The reporter's notebook: the official newsletter of Georgia's Magistrate Court Clerks, Vol. 7, Issue 1 (Summer 2012)

Continued from page 15
DISTRICT NINE:
CHEROKEE COUNTY DAWSON COUNTY FANNIN COUNTY FORSYTH COUNTY GILMER COUNTY GWINNETT COUNTY HABERSHAM COUNTY HALL COUNTY LUMPKIN COUNTY PICKENS COUNTY RABUN COUNTY STEPHENS COUNTY TOWNS COUNTY UNION COUNTY WHITE COUNTY

The Reporter's Notebook
Administrative Office of the Courts
244 Washington Street SW, Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30334
LaShawn Murphy Editor
Maggie Reeves Graphic Design

DISTRICT TEN:
BANKS COUNTY BARROW COUNTY BURKE COUNTY CLARKE COUNTY COLUMBIA COUNTY ELBERT COUNTY FRANKLIN COUNTY GLASCOCK COUNTY HART COUNTY JACKSON COUNTY LINCOLN COUNTY MADISON COUNTY MCDUFFIE COUNTY NEWTON COUNTY OCONEE COUNTY OGLETHORPE COUNTY RICHMOND COUNTY TALIAFERRO COUNTY WALTON COUNTY WARREN COUNTY WILKES COUNTY

16
The next Executive Committee Meeting will be held on
Friday, June 8, in Athens, GA.

The Reporter's
Notebook

The official newsletter of Georgia's Magistrate Court Clerks

Volume 7 | Issue 1
Executive Committee, 2011-2013 President Carla Brown, Lee County
Vice President Cynthia Kelly, Burke County
Secretary/Treasurer Gayle Gazaway, Whitfield County
Immediate Past President Debbie Barron, Fayette County
Executive District Members, 2011-2013 DISTRICT 1 Kay Reese, Tattnall County
DISTRICT 2 Jo Anne Jones, Lowndes County
DISTRICT 3 Jackie Norman, Lee County
DISTRICT 4 Wendy Peacock, Rockdale County
DISTRICT 5 Mark Harper, Fulton County
DISTRICT 6 Leslie Dukes, Fayette County
DISTRICT 7 Sonya Petty, Murray County
DISTRICT 8 Hope Ward, Morgan County
DISTRICT 9 Jennifer Alday, Dawson County
DISTRICT 10 Paulette Williamson, McDuffie County

Summer 2012

Greetings from the President

Hello to everyone.

of the other executive members know.

It was good to see everyone at

the Clerks and Secretaries class in If you need to talk to me, just

November. I hope everyone had a send me an email at cabrown@

wonderful Christmas and the New lee.ga.us or call me at 229-759-

Year is off to a great start.

6016. I will be glad to assist you in

anyway possible.

I look forward to being President of the Council. I have some big shoes to fill after having Debbie Barron as the President of our Council and all of her hard work. Thank you Debbie, and I look forward to working closely with you over the coming year.
For all of you that do not know me, I am Carla Brown and, I am a Magistrate Judge and Chief Deputy Clerk of Lee County. I have worked in this capacity since July 2003. I am married to Gilbert and have two sons, Gil and Matt. Gil is a paramedic in both Lee and Dougherty Counties. Matt, my youngest, is in the Army and stationed at Fort Huachuca, AZ.
We are planning an executive committee meeting and work session for June. It will be December before we know it and time for training. If you have any ideas for training that you are interested in, please let me or one

Hope to see you in December in Savannah.
Carla Brown
In this Issue
1 Greetings from the President 2 Executive Council List 3 Letter from the Immediate Past
President Letter from Your Advisor 4 Happenings 5 Nominations Committee Listserv is ready for you! 6 New Magistrate Personnel Form 7 November 2011 Training Agenda 8 Minutes of the Winter 2011 Meeting 9 Note from District 8 Representative 10 AOC Trains Clerks on Case Count 11 2012 Legislative Highlights 12 Tech Tip 13 2012 ICJE Registration Form 14 Personnel Change Form 15 District-County Listing
1

The Reporter's Notebook 2

COUNCIL OF MAGISTRATE COURT CLERKS AND SECRETARIES 2012-2013 OFFICERS

Carla Brown President Lee Co. Magistrate Court P.O. Box 522 Leesburg, GA 31763-3303 229-759-6016/fax 229-759-3303 cabrown@lee.ga.us

Cynthia Kelley Vice President Burke Co. Magistrate Court P.O. Box 1375 Waynesboro, GA 30830 706-554-8750/ fax 706-554-8772 cynthia1375@burkecounty-ga.gov

Gayle Collins Secretary/Treasurer Whitfield Co. Magistrate Court P.O. Box 386 Dalton, GA 30722 706-278-5052/fax 706-278-8810 ggazaway@whitfieldcountyga.com





Debbie Barron Immediate Past President Fayette Co. Magistrate Court 1 Center Drive Fayetteville, GA 30214 770-716-4236/fax 770-716-4855 dbarron@fayettecountyga.gov

District One, Kay Reese Tattnall County Magistrate Court P.O. Box 513 Reidsville, GA 30453 912-557-4372/ fax 912-557-3136 magkayreese@yahoo.com

District Six, Leslie Dukes



Fayette County Magistrate Court

One Center Drive

Fayetteville, GA 30214

770-716-4237/fax 770-716-4855

ldukes@fayettecountyga.gov

Judge Connie Holt, Advisor Morgan County Magistrate Ct. P.O. Box 589 Madison, GA 30650 706-342-3088/fax 706-343-6343 cholt@morganga.org

District Two, Jo Anne Jones

District Seven, Sonya Petty

Dr. Lynda Hanscome, ED. D.

Lowndes County Magistrate Court

Murray County Magistrate Court

Edu. Program Coordinator III

P.O. Box 1349



121 Fourth Avenue

ICJE of Georgia

Valdosta, GA 31603-1349

Chatsworth, GA 30705

1150 S. Milledge Ave.

229-671-2623/fax 229-671-3442

706-517-1400 ext. 210/695-7252

Athens, GA 30602

jjones@lowndescounty.com

sonyapetty@charter.net

706-369-5813/fax 706-369-5840

lynda@icje.law.uga.edu

District Three, Jackie Norman

District Eight, Hope Ward

Lee County Magistrate Court

Morgan County Magistrate Ct.

LaShawn Murphy

P.O. Box 522

P.O. Box 589

Trial Court Liaison

Leesburg, GA 31763-3303

Madison, GA 30650

Administrative Office of the Courts

229-759-6016/fax 229-759-3033

706-342-3088/fax 706-342-6364

244 Washington Street SW, Suite 300

janorman@lee.ga.us

hward@morganga.org

Atlanta, GA 30334

404-651-6325

District Four, Wendy Peacock

District Nine, Jennifer Alday

lashawn.murphy@gaaoc.us

Rockdale County Magistrate Court

Dawson County Magistrate Ct.

945 Court Street



59 Justice Way

Conyers, GA 30012

Dawsonville, GA 30534

770-278-7800/fax 770-278-8915

706-344-3730/fax 706-265-8480

Wendy.peacock@rockdalecounty.org

jalday@Dawsonmagistrate.com

District Five, Mark Harper Fulton County Magistrate Court 185 Central Avenue, Suite T800 Atlanta, GA 30305 404-612-5018 Mark.harper@fultoncountyga.gov

District Ten, Paulette Williamson McDuffie County Magistrate Ct. P.O. Box 252 Thomson, GA 30824-2041 706-597-2618/fax706-595-2041 pierce@thomson-mcduffie.net

Summer 2012

Letter from the Immediate Past President

3
From Your Advisor

Hi Everyone:
Hope everyone had a good holiday and is glad to be back on schedule. I thought December's training was some of the best yet, very informative. I want to thank you for all your support during my presidency. I appreciate all the encouragement and assistance you provided me and know you will support Carla Brown to keep the Council strong and moving forward. If she calls on you to serve on a committee, mentor to new clerks or assist in teaching a class, please accept without hesitation. Our Council can only remain a force so long as its members stay involved.
I appreciate all the support I received from Judge Connie Holt and Dr. Lynda Hanscome, ICJE, thru the years and also LaShawn Murphy of the AOC.
Please continue to use the LISTSERV and the Clerks' website. If I can ever assist you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me. My office number is 770-716-4236 and e-mail dbarron@fayettecountyga.gov.
Hope to see all of you in Savannah. Sincerely, Debbie Barron Immediate Past President

Hi Everyone.
I hope everyone is doing well and is having a great New Year. This year is really going by fast as spring's almost here. Soon to be time for our next meeting and training for the Council of Magistrate Court Clerks and Secretaries. Our next meeting and training will be in Savannah, at the Savannah Hilton Desoto on December 4 & 5, 2012. I know a lot of you wanted to go back to Savannah, and Dr. Lynda Hanscome has really gotten us a wonderful place to have our meeting and training. The material has not yet been mailed out, but will be later toward the end of summer, so I hope you all will plan to attend.
Our last meeting was held in Tifton at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center on November 14-15, 2011. We had a really good crowd of clerks and secretaries that attended, and the training was one of the best we have had. Dr. Hanscome really provided a wonderful training and instructors. I have attached a copy of the agenda for your viewing (see page 7).
The Council Annual Business Meeting and Elections were held on the last day of the training. A new President was elected and she is Carla Brown from Lee County. We welcome her and wish her a great successful time as President for the next two years. You also elected one new District Representative to your Executive Council, and that is Jackie Norman, she is also from Lee County, in District Three. All of the other District Representatives were re-elected to their current position for

another two year term. Debbie Barron is now your Past President and we will miss her as President, but she is still an officer as your PastPresident. Debbie we thank you for all of your hard work and service to the Council as our President.
Your Executive Committee is working hard on the new curriculum for our next training and the Curriculum Planning Committee will meet in Athens in June 2012, to assist Dr. Hanscome in planning. If you have anything you would like taught or presented, please contact Dr. Hanscome or one of your District Representatives so that it can be included in the planning.
Before I close, I just want to thank all of you for all of your dedication and the hard work you do for your Judges of the Magistrate Courts. If it were not for you, our courts would not work so smoothly and efficiently.
Just a final note, if anyone is interested in working on the newsletter or is interested in being charge of the newsletter, please let me or Hope Ward know. I hope to get another newsletter out by the fall so that each of you will have a better idea of our next meeting and training.
Well, that's all for now. I really look forward to seeing you all in Savannah at the next session.
Connie Holt Chief Judge Magistrate Court Morgan County

Summer 2012 4

Happenings...

Ware County Magistrate Court We would like to share some information regarding changes in our county. We moved to a new building on Albany Avenue in January. Melody Grant, Deputy Clerk, left us and went to Statesboro to be closer to family. She is currently working with the Magistrate Court handling dispossessory cases. We hope that she is doing well and we miss her.
Kathy Cook, Deputy Clerk, has moved from Civil to Criminal and she is learning the duties that have been given to her quite well. She has been with the court over a year. She handles the bad check, city/county ordinances, and mobile home decals along with pre-warrants, warrants and anything else she may be given to process.
Deputy Clerks Sandy Inman and Sandie Blackburn both lost a parent. Sandy's mother passed towards the end of last year and Sandie's father passed the beginning of this year. Please remember them in your prayers. Sandy I. and Sandie B. are in the Civil Division and do a great job. They are in the process of training Tammy Douglas, Deputy Clerk, who was hired to fill the position that came open when Kathy went to the Criminal Division. Sandy Inman handles the Civil Court and Sandie Blackburn handles pre-warrant hearings. They are cross trained in most of our courts. We do take the time to cross train, which has helped us out tremendously. It is nice to know that when you go on vacation or you are out sick, someone can step in and do what needs to be done.
Deputies Kulisha Washington and Bobby Aldridge serve our civil documentation, stand-by during court, and they help us if we have a problem here at the Magistrate Court. We appreciate the time and effort they put into their work to get our papers served in a timely manner.
Our judges are Judge Nathan Grantham, Chief Magistrate, Judge Etta Varnadore, Magistrate, Judge William E. Linton, Senior Magistrate, and Judge Melvin Harper Jr., Magistrate. Judge Linton and Judge Harper Jr. are our part-time judges.
I started with the Ware County Magistrate Court in May of 2002 and I am still learning. I recently got married to Jason Rowell. In final, to the judges, clerks, and deputies thanks for being my teammates!
Marilyn Rowell, Chief Clerk
Magistrate Court of Effingham County Retirements (June 30, 2011): Betty Odom, Clerk; with Effingham Co. 17 Years Jane Gnann, Deputy Clerk and Part-time Magistrate
Promotions: Rhonda Sexton, Executive Assistant and Part-time Magistrate
Newly Hired: Samantha Fail, Deputy Clerk
Current Staff: Samantha Fail, Deputy Clerk Sherra Poole, Warrant Clerk Lori Causey, Civil Deputy Clerk Al Mauro, Constable Rhonda Sexton, Executive Assistant and Part-time Magistrate Scott Hinson, Chief Magistrate

Hello everyone:

The Reporter's Notebook
5
Nominations Committee

I look forward to seeing everyone at the end of the year.

Congratulations to Carla Brown elected President, 2011-2013. All other executive committee members were unopposed. Additionally, the District Three position was filled by Jackie Norman, Lee County. The next election year will be in 2013. It will be here before you know it.

If any clerk or secretaries happen to change position within your county, please notify your district representative so we can keep proper records. Also, I need assistance with the Nominating Committee; all volunteers will be accepted. However, if no one volunteers you may receive a call or email from me. I look forward to you contacting me.

Have a great year until we meet again.

Thanks in advance,

Stacey Askew Dooly County Magistrate Court 113 N 3rd Street, Room 2 Vienna, GA 31092 Email: doolymagclerk@yahoo.com 229-268-4324 229-268-4230
The Listserv... is ready to serve you!
The Magistrate Clerks' Listserv's purpose is to automatically send information out and provide interaction between all Magistrate Clerk/Secretary subscribers. For those of you who are not aware, here are a few reasons to join the Listerv:
1) It's an inexpensive (no-cost) way to interact with fellow Magistrates Court Clerks and discuss issues concerning your class of court; 2) It's a great way to seek out advice on unusual cases or cases you may have not experienced before; and 3) It's a quick way to send urgent notices that may other wise require sending postcards, making long distance calls (faxes) and playing phone tag (remember the cost buildup).
The Council encourages you to subscribe to this list. It is convenient, informative, and not to mention, it can be used as a great reference in referring to past events. Subscribing takes one call or e-mail. Once you have subscribed, you will receive a welcome message, providing instructions on using the service.
To subscribe to the Magistrate Listserv, please contact LaShawn Murphy, AOC, at (404) 651-6325 or via email at lashawn.murphy@gaaoc.us. Welcome aboard to all new subscribers!

The Reporter's Notebook 6



COUNCIL OF MAGISTRATE COURT JUDGES/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS NOTIFICATION OF NEW MAGISTRATE COURT PERSONNEL
Uniform Rules for Magistrates Courts, Rule 13. Notice of selection of magistrates, constables and clerks of magistrate court. Whenever a magistrate, constable, or clerk (but not deputy clerks) of the magistrate court shall take the oath required for office in O.C.G.A. 15-10-3, the chief magistrate shall forward to the Administrative Office of the Courts the name and title of the person taking the oath; the name of the person being succeeded; the term of office, if appropriate; the date assuming duties; and the address and telephone number the official wishes to use for business correspondence.
Note: Chief magistrates and clerks must submit notification of personnel and caseload information through the AOC Portal at https:// myaocportal.georgiacourts.gov/login.html. Access to the Portal will be available once you furnish the following
information to the AOC and follow subsequent directions for online registration. These directions will arrive via email.

COUNTY _________________________________

1. Check the appropriate boxes to indicate your position and status.

1. a. CHIEF MAGISTRATE MAGISTRATE SENIOR MAGISTRATE
1. b. FULL-TIME

CHIEF CLERK DEPUTY CLERK CONSTABLE

PART-TIME

Appt

Elected Date___/_____/_____

2. Fill in your identifying information.
NAME_______________________________________________________________________________________

NAME OF PERSON YOU ARE REPLACING, IF ANY_____________________________________________________

EMAIL_______________________________________________________________________________________



Fax or email this form to the Administrative Office of the Courts: FAX (770) 359-3168 EMAIL magpersonnel@gaaoc.us
(Rev. May 2011)

Summer 2012 7
AGENDA
ICJE: Magistrate 14-Hr. Clerks & Secretaries Class Nov. 14 15, 2011
UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, 15 RDC Road, Tifton, Georgia 31793

Summer 2012
8
Council of Magistrate Court Clerks and Secretaries Annual Business Meeting Winter- November 15, 2011
Welcome and Call to Order The Annual Business Meeting of the Council of Magistrate Court Clerks and Secretaries met at 12:30 p.m. on November 15, 2011, at UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton, Georgia. The meeting was called to order by President Debbie Barron.
The President began the meeting by welcoming everyone and announced that this was an election year and elections would be held at the end of the meeting.
Approval of Minutes The minutes were not read, as Secretary-Treasurer Gail Gazaway was ill and unable to attend the meeting.
Financial Report There was no financial report given, due to Secretary-Treasurer Gail Gazaway's absence.
New Business There was no new business to discuss.
Old Business 1. President Debbie Barron opened up discussion regarding a bill to present to the Georgia legislature to mandate Magistrate Court Clerks training. The issue had been discussed over the last year and a bill was drafted to add to amend O.C.G.A Title 15, to include the new code section, O.C.G.A. 15-10-105.3. A motion was made to move forward with the bill and was passed by the Council. It was further discussed that the Council would have to get a Representative or Senator to present and carry the bill for the legislative session in 2013. This will be left up to the new Legislative Chair and that committee. 2. Discussion regarding the newsletter took place. Some courts stated they did not receive one and some did not know of the Listserv for the Clerks. LaShawn Murphy of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), is the Magistrate Court Clerks Liaison; a request was made to make sure that all clerks had given their emails to her so that all could be included.
Elections President Debbie Barron announced that this was an election year and introduced the Present Officers and District Representatives, and stated all of the positions were open and up for elections. She then turned the program over to Stacey Askew, Chairman of the Nomination Committee, to go over the elections procedures and conduct the elections. Ms. Askew then announced that she had not received any nominations after sending out on the Listserv, and that since none were made they would be the same. Discussion and questions were then brought up about opening up the floor for nominations and whether a clerk who was also a judge could be nominated. It was approved and the floor was then opened up for nominations for all Officers and District Representatives for FY 2012 and 2013.
Nominations: President: Debbie Barron and Carla Brown Vice President: Cynthia Kelly SecretaryTreasurer: Gayle Gazaway

The Reporter's Notebook
9
District Reps: Dist 1: Kay Reese- Tattnall County Dist 2: Jo Anne Jones- Lowndes County Dist 3: Jackie Norman- Lee County Dist 4: Wendy Peacock- Rockdale County Dist 5: Mark Harper- Fulton County Dist 6: Leslie Dukes- Fayette County Dist 7: Sonya Petty- Murray County Dist 8: Hope Ward- Morgan County Dist 9: Jennifer Alday- Dawson County Dist 10: Paulette Williamson- McDuffie County
Votes of written ballots were counted and winners announced. The results: New President Carla Brown, with all of the other Officers unopposed. The third district representative position was left vacant from Carla Brown's election; Jackie Norman was appointed as the new Third District representative.
Announcement of the next meeting to be in Savannah, Georgia, December 4-5, 2012, at the Hilton Savannah Desoto Hotel.
Motion made and seconded, and approved by all to adjourn meeting.
Respectfully Submitted By Connie Holt, Advisor for the Council of Magistrate Court Clerks and Secretaries, On behalf of Gayle Gazaway, Secretary/ Treasurer
Note from District 8 Representative
Hello everyone. I hope all is well and a good many of you can attend the seminar in Savannah, Georgia this year. I'm sure it's going to be an excellent one. We had a really good Clerks & Secretaries Seminar in Tifton, Georgia this past year; I really enjoyed it. I always enjoy spending the time with Judge Holt and my fellow coworkers when we attend these seminars. It's always such a joy. We always carry something back with us; if it's just a little bit of info such as what time the other person wakes up in the morning or the other goes to bed. This was my first year sharing a room with Lucinda Edwards. She is the chief deputy clerk of our office; I really enjoyed her company. I always learn a lot from her on a daily basis. Judge Holt had a joining room to ours. We always have something to talk and laugh about. There's never a dull moment being with each other in our daily work schedule.
I can't wait to see you at this year's seminar. I hope we have a big turnout. Remember if any of you have any news you would like to share in the clerks and secretaries newsletter please send all of your information to Judge Holt or me via email. Our email addresses are as follows: Judge Holt cholt@morganga.org and Hope Ward hward@morganga.org. Hope everyone has a beautiful spring and pretty summer, see you in Savannah, Georgia.
HOPE WARD, DEPUTY CLERK MORGAN COUNTY, GEORGIA DISTRICT 8 REPRESENTATIVE

The Reporter's Notebook 10
AOC Trains Clerks and Others on Caseload Reporting
Since 1973, court clerks, administrators, and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) have partnered to collect caseload information for the Superior Courts of Georgia. The data is critical for circuits requesting an additional judgeship and is used to inform state and county resource decisions.
Gone are the days of AOC staffers traveling to county courthouses and counting caseload by hand. Increasingly, the AOC has relied on technology to communicate and collect yearly case count data, placing local court officials in the position of reporting and verifying their caseloads. In 2012, the AOC began offering workshops to explain the case count methodology and to address questions and issues from participants. These workshops and the accompanying manual (Georgia Caseload Reporting Guide: CY 2011) are used to communicate the processes, definitions, and frequently asked questions regarding caseload reporting. More importantly, the trainings provide a forum for court personnel to seek guidance on applying the methodology to their local practices, systems, and policies.
"Determining the county's true caseload is a challenging process," shared Judge Louisa Abbot, Superior Court, Eastern Judicial Circuit. "It is essential to judicial and executive governing authorities that personnel responsible for producing the case count have a thorough understanding of the intricacies involved. The training offered by the AOC may be especially useful to those areas where there are new personnel, or they are not as familiar with caseload study requirements."
The AOC's Office of Research, Planning, and Data Analysis hopes to learn as much from the participants as it imparts to them. Dr. Greg Arnold, Assistant Director for Statistical and Applied Studies, notes, "The data and resulting statistics help show changing caseloads, document workload in the clerk's office, and justify additional needed funds, equipment, and staff."
The bulk of the training allows participants to present individual examples, and then the group attempts to find solutions that work at the local level and fit into the Judicial Council's overall methodology. The trainings also provide participants with tools to plan their case count for the coming years.
Since 1973, reporting methods have improved and the focus on case types has shifted. For example, while manual approaches still are used in some parts of the state, more than 63% of courts now utilize an online tool, the AOC Portal, to record and verify their caseload. The goal of the trainings is to bring all court personnel up to speed with these and other changes.
Twelve workshops were conducted in the Alapaha, Atlanta, Dublin, Eastern, Middle, and Oconee circuits, and the Fourth, Seventh, and Ninth administrative districts with 110 attendees participating.
For technical assistance with caseload reporting please contact Ms. Pamela Dixon at pamela.dixon@ gaaoc.us or 404-277-4654.

Summer 2012
11
2012 Legislative Highlights
At midnight on Thursday, March 29, the Georgia General Assembly ended the 2012 legislative year. Legislators addressed major issues over the past three months ranging from criminal justice reform to modernizing provisions relating to the superior court clerks. Governor Deal has forty days after sine die (last day of legislative session) to sign or veto legislation. The AOC will publish its 2012 Enacted Legislation, a comprehensive summary of the 2012 legislative session, after the Governor signs or vetoes all bills.
During the 2011 session the legislature passed HB 265, creating the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians (Council). After the 2011 session ended, the Council met monthly to establish recommendations and findings intended to develop legislation for the 2012 session. Based on the recommendations of the Council, Chairman Rich Golick (R Smyrna) introduced HB 1176. HB 1176 received support from Chief Justice Carol W. Hunstein and Gov. Nathan Deal. The bill was passed on the final day of the session and now awaits the signature of the Governor.
On behalf of the Council of Superior Court Clerks, Representative Billy Maddox (R Zebulon) introduced HB 665, instituting changes to modernize provisions of the Clerk of Superior Court offices. Several committee hearings were held to hear from all interested parties being affected by these changes. The version of HB 665 that passed included language from legislation supported by the Judicial Council HB 763. HB 763 was introduced to clarify who is ineligible to serve as trial or grand jurors, clearly excluding from service those who have been convicted of a felony in state or federal court, or those declared mentally incompetent. It also provided that jurors summoned prior to July 1, 2012, remain eligible to comprise the venire in order to smooth the transition to the use of the inclusive jury lists called for under the 2011 jury reform (HB 415).
Several other bills of interest passed, such as HB 1048 related to process servers, while others like the juvenile code re-write (HB 641) did not. To view other legislation from the 2012 General Assembly session or view committee meeting announcements and agendas, news stories, and a host of other important information from the legislature, you can visit the AOC legislative website at legislation.georgiacourts.gov.
You can contact the AOC's Governmental and Trial Court Liaison team at the Capitol:
Michael CuccaroChristopher L. Causey 404-651-7616404-463-6296 mike.cuccaro@gaaoc.uschristopher.causey@gaaoc.us

Summer 2012 12
Getting Organized: Avoid Email Overload.
By Jill Duffy, from PC Magazine (www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385621,00.asp)
Rule 1. If the email doesn't require action (including re-reading), I throw it away immediately.
Rule 2. If an email is critical--meaning it requires imminent action or deep re-reading and possibly a reply--it stays in the inbox until I act upon it. It can stay in the inbox up to a month. After a month, I must act on it. That's the deadline. Once I've taken action, the email is filed to its corresponding folder.
Rule 3. If the email contains information I need, but does not require immediate action, it should be moved to its corresponding folder by the end of the day, or the end of the week if I'm busy. If I'm afraid I will forget to act on it because it's not immediately visible in the inbox, I can create a calendar item as a reminder. The email must be filed in a folder. No exceptions.
Rule 4. Friday afternoon, I give myself 10 to 20 minutes to sort through whatever is in the inbox and perhaps act on the items that don't require a lengthy response. By the time I leave the office, I should be able to see an inch or two of white space at the bottom (room to fill up again over the weekend).
Rule 5. After a year, archive it or chuck it. I tend to keep email data for about a year and archive everything else, which is extremely easy to do when your information is sorted into folders by month and year. Another organization method that was popularized back in the day of physical paperwork is to create 31 folders, labeled numerically, with each number corresponding to a day of the month. Rather than create a daily to-do list, you're supposed to file paperwork and reminders (and birthday cards, and bills to pay, etc.) in the folders corresponding to the appropriate action date. When the date arrives, you open the folder and are now tasked with taking care of whatever is inside.

The Reporter's Notebook 13

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ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS 244 WASHINGTON STREET SW, SUITE 300
ATLANTA, GA 30334-5900 404-656-5171
FAX: 404-651-6449

NOTIFICATION OF MAGISTRATE COURT PERSONNEL
In accordance with the Uniform Rules for Magistrates Courts: Rule 13. Notice of selection of magistrates, constables and clerks of magistrate court. Whenever a magistrate, constable, or clerk (but not deputy clerks) of the magistrate court shall take the oath required for office in O.C.G.A. 15-10-3, the chief magistrate shall forward to the Administrative Office of the Courts the name and title of the person taking the oath; the name of the person being succeeded; the term of office, if appropriate; the date assuming duties; and the address
and telephone number the official wishes to use for business correspondence.

We will be moving towards using the AOC Portal, the paperless gateway for updating of Court Personnel and Caseload information. The top portion of this form is critical to setting up your user profile in our Courts Information Directory system (CID). Once entered, you will be able to register and update your record as needed. An email confirmation will be sent notifying you to complete your registration, please check your spam folder to ensure delivery. (For existing court personnel (change in role, etc.) please complete)

CHIEF MAGISTRATE CHIEF CLERK

SENIOR MAGISTRATE DEPUTY CLERK

MAGISTRATE CONSTABLE

COUNTY ________________________



NAME_____________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS__________________________________________________________________

PHONE(____)_________________

FAX (___)___________________

EMAIL_____________________________________________________________

*******************************************************************************

GENDER:

Female

Male

Part-time

Full-time

ATTORNEY: Yes

No

ELECTION/APPOINTMENT DATE:__________________ TERM from__________to_________

Replacing Someone ?_______ If So, Who?___________________________________

RACE (optional):

African American (Black)



Euro American (White)

Hispanic

Asian / Pacific Native American Multi Racial

Fax or mail this form to the Administrative Office of the Courts at the address listed above.



Submitted by:

NAME______________________________________



ADDRESS___________________________________



PHONE #____________________________________

DISTRICT ONE:
APPLING COUNTY BACON COUNTY BRANTLEY COUNTY BRYAN COUNTY BULLOCH COUNTY CAMDEN COUNTY CHARLTON COUNTY CHATHAM COUNTY COFFEE COUNTY EFFINGHAM COUNTY EVANS COUNTY GLYNN COUNTY JEFF DAVIS COUNTY JENKINS COUNTY LIBERTY COUNTY LONG COUNTY MCINTOSH COUNTY PIERCE COUNTY SCREVEN COUNTY TATTNALL COUNTY
DISTRICT TWO:
ATKINSON COUNTY BAKER COUNTY BERRIEN COUNTY BROOKS COUNTY CALHOUN COUNTY CLAY COUNTY CLINCH COUNTY COLQUITT COUNTY COOK COUNTY DECATUR COUNTY DOUGHERTY COUNTY EARLY COUNTY ECHOLS COUNTY GRADY COUNTY IRWIN COUNTY LANIER COUNTY LOWNDES COUNTY MILLER COUNTY MITCHELL COUNTY QUITMAN COUNTY RANDOLPH COUNTY SEMINOLE COUNTY TERRELL COUNTY THOMAS COUNTY TIFT COUNTY TURNER COUNTY WORTH COUNTY

District-County Listing
DISTRICT THREE:
BIBB COUNTY CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY CRAWFORD COUNTY HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON COUNTY LEE COUNTY MACON COUNTY MARION COUNTY MUSCOGEE COUNTY PEACH COUNTY SCHLEY COUNTY STEWART COUNTY SUMTER COUNTY TALBOT COUNTY TAYLOR COUNTY WEBSTER COUNTY
DISTRICT FOUR:
DEKALB COUNTY ROCKDALE COUNTY
DISTRICT FIVE:
FULTON COUNTY
DISTRICT SIX:
BUTTS COUNTY CARROLL COUNTY CLAYTON COUNTY COWETA COUNTY FAYETTE COUNTY HEARD COUNTY HENRY COUNTY LAMAR COUNTY MERIWETHER COUNTY MONROE COUNTY PIKE COUNTY SPALDING COUNTY TROUP COUNTY UPSON COUNTY

Summer 2012
15
DISTRICT SEVEN:
BARTOW COUNTY CATOOSA COUNTY CHATTOOGA COUNTY COBB COUNTY DADE COUNTY DOUGLAS COUNTY FLOYD COUNTY GORDON COUNTY HARALSON COUNTY MURRAY COUNTY PAULDING COUNTY POLK COUNTY WALKER COUNTY WHITFIELD COUNTY
DISTRICT EIGHT:
BALDWIN COUNTY BEN HILL COUNTY BLECKLEY COUNTY CANDLER COUNTY CRISP COUNTY DODGE COUNTY DOOLY COUNTY EMANUEL COUNTY GREENE COUNTY HANCOCK COUNTY JASPER COUNTY JEFFERSON COUNTY JOHNSON COUNTY JONES COUNTY LAURENS COUNTY MONTGOMERY COUNTY MORGAN COUNTY PULASKI COUNTY PUTMAN COUNTY TELFAIR COUNTY TOOMBS COUNTY TREUTLEN COUNTY TWIGGS COUNTY WASHINGTON COUNTY WHEELER COUNTY WILCOX COUNTY WILKINSON COUNTY
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