PIKE BOC SUPPORTS A 5TH JUDGE FOR GRIFFIN CIRCUIT

AT TUESDAY'S MEETING THE PIKE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR A PROPOSED 5TH SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE FOR THE GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.

DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATOR WILL SIMMONS AND SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE FLETCHER SAMS EXPLAINED TO THE BOARD THEY ARE IN THE 2ND STAGE OF THE PROCESS AFTER A STATE STUDY REVEALED THE 4 JUDGES ARE DOING THE CASELOAD WORK OF 5.6 JUDGES. LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM PIKE, UPSON, SPALDING AND FAYETTE COUNTIES ARE NEEDED TO PROCEED.

JUDGE SAMS STATED THIS IS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CIRCUIT TO GET A 5TH—STATE PAID JUDGE, A STATE PAID ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, AS WELL AS A LAW CLERK, A STATE PAID PUBLIC DEFENDER, A STATE PAID ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY, A STATE PAID ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISSTANT FOR THE D.A.'S OFFICE AND A STATE PAID INVESTIGATOR FOR THE D.A.

ACCORDING TO JUDGE SAMS—THE GRIFFIN CIRCUIT HAS QUALIFIED FOR A 5TH JUDGE FOR THE 3RD YEAR—MORE THAN ANY OTHER CIRCUIT IN GEORGIA—AND TWO OTHER COUNTIES—COBB AND GWINNETT HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR REQUESTS—SO THIS IS THE BEST TIME TO GET AN ADDITIONAL JUDGE—AND IT WILL COST PIKE COUNTY ONLY $8000—AS HE PUT IT—LOTS OF BANG FOR THE BUCK.

COUNTY ATTORNEY ROB MORTON ADVISED THE D.A.'S OFFICE AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER HAVE REQUESTED MORE HELP AND THIS WAY IT COULD BE FUNDED WITHOUT IMPACTING TAX PAYERS.

THE GA. GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON A 5TH JUDGE—IF FUNDED IN THE 2019 SESSION THE NEW JUDGE COULD BE SEATED IN 2020.