The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges N20e1w3s 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 N2e0w1s3 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 3 FROM THE EDITOR N2e0w1s3 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 4 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. 5 N2e0w1s3 Spring Conference April 16-19, 2013, Athens GA SPRING CONF. 6 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. 7 N2e0w1s3 Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet Annual Banquet 8 Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges Volume 19, Number 2 Annual Banquet 9 N2e0w1s3 Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet Annual Banquet 10 Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet The Official Newsletter of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges Volume 19, Number 2 Annual Banquet 11 N2e0w1s3 Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet Annual Banquet 12 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 13 AOC Director Honors Past N2e0w1s3 Judicial Council Members Honoring Past Members 14 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 15 Save the Dates N2e0w1s3 Save the Dates 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 16 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 17 IN OUR THOUGHTS N2e0w1s3 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. 18 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. 19 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 20 DISTRICT 14 JUDGE CALVIN BENNETT