because of bullying, difficulty learning, medical problems, and parental abuse. "Statistics show that truancy is a leading indicator for child neglect, familial dysfunction and juvenile delinquency," Judge Rawlings said. Judge Thomas C. Rawlings (left) and Judge Philip Spivey are working to curb truancy in their circuits. Parenting Skills Class The truancy program has led to the creation of a non-profit agency that provides parenting classes on topics such as getting children ready for school and helping them understand the need for education. The court also works with Latino support groups to explain to migrant workers that school attendance is compulsory. Organizational Challenges in the Ocmulgee Circuit Juvenile Court Judge Philip Spivey, Ocmulgee Circuit, faces similar truancy issues but has more complex organizational challenges. For several years, Judge Spivey has used his own protocol for the handling of truancy cases. Now he is working to establish a protocol that meets new legislative requirements. This means interacting with eight different school boards and multiple agencies. "The protocol would cover what happens before a case comes to court and after a child is adjudicated unruly," Judge Spivey said. He hopes the new protocol will increase the number of truancy cases that can be informally adjusted. If the court determines that the parent is responsible for the child's absences, a Protective Order can be issued directing the parent to comply with a court plan. Other agencies can also be brought in to provide needed social services for the child. Since, obtaining services in rural areas can be difficult. Both Judge Spivey and Judge Rawlings support legislation now under consideration by the General Assembly to allow juvenile court supervision fees to be used for truancy intervention services. Note: Senate Bill 97, a measure that would authorize collection of supervision fees in juvenile courts in Georgia for the purpose of providing truancy intervention services is now moving through the General Assembly. The bill has passed the Senate and has been favorably reported by the House Judiciary Committee. Consult the AOC legislative website at www.ciclt.com/aoc/default.asp to follow this bill's progress. 8 Georgia Courts Journal March 2005 Juvenile Court Showcase DeKalb's Juvenile Court Honored with Georgia Council of Court Administrators Program of the Year Award The DeKalb County Juvenile Court is riding high. Its Youth Achievement Program has been honored as the Georgia Council of Court Administrators' (GCCA) Program of the Year, and its use of radio-frequency identification technology to track case files was recently featured in a national magazine. Mr. Daniel DeLoach, First District Court Administrator, presented the GCCA award in a special ceremony at the Supreme Court of Georgia. The Youth Achievement Program (YAP) works to redirect DeKalb County's most at-risk youth toward achieving skills that will ultimately lead to a strong and responsible adulthood. YAP provides a comprehensive year-round employment preparation program that includes tutoring, employment opportunities directly linked to academic and occupational training, financial assistance, gang prevention, mentoring, and referrals to partner agencies. Over 180 youth have been served since the program was founded in 2004, with 25% of those participating placed in jobs. YAP has a 20% diploma/GED attainment rate. In addition, two participants have entered college and two have joined the military. The program has received strong support from former DeKalb Chief Juvenile Court Judge Gregory A. Adams and current Chief Judge Robin S. Nash. Developed with Mr. Danny DeLoach, far left, presents Chief Judge Robin Nash, DeKalb County Juvenile Court, and Mr. Brian Alleyne, Youth Achievement Program Acting Program Manager, with the GCCA Program of the Year award. Chief Justice Norman S. Fletcher, right, assists in the presentation. input from Juvenile Court Director of Court Services, Dale Phillips, the program is backed by a two-year, $600,000 Youth Offender Reentry grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. Tracking Case Files The juvenile court's use of radio-frequency identification technology (RFID) to keep track of juvenile case files was featured in the January 24 issue of the magazine, Information Week. RFID is commonly used by retail stores to track supplies. It uses labels with passive semiconductors that transmit radio signals to labelreaders by means of handheld devices and specialized software. The information can be linked into the court's case management software. DeKalb court officials hope the technology will slash the more than 10 hours/week that court clerks currently spend trying to find paper files in the three-story courthouse. For further information, contact Dale Phillips at 404-294-2777 or dpphilli@co.dekalb.ga.us Judicial Circuit Map 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 Didn't get a map last time around? Copies are still available. The Judicial Circuit map can be used as a quick reference for the state's circuits and is free of charge. For more information on obtaining a map, contact Ashley Stollar at stollara@gaaoc.us or 404-656-6783. March 2005 Georgia Courts Journal 9 Conasauga Circuit Drug Court Program Can a drug court program induce meth users to quit the habit and get sober? In The woman agrees to comply. Her sentence is five years in jail, probated on condition she com- having birthdays instead of the alternative," Judge Partain said. Some backsliding is expected. the Conasauga Circuit, where plete the drug court program. After Possible sanctions range from com- methamphetamine is the drug of handing down the sentence, Judge munity service to incarceration. choice, a dedicated judge, drug Partain introduces the woman to her Many participants in the court staff and treat- drug court Conasauga Circuit Drug Court have ment-providers are "team:" the been charged with possession of doing their utmost to judge, an meth. Some also face charges of prove it can. Assistant District theft, forgery, and dealing/manufac- Attorney, a sher- turing illegal drugs. Ages range A Day in Court iff's deputy or from teenage to middle age. Most On a recent day, a police officer, a work in Dalton's carpet mills. woman appears probation officer, While some participants admit before Superior treatment that they entered the program to Court Judge Jack Partain charged with possession of Mr. George Shirilla, Conasauga Circuit Drug Court Coordinator, (left) discusses an issue with Judge Jack Partain. providers, a public defender, and Conasauga Circuit avoid jail time, all agree that they have gained more than their liberty. "The biggest thing is the support methamphetamine. She gives her Drug Court Coordinator, George group itself. When I mess up, it's age as 39. The woman has previous Shirilla. The team will monitor harder to go in front of them than in convictions for possession with client progress and assist when front of the judge," one said. Many intent to distribute and for shoplift- problems arise. have lost their connection to their ing. Her husband and teenage Before each drug court session families because of their habit, and daughter have ordered her to leave begins, the the group creates a substi- their home. She pleads with Judge Partain to allow her to enter the drug court program. team meets to discuss participants' "You don't realize it's affecting you tute family whose members help each other out, another participant said. The judge warns her that enter- progress. It until you have ing the two-year program could be the hardest thing she has ever done; serving time in jail would be easier. is a timeconsuming process that lost everything." -- Program Participant -- Group Support Several participants said the program has made She must commit to giving up her occurs each them more responsible. drug habit, avoid unlawful persons week. Prior to court, participants "I wouldn't have done anything for and places, and submit to regular meet separately as a group with a anyone, but now I will try and drug testing. The drug court proto- treatment provider, and offer each help," said one participant. Another col also includes unscheduled visits other support. took his son to the doctor on his by probation and police officers, own initiative. Another got custody attendance at a 12-step program, as Individual Review of his child with the help of Mr. well as drug court sessions. The Once the drug court session Shirilla. One woman said she had defendant must hold down a full- starts, Judge Partain calls each par- contacted the local Department of time job, pay treatment fees, obtain ticipant individually, reviews their Family and Children's Services to court permission before changing progress, and encourages them to gain custody of her grandchild after her residence, and comply with keep going. Milestones are celebrat- realizing that her son and daughter- other conditions. ed. "It is significant that they are continued on pg 11 10 Georgia Courts Journal March 2005 2004-2005 Georgia Courts Directory Corrections Please note these corrections and additions. SUPERIOR COURT Alcovy Circuit Chief Judge John M. Ott 303 S. Hammond Drive, Suite 221 Monroe, GA 30655 770-267-1339/F 266-1630 JUVENILE COURT Cobb Circuit Add: Judge James R. Whitfield 1738 County Services Parkway, SW Marietta, GA 30008-4028 770-528-2428/F 528-2561 MAGISTRATE COURT Crawford County Add: Judge Leslie Zoltowski PO Box 568 Roberta, GA 31708 478-836-5804/F 836-4340 Paulding Circuit Add: Judge James R. Osborne 201 Paulding County Courthouse 11 Courthouse Square Dallas, GA 30132 770-443-7551/F 443-7554 SENIOR JUDGES Superior Court Judge Frank S. Cheatham, Jr. Two Sandy Point Road Savannah, GA 31404-3230 STATE COURT Coweta County Add: Judge Seay V. Poulakos 12 E. Broad Street Newnan, GA 30263 770-252-5428/F 252-4130 For a comprehensive update of newly-elected superior, state, probate, and magistrate court judges go to www.georgiacourts.org/ aoc/directory Conasauga Circuit Add: Judge Jim E. Wilbanks 301 W. Crawford Street Dalton, GA 30720 706-275-8838/F 275-8837 PROBATE COURT Walton County Judge H. Greg Adams 303 S. Hammond Drive, Suite 113 Monroe, GA 30655 MUNICIPAL COURT Newington Delete: Judge Martha Kirkland Add: Judge Grady Reddick PO Box 1923 Sylvania, GA 30467 912-564-7821/F 564-7844 Senior Judges Appointed On January 4, 2005, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed the following senior judges: APPELLATE Judge Frank M. Eldridge SUPERIOR COURT Judge Fred A. Bishop Judge Clarence D. Blount Judge Alice D. Bonner Judge E. Purnell Davis Judge Aubrey Duffey Judge Philip F. Etheridge Judge W.A. Foster Judge Hilton Fuller Judge Whitfield R. Forrester Judge Robert P. Mallis Judge Albert M. Pickett Judge Marvin W. Sorrells Judge Michael Stoddard STATE COURT Judge Howard E. Cook Judge Michael A. Fennessy Judge Mathew Robins JUVENILE COURT Judge George J. Hearn, III PROBATE COURT Judge Aileen H. Gay Judge Joyce J. Hawkins MAGISTRATE COURT Judge Charles G. Brewer March 2005 Georgia Courts Journal 11 AOC Technology Staff Looks Ahead Mr. Jorge Basto has joined the staff of the AOC Information Technology to provide more streamlined delivery of services to clients. Under the new guide- staff. A new online service request form, HEAT (Helpdesk Expert Automation Tool) has been Division. Mr. Basto has been lines, a call for technical designed to speed up the named Senior Manager, Application assistance coming in from processing of these requests. Development and Support. He and a judge or court staff will LANDesk, another new Mr. Byron Branch, recently named be fielded by the local feature, allows AOC tech Senior Manager, Support Services, District Court staff to respond to local will direct the project and staff of Administrator. The DCA problems from the central the IT Division. Mr. Basto and Mr. Branch will will assign the call a priority depending on how Mr. Jorge Basto office. Upgrades to SUSTAIN and Georgia Jury are also oversee changes to the Help urgent the need is. Calls now being made remotely, Desk procedures that are designed will also be monitored by AOC saving many hours of travel time and money. When necessary, how- Electronic Traffic Citations -- Try "TIPS" ever, technical field support staff will continue to make site visits to AOC information technology staff has developed a webbased program that will allow Georgia courts to file traffic Development of TIPS was funded by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and was completed in collaboration with DMVS. courts. For more information, contact Jorge Basto at 404-657-9673 or bastoj@gaaoc.us citations in the new electronic format required by the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety (DMVS). July Deadline In a recent letter to clerks of court, DMVS Commissioner James R. Davis emphasized the July dead- Conasauga Circuit Drug Court Program cont. TIPS line for filing convictions electroni- TIPS (Traffic Information cally using the prescribed Georgia Processing System) cor- Electronic Citation rectly processes the citation and calculates the fees that must be paid to DMVS DEADLINE: JULY 1, 2005 Processing System (GECPS) format. "As of July 1, 2005, DMVS different funds by each county. The web page screen is formatted like the paper citation. A All traffic convictions MUST be processed through GECPS. will no longer accept any conviction reports processed electronically by any means other than DSL Internet connection the GECPS process. All and a browser are needed to use the courts who currently use the old for- program. mat and method of transmission The traffic citation data is must be converted to the new housed on AOC servers, with dou- process," he wrote. ble redundancy meaning that if For information about TIPS, con- one server fails, another will still be tact Mr. Steve Nevels at available. The data then transfers to 404-463-5178 or nevelss@gaaoc.us the DMVS server over secure con- nections. in-law were also abusing meth something she would not have considered doing before joining the drug court program. Still, breaking the cycle of addiction is difficult. Meth is abundant in Dalton, and most agreed that it gives a better "high" and lasts longer than other drugs. It also costs less. Participants also recognized its downside memory loss, mood swings, and violent behavior. "You don't realize it's affecting you until you have lost everything," one participant said. For more information, contact Conasauga Drug Court Coordinator, George Shirilla, (706) 281-4811 or gshirilla@whitfieldcountyga.com Robert L. Doss, Jr., Honored by Georgia Council of Court Administrators On January 6, 2005, Mr. Robert L. Doss, Jr., was recog- Supreme Court of Georgia in Atlanta. Mr. Danny DeLoach, 1st District Court Administrator, Mr. Doss served as AOC Director from 1975 until 1998. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Court nized for his career presented the stat- Management and a former achievements in uette on behalf of board member of the Georgia court admin- the Georgia Council National Center for State istration. A former of Court Courts. He served as presi- Director of the Administrators. dent of the Conference of Administrative Office Chief Justice State Court Administrators of the Courts, Mr. Norman S. Fletcher and on numerous state and Doss was honored by and Mr. David L. national commissions and the Georgia Council Ratley, current AOC committees involving the of Court Director, also spoke judiciary. Administrators with Mr. Robert L. Doss, Jr. of Mr. Doss's In 2002 the GCCA estab- its William Barclay achievements and The Herndon Award lished the William Barclay Herndon Award. Former Chief offered their congratulations. Mr. Herndon Award to honor Mr. Justice Harold G. Clarke opened the Doss's family, friends, and former Herndon's early work in promoting award presentation ceremony which colleagues were in attendance. court administration in Georgia. took place in the courtroom of the 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 PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ATLANTA, GA PERMIT #1880