The Gavel: the official newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges [Vol. 19, No. 2 (Spring/Summer 2013)]

The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges
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SPRING/SUMMER EDITION

Volume 19, Number 2
TGhe avel

Judge Tony Thompson Editor
Marla S. Moore Director
Derrick B. Bryant Designer

Spring Probate Court Conference held in Athens, Georgia.

CONTENTS

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Table of Contents
Message from the President.................................................................................3 From the Editor......................................................................................................4 CPCJ Officers........................................................................................................5 Spring Conference................................................................................................6 Banquet Event.......................................................................................................8 AOC Director Honors Past Judicial Council Members..............................14 District Reporting...............................................................................................15 Save the Dates....................................................................................................16 Senate Bill 120...................................................................................................17 In Our Thoughts..................................................................................................18 COAG..................................................................................................................19 CPCJ District Director Map..............................................................................20

Greetings from Henry County Probate Court! I enjoyed seeing all of you in Athens and look forward to serving as President of the Council of Probate Court Judges for the next year. I am privileged to be serving alongside President-Elect Chase Daughtrey, First Vice-President Don Wilkes, Treasurer Darin McCoy and Immediate Past-President Mary Jo Buxton.

I am happy to report that on May 6th, we were able to witness the signing of SB 120 by Governor Deal at the Capitol. This Bill, which provides for prosecutors in Probate Courts with traffic jurisdiction, has been long needed and long in the making. A big thank you to our Legislative Chair, Woody Jordan and Vice-Chair Chase Daughtrey and Mark Middleton, our Council lobbyist, for staying the course to make this happen. I also want to thank Mary Jo Buxton, Laverne Ogletree and Mike Greene for their tremendous contributions. The last thank you goes out to the members of our Council who picked up the phone to talk to their legislators about this legislation. It really does make a difference when we all voice our opinion.
Even though the legislative session for the year is over we are already making plans for next year. I am learning that the legislative year never really ends. We are planning a leadership meeting for our Council in June to discuss proposed legislation for the 2014 session. We are required to present any legislation which may affect jurisdiction to the Judicial Council Policy & Legislative Committee at the July meeting.
As always, this will be a busy year for the CPCJ as we continue to strive for advances in our profession and in our offerings to the public. The Rules and Forms Committee will continue its efforts to update our standard forms and will be focusing on the Guardianship forms this year.

A newly appointed committee was formed at the spring meeting with the directive to work with PSP and our current software vendors so that our offices do not continue to duplicate date entry when it comes to firearms licenses. Thank you in advance to the members of this committee Chase Daughtrey, Mike Greene, Todd Blackwell and Mitchell Scoggins.
My own agenda for the year includes attempting to secure an Executive Director for the Council of Probate Court Judges. We are the only trial court Council in the state without a full-time director. This is not to say that we do not receive excellent support from the AOC but that we only receive parttime support. Despite full support from the Judicial Council for the position, we were denied by the legislature. I am not ready to give up on this despite the setback this year.
Thank you all in advance for your willingness to serve when asked, to make those phone calls when necessary, and to support each other daily.
With your help, your prayers, and your grace I am sure we can accomplish great things.
Judge Kelley Powell

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges Volume 19, Number 2
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FROM THE EDITOR

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Summer is almost here and this is a very late spring edition of The Gavel, so please pardon my tardiness. We trust you will find this issue of your newsletter informative and useful. This issue focuses on the events and issues addressed at our spring training meetings in Athens. Notable of course is the election of a new slate of officers including incoming president Judge Kelley Powell and the passing of that Gavel from past president Judge Mary Jo Buxton. We are fortunate to have such talented Judges in positions of leadership.

As usual, the training in Athens was a welcome reunion of sorts and after the test-taking anxiety has passed we can reflect on things learned and re-learned. I am personally grateful for the opportunity to grow professionally through the certification process and thank the event planners and teachers for their contributions.
Best regards to all,
Judge Tony Thompson, Candler County Probate Court
Editor, The Gavel

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2013 -2014 CPCJ Officers

The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges
Volume 19, Number 2

CPCJ OFFICERS

(FR: Judge Darin McCoy, Secretary-Treasurer; Judge Kelley Powell, President; Judge Don Wilkes, 1st Vice President. BR: Judge L. Chase Daughtrey, President-Elect)
The Council of Probate Court Judges elected their 2013-2014 Officers (pictured above) at the Spring Conference held April 16-19, 2013 in Athens, Georgia.
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Spring Conference April 16-19, 2013, Athens GA

SPRING CONF.

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Spring Conference April 16-19, 2013, Athens GA

The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges

Volume 19, Number 2

SPRING CONF.

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Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet

Annual Banquet

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Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet

The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges

Volume 19, Number 2

Annual Banquet

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Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet

Annual Banquet

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Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet

The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges

Volume 19, Number 2

Annual Banquet

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Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet

Annual Banquet

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Annual Retirement & Recognition Luncheon

The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges

Volume 19, Number 2

Annual Luncheon

Recipients of the five, ten, fifteen and twenty year Certificate of Attendance

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AOC Director Honors Past
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Honoring Past Members

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Marla S. Moore, AOC Director presented the 2012 retired probate council members that previously served on the Judicial Council with certificates of appreciation from Chief Justice Hunstein.

District Reportings

District One Report
District One had their last meeting while at the Probate Judges Spring Conference in Athens, Georgia with a majority of the members attending. The following was discussed:
Changes affecting filing of financial/ campaign reports as contained in HB 143; Prosecutors in probate court set out in SB 120; Changes in interlock eligibility.
The next meeting will be hosted by Judge Gene Lowery in Catoosa County in August.

District 10, 11, AND 14 Report
The tenth, eleventh and fourteenth districts met on March 27, 2013.
Present were Judges Darin McCoy, Don Wilkes, Gloria Dubberly, Janet Allen, Tammy Thornton, Larry Threkeld, Beth Mosley, Marie Middleton, Moye Howard, Mary Jo Buxton, Tony Thompson, Chase Daughtrey, Ms. Renee Wynn (Clerk), Ms. Tara Finnerty (Clerk), Ms. Barbara Stubbs (Clerk) and Mr. Bradley Crane from Mainstreet Technologies.

Have a wonderful day,
Deborah Andersen, Paulding County Probate Judge
Fifth District Report
The Fifth District Probate Judges met at the lovely home of Judge Tammy Brown of Barrow County. In attendance were all but two judges, who were ill. Judge Brown also invited representatives of our local CSB, Advantage Behavioral Health Systems. Three folks from ABHS came, including the Director and presented an excellent program. They furnished materials and answered questions as well. Following the meeting, we all enjoyed a delicious home-cooked meal prepared by Judge Brown herself. How did we repay her? By re-electing her to the Training Council as the Fifth District Representative, of course!

We had a wonderful meeting/luncheon hosted by Judge Dubberly at Watermelon Creek Vineyard in Tattnall County. We started out with a wine tasting which was followed by lunch and then a presentation by Mr. Crane regarding the benefits of scanning our documents and making them available online. In final, Judge Buxton said a few words regarding getting involved with the operation of the Council.
Respectfully,
Judge Beth Mosley

Respectfully, Judge Susan Tate, District Director

District Reports

The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges Volume 19, Number 2
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Save the Dates

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2013 Judges Courses South Georgia Training

Dates August 1

Location
UGA Conference Center, Tifton

North Georgia Training

August 6

Georgia Center, Athens

COAG Fall Conference Probate October 8-10 Judges

Hyatt Riverfront, Savannah

PJTC

October 7

Hyatt Riverfront, Savannah

CPCJ Excutive Committee

October 8

Hyatt Riverfront, Savannah

CPCJ Strategic Business Planning September 18-20 Marriott Evergreen Conf.

Session

Ctr, Atlanta

2013 Probate Clerks Courses
Probate Court Clerks Licenses, Wills & Estates, Guardianships

August 8

CSU Conf. Center, Columbus

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Senate Bill 120

Senate Bill 120

Traffic Judges,
Please be aware that Governor Deal has signed into law SB 120, which provides for prosecutors in the probate court where the District Attorney has opted not to prosecute.
Attached below is a link for the final version of the new statute. Please note there are some items that will require your immediate attention. For example, if your county has not adopted a resolution or ordinance creating the "Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the County Probate Court" they will need to adopt one and you or your clerk will need to forward a copy of said resolution, along the with contact information of your prosecutor, to the Prosecuting Attorneys Council within 30 Days of the county adopting the resolution or ordinance. Your prosecuting attorney will be required to take an oath which is outlined in the new statute and the prosecuting attorney for your county cannot practice law before your probate court.

Those are just a couple of items that I wanted to mention to you. Please familiarize yourself with the new statute and contact me if you have any questions.
Senate Bill 120 http://www.legis.ga.gov/ Legislation/20132014/137146.pdf
Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia http://www.pacga.org/site/content/109
Thanks, L. Chase Daughtrey Judge, Probate Court Cook County, Georgia 212 North Hutchinson Ave. Adel, Georgia 31620 229-896-3941 (O) 229-896-6083 (F)

The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges
Volume 19, Number 2

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IN OUR THOUGHTS

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In Our Thoughts...
Gilmer County Probate Judge Anita Mullins' father Lawrence Fred Holloway, of the Yukon Community, Ellijay,Georgia, died Tuesday morning, February 26th, 2013 at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper, GA. He graduated from Gilmer High School, class of 1944, and the University of Georgia, class of 1950. Mr. Holloway was a member of the Boardtown Church of Christ, a former Elder of the Macedonia Church of Christ, a founding member of the Blue Ridge Church of Christ and he served honorably as a combat veteran, in the United States Army in the European Theatre in War II. He retired as a Clerk for the L & N and Seaboard Costal Lines (CSX).
Mr. Holloway is survived by his wife of 66 years, Glayds Rogers Holloway in Ellijay, Georgia; daughters and son-in-law, Deborah and Paul Dotson of Woodstock, Ga. and Anita Holloway Mullins of Ellijay, Georgia; son and daughter-in-law; Roger and Shirley Holloway of Canton, Georgia; Grandchildren Eric Dotson, Jody Dotson, Min. David Mullins, Amy Shannon, Min. Jerrad Holloway, Julie Mullins, Casey Holloway; sixteen great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; sisters Loretta Holloway Jenkins and Eunice Holloway Puckett both of Cherryloga, Ga.; brothers Edward and Quinton Holloway of Ellijay, Ga., and Clay Holloway of Bowden, Ga.

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Judge Debbie Hunnicutt (Peach County) lost her brother, Daniel Grant Wicker. Daniel Grant Wicker, 50, died Thursday, May 15, 2013. Services were held at 11:00AM on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at Chamlee Memorial Baptist Church, 1502 Knoxville Street in Fort Valley, with Dr. Robert Bowman and Rev. Bryan McPherson officiating. Burial was at Oaklawn Cemetery. Born in Fort Valley, Grant was a member of Chamlee Memorial Baptist Church, and he loved to hunt. Survivors include his mother, Jean Grant Wicker of Fort Valley; sisters, Judge Debbie Hunnicutt (Bob) and Angela Adkinson (Tom), all of Fort Valley; brother, James "Jimmy" Wicker, Jr. (Lisa) of Pensacola, Florida; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, James E. Wicker, Sr., and a
sister, Cheri Wicker.

The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges
Volume 19, Number 2

COAG

http://www.coag.info/2013-fall-conference
2013 Fall Conference October
Join us in Savannah for our Fall Conference.
Probate Judges, Superior Court Clerks and Tax Commissioners will hold their training sessions at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, while the Sheriffs will meet at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront. Probate Judges, Superior Court Clerks and Tax Commissioners will begin their training sessions on Tuesday morning. The Sheriffs will begin Tuesday afternoon. We will continue individual training on Wednesday morning and hold our business meeting and joint training on Wednesday afternoon. We will hold our Banquet on Wednesday evening and continue training on Thursday morning.
Hotels
We will be utilizing the Hyatt Regency Savannah and the Marriott Savannah Riverfront. The room rate for both hotels is $167 per night for this year's meeting. Rooms that are guaranteed for river view may have an extra fee. The hotels are ready to accept your reservations now. Reservations can be made by calling 888-421-1442 to make reservations at the Hyatt and 800-285-0398 to make reservations at the Marriott. Reservations for the Hyatt may also be made online by clicking the above URL into your web browser.

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MAP

KEY FOR DISTRICTS
DISTRICT 1 JUDGE DEBORAH ANDERSON
DISTRICT 2 JUDGE DWAIN BRACKETT

CPCJPRDOBiAsTtErCiOcUtRTDDISiTrReICcTStors

DISTRICT 3 JUDGE ANN JACKSON
DISTRICT 4 JUDGE KATHRYN MARTIN

DADE

CATOOSA

FANNIN

UNION

TOWNS

RABUN

WALKER

WHITFIELD MURRAY

GILMER

CHATTOOGA

1GORDON

PICKENS

FLOYD

BARTOW

CHEROKEE

WHITE LUMPKIN

HABERSHAM
STEPHENS

DAWSON

2

FRANKLIN BANKS

HART

FORSYTH HALL

JACKSON

MADISON

ELBERT

FULTON

POLK HARALSON

PAULDING

COBB

DOUGLAS

3

CARROLL

FAYETTE

CLAYTON ROCKDALE

GWINNETT BARROW

CLARKE

WALTON OCONEE

DEKALB

NEWTON HENRY

MORGAN

OGLETHORPE

5

WILKES

GREENE

TA

LIAF

ERRO WARREN

MCDUFFIE

LINCOLN COLUMBIA RICHMOND

COWETA

JASPER

PUTNAM

HEARD TROUP

4
MERIWETHER

SPALDING

BUTTS

PIKE LAMAR UPSON

MONROE

JONES
6

BIBB

HANCOCK BALDWIN

7 GLASCOCK JEFFERSON

WASHINGTON

WILKINSON

BURKE JENKINS

HARRIS

TALBOT

CRAWFORD

TWIGGS

JOHNSON

EMANUEL

SCREVEN

MUSCOGEE

CHATTAHOOCHEE

MARION

TAYLOR

PEACH HOUSTON BLECKLEY

MACON

LAURENS
9

TREUTLEN

CANDLER

BULLOCH
11 EFFINGHAM

MONTGOMERY

STEWART

WEBSTER

SCHLEY
8
SUMTER

QUITMAN

TERRELL

LEE

RANDOLPH

DOOLY

PULASKI

DODGE

WHEELER

CRISP

WILCOX

TELFAIR

TURNER

BEN HILL

JEFF DAVIS

TOOMBS

EVANS

TATTNALL

BRYAN CHATHAM

10
APPLING

LIBERTY LONG

CLAY

CALHOUN

DOUGHERTY

WORTH

IRWIN TIFT

COFFEE

BACON

WAYNE

McINTOSH

EARLY MILLER

12 BAKER MITCHELL

COLQUITT

13
COOK BERRIEN

ATKINSON

LANIER

PIERCE
14 WARE

BRANTLEY

SEMINOLE

DECATUR

GRADY

THOMAS

BROOKS

LOWNDES

CLINCH

CHARLTON

GLYNN CAMDEN

ECHOLS

DISTRICT 5 JUDGE SUSAN TATE
DISTRICT 6 JUDGE TODD BLACKWELL
DISTRICT 7 JUDGE LEE MOSS
DISTRICT 8 JUDGE ROONEY BOWEN, III
DISTRICT 9 JUDGE TORI J. HUDSON
DISTRICT 10 JUDGE LARRY THRELKELD
DISTRICT 11 JUDGE BETH MOSLEY
DISTRICT 12 JUDGE AMOS SHEFFIELD
DISTRICT 13 JUDGE CHASE DAUGHTREY

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DISTRICT 14 JUDGE CALVIN BENNETT