By Chief Judge Christopher C. Edwards and Taylor Wood Most courts and lawyers are familiar with more than one frequent frivolous self-represented plaintiff. These self-represented litigants file the bizarre complaints that are shared among lawyers as dark entertainment, resulting in hearings that resemble theater of the absurd, challenging even the best tempered jurists’ ability to … Continue reading The Georgia Law of Screening Orders: Preventing Repeated Frivolous, Malicious, and Unsubstantiated Complaint Filings by Self-Represented Litigants
Interview with State Bar of Georgia President Elizabeth Fite
Condensed and edited for clarity Michelle Barclay: First, congratulations on being sworn in as the 59th President of the State Bar of Georgia on June 12, 2021 at the first hybrid State Bar Annual Meeting in the Bar’s history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See the swearing-in ceremony here: State Bar of Georgia 2021 Annual … Continue reading Interview with State Bar of Georgia President Elizabeth Fite
Cobb County’s Second Chance Desk
by Alice Culpepper Georgia Justice Project, one of the Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee’s partners in our Virtual Record Restriction Clinics, has helped establish a “Second Chance Desk” in the Cobb County Circuit Defender's Office. This desk provides a permanent, daily service to those seeking criminal record restriction and sealing for certain offenses. On … Continue reading Cobb County’s Second Chance Desk
Meet Drew Townsend, Chief Financial Officer for the Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts
Noting Georgia’s fiscal new year that begins each year on July 1st, JC/AOC staffer, Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez, recently spoke with her colleague, Drew Townsend, who serves as the Director of the Financial Administration Division and Chief Financial Officer for the Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts. Drew Townsend, CFO for the Judicial Council of Georgia/Administrative Office of The Courts Interview condensed and edited for clarity. Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez: Happy Fiscal New Year to … Continue reading Meet Drew Townsend, Chief Financial Officer for the Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts
Jackson County Celebrates Treatment Court Graduate and 21 Drug-free Babies
by Alice Culpepper Jackson County recently honored another Treatment Court graduate in the Piedmont Judicial Circuit. On June 29th, Judge Currie Mingledorff presented the graduate with his certificate of completion, and praised him for his amazing accomplishments of not only graduating but also finding employment and stability for both him and his growing family. Jackson … Continue reading Jackson County Celebrates Treatment Court Graduate and 21 Drug-free Babies
Northeastern Judicial Circuit Celebrates Accountability Court Anniversaries
by Alice Culpepper Judge Cliff Jolliff Judge Bonnie OliverA newspaper article touting the benefits of the Hall County Parental Accountability CourtJudge John GirardeauJudge Jason DealJudge Clint Bearden On July 2nd, participants and guests gathered to celebrate great milestones for four of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit’s Accountability Courts. Hall County Drug Court marked 20 years since … Continue reading Northeastern Judicial Circuit Celebrates Accountability Court Anniversaries
Council of Municipal Court Judges Swears In New Officers and Training Council Members.
The Council of Municipal Court Judges Annual Summer Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony was held June 24, 2021, after a year hiatus due to the pandemic. In addition to the business meeting, the Council provided its annual summer Law and Practice Update where judges received training on many topics: Judicial Health and Wellness; Updates on … Continue reading Council of Municipal Court Judges Swears In New Officers and Training Council Members.
Barrow County Felony Drug Court Graduation
by Alice Culpepper On June 23rd, Barrow County celebrated two graduates from the county’s Felony Drug Court program. The graduates shared their inspiring stories about their struggles with addiction and how they overcame through the amazing treatment and “tough love” that they found in the program. Both the graduates and their families expressed deep gratitude … Continue reading Barrow County Felony Drug Court Graduation
Forsyth County’s DUI Court Celebrates 15 Years
by Alice Culpepper On June 2nd, 2021, the Forsyth County DUI Court held a graduation ceremony consisting of seven graduates from the program and an important visit from Chief Justice Harold Melton who has been an avid supporter of the accountability court program in Georgia. This ceremony marks an important milestone for the Forsyth County … Continue reading Forsyth County’s DUI Court Celebrates 15 Years
Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage month. Asian Pacific Americans serve as judges in all but two classes of Georgia’s court system. Only the Court of Appeals of Georgia (on which Justice Carla W. McMillian previously presided) and the State-wide Business Court (which is a newly created, single-judge class) are without an Asian American judge. … Continue reading Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Insights on the New Georgia Uniform Mediation Act from Tracy B. Johnson, Executive Director of the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution
JC/AOC staffer, Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez, recently discussed the newly-enacted Georgia Uniform Mediation Act with Tracy B. Johnson, Executive Director of the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez: In your own words, what is the Georgia Uniform Mediation Act? Tracy B. Johnson: Georgia is a national leader in the dispute resolution field for court-ordered cases. Since 1993, the Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Rules … Continue reading Insights on the New Georgia Uniform Mediation Act from Tracy B. Johnson, Executive Director of the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution