Statement on Non-Complex Docket

The Fulton Superior Court has no plans to discontinue the non-complex docket.


National experts have endorsed our system. It is an appropriate and proven way to handle low-level, non-violent offenders in a timely and cost effective manner so that the jail can house those accused of serious violent offenses.

An experienced, elected judge will be in charge of all proceedings including hearing cases, sentencing offenders and providing oversight.

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TEXT OF LETTER TO CITIZENS OF FULTON COUNTY
January 3, 2011

Letter to the Citizens of Fulton County:

This letter is written in my capacity as Chief Judge on behalf of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. On December 27, 2010 State Patrol Trooper Chadwick LeCroy lost his life in the line of duty. As a judge, I am prohibited from commenting on the circumstances associated with his death. However, I, and every judge in this Circuit, recognize that his death represents a grievous loss to his family and the State of Georgia.

The purpose of this letter is to provide accurate information and fulfill our duty to the public in providing transparency with respect to the Court's business as it relates to the release of Gregory Favors, the person charged with the shooting of Trooper LeCroy.

At or around 9:35 p.m. on December 10, 2010, Favors and a co-defendant, Mr. Larry Brown, were arrested by the Atlanta Police Department. Mr. Favors was arrested for the offenses of Entering Auto, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Tools to Commit a Crime and Obstruction. Mr. Brown was charged with Possession of Tools to Commit a Crime and Party to a Crime. Both were taken to the Fulton County Jail.

Due process under the Constitution requires that a person arrested without a warrant "have the probable cause for his or her continued detention reviewed by a neutral and detached magistrate as soon as reasonably feasible but, in any event, within 48 hours of arrest." Capestany v. State, 289 Ga. App. 47 (2007). The 48-hour constitutional requirement is a well settled principle of law, established two decades ago in the case of County of Riverside v. McLaughlin, 500 U.S. 44 (1991). In Georgia, the constitutional mandate is also recognized by statute. OCGA 17-4-62 provides that any person who is arrested without a warrant and who is not brought before an appropriate judicial officer within 48 hours of arrest "shall be released." The 48-hour rule is clearly not "a self-imposed Fulton County judicial system deadline" as it has been characterized. It is mandatory.

The due process mandate to determine probable cause within 48 hours is fulfilled in Fulton County by having arrestees appear on a first appearance calendar before a magistrate at the Fulton County jail. The determination of probable cause is made by the arresting officer appearing before the magistrate and testifying to the circumstances of the arrest. If a defendant has been held for 48 hours and the arresting officer fails to appear at the calendar, the defendant must be released.

To determine probable cause, a magistrate must have something to review-either a warrant or the testimony of an arresting officer. The Court's records reflect that Mr. Favors' codefendant appeared before a magistrate within 48 hours of his arrest. There was no warrant presented to the magistrate and the arresting officer was not present. The magistrate was, therefore, required to release Mr. Brown. Had Mr. Favors been on the same calendar, he also would have been required to be released.

On December 13, Mr. Favors first appeared on a calendar. As of that point, he had been incarcerated pursuant to his warrantless arrest for more than 48 hours. When he appeared before the magistrate, no warrant had yet been obtained and the arresting officer was not present. Under those circumstances the magistrate before whom Mr. Favors appeared had no alternative but to comply with Georgia Law and the Constitution. For that reason, Mr. Favors was released.

The imposition of a signature bond on a defendant entitled to release is an attempt at a practical accommodation. It reflects an effort by the magistrate to maintain some control and contact with the arrestee until the arresting officer obtains an arrest warrant or the prosecuting agency issues an indictment. In this case, no warrant was obtained and no indictment issued after Mr. Favors' release pursuant to Riverside.

When Mr. Favors was released on December 13, 2010 it was not the result of judicial whim or an adherence to some arbitrary self-imposed rule. Rather, he was released because the judges and courts of this community have a duty to uphold the rule of law and comply with its requirements. It has also been suggested that had Mr. Favors received a different sentence in other proceedings or if his case had been heard through some other process, he would not have been on the streets. That suggestion reflects the reality that when a tragedy occurs, people want explanations. Hindsight is often the first tool reached for in an effort to provide an easy answer.

Fulton County, like many urban courts across the country, has developed a two-tiered system for adjudicating criminal cases. Less complex cases involving non-violent offenses are heard more quickly than more complex cases. Mr. Favors at the time of his arrest was not under indictment in a non-complex case. His release had therefore nothing to do with that program.

It is true that Mr. Favors had previous matters which were heard in Fulton County. Those cases were heard and sentences imposed based upon the facts and circumstances presented to the court at the time those decisions were made. Responsibility for the decisions rest with the decision makers. However, the propriety of those decisions can only be fairly judged in the context in which they were made based on the information provided to the Court.

Trooper LeCroy's death was tragic. The judges of this community believe that the people of Fulton County deserve a justice system that upholds the rule of law, seeks truth and does justice. On behalf of myself and all of the judges of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit, I pledge that we will continue to do all we can to insure the public is protected and well-served. This includes our duty to be faithful to the law, even in difficult times.



Hon. Cynthia D. Wright, Chief Judge

Superior Court of Fulton County

Atlanta Judicial Circuit



cc: Mayor Kasim Reed, City of Atlanta

Chief George Turner, Atlanta Police Department

Chairman John H. Eaves, Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard

Statement on Defendant Gregory Favors

Joint statement from Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Cynthia Wright and Fulton County State Court Chief Judge Patsy Porter:



Our Courts are currently reviewing information related to alleged suspect, Gregory Favors and his history as a defendant in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit.  If there are issues that need to be addressed, we will work with all involved in the criminal justice system.

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Gate City Bar Judicial Section Names 2010 Legacy Award Winners

ATLANTA – The Gate City Bar Association Judicial Section has named those receiving its 2010 Legacy Awards. They are:

• A.T. Walden Award:

• Granvette Matthews, Esq., Director, Family Division of Superior Court of Fulton County

• Judge Clarence Cooper Legacy Award:

• Judge Marvin S. Arrington, Sr., Atlanta Judicial Circuit

• Judge Thelma Wyatt Moore Legacy Award:

• Judge Constance Russell, Atlanta Judicial Circuit

• Justice Robert Benham Legacy Award:

• Judge Orion L. Douglass, State Court of Glynn County

• Judge Horace T. Ward Legacy Award:

• Judge Stephanie Davis, Magistrate Court of Fulton County

The awards will be presented at the Judicial Section’s holiday scholarship and awards dinner on December 8, 2010.

“This year’s Legacy Award recipients are phenomenal public servants representing the high professional standards set by the esteemed jurists for whom these awards have been named,” said Judicial Section Chair, Fulton Superior Court Judge Gail S. Tusan. “It is my personal and professional honor to publicly acknowledge the contributions made to the legal community and community at large.”

Five local high school seniors and one graduating Morehouse College senior will be presented the Section’s 2011-2012 scholarships.

Those selected for scholarships are:

• Amanda Bennett, a junior at Chamblee Charter High School

• Paul Harris, Jr., a senior at Carver Early College High School

• Joa O’Neal, a senior at Carver Early College High School

• Christopher Preston, a senior at Morehouse College

• Ashanté Rosier-Robinson, a senior at Chamblee Charter High School

• Tevin Williams, a senior at Carver Early College High School

The Gate City Bar Association [http://gatecitybar.org/],established in 1948, is the oldest African American Bar Association in the State of Georgia. The Gate City Bar Association was organized by ten African American lawyers to provide the educational, social and community involvement of a professional association for African American lawyers.

The purpose of GCBA Judicial Section [http://www.gatecityjudges.org/], founded in 2005, is to assist Georgia judges in the performance of their responsibilities and to foster positive relations between the bench and the bar. Through various community outreach programs, the Judicial Section seeks to build bridges with other organizations, constituencies and the community at large, all with the goal of increasing public trust and confidence in the justice system.

The Superior Court of Fulton County is Georgia’s largest and busiest trial court. Become a fan of the Fulton Superior Court on facebook. Follow the Court on twitter.

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About the 2010 Legacy Award Namesakes and Recipients:

• A. T. Walden---Born in Fort Valley, GA, A.T. Walden received a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1911 and subsequently began practicing in Macon, GA. After serving as a captain in the army in World War I, Walden began practicing in Atlanta. Here he founded the Gate City Bar Association and the Atlanta Negro Voters League. After serving as president of the Atlanta NAACP, delegate to the Democratic National Convention, and the first black judge in Georgia since the Reconstruction Era, serving in Atlanta’s Municipal Court, Walden passed in 1965.

Granvette Matthews ---  has been the Director of the Fulton Superior Court Family Division since November 2001. Prior to that time she was the Administrator of the Fulton County Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. She is a member of the Georgia Bar and is a registered neutral with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution.

Ms. Matthews is a graduate of the Emory University School of Law. She earned her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University and her undergraduate degree in Sociology from Winthrop University where she graduated magna cum laude. Ms. Matthews also earned her undergraduate certificate in Social Work from Winthrop University.

After receiving her undergraduate degree, Ms. Matthews served as a Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) in Atlanta, and, upon graduation from law school Ms. Matthews was awarded a Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellowship and served as a staff attorney with Georgia Legal Services. Prior to her employment with Fulton County, Ms. Matthews was employed by the City of Atlanta, first as the Director of Pretrial Services and then as Clerk of Court/Court Administrator for the City of Atlanta Municipal Court.

In an interesting coincidence, Ms. Matthews used to volunteer at A. T. Walden Middle School, in Atlanta, teaching students about mediation.

• Clarence Cooper—Born in Decatur, GA, Clarence Cooper obtained a Doctorate of Law in 1967 from Emory University. After working with Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Cooper became the first black Assistant District Attorney with Fulton County. Cooper served as a judge in the City of Atlanta Municipal Court and the Fulton County Superior Court before being appointed to the Georgia Court of Appeals in 1990. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton as the second black federal judge in Georgia in 1995.

Marvin S. Arrington --- was appointed Judge to the Fulton County Superior Court by Governor Roy Barnes in January 2002. Prior to his appointment as Judge, Mr. Arrington was senior partner at the law firm of Arrington & Hollowell. His areas of concentration were civil litigation, white-collar crime, administrative law, and corporate representation.

He has been voted “One of Atlanta’s Top 25 Lawyers” by Atlanta Magazine and is recognized as being “Among the 100 Most Influential People in Georgia” by Georgia Trend Magazine. He received the Silverback Award recognizing his good works with the Atlanta Zoo. Mr. Arrington also received the Georgia Bar Association’s highest community service award, “The Chief Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service.”

Judge Arrington is an Emory University Law School Alumnus and a graduate of Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta. As a member of the Society of International Business Fellows, he attended the London School of Business in 1981. Judge Arrington served as President of the Atlanta City Council, having been a member of the Council for over twenty years. He also has served as a member of the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium Authority and was its Chairman for eleven years, having been appointed by Mayor Maynard Jackson and later re-appointed by former Mayor Andrew Young.

Judge Arrington’s recently published autobiography, “MAKING MY MARK The Story of a Man Who Wouldn’t Stay in His Place,” is a testament of what happens when hard work and perseverance meet tenacity and optimism. It’s the story of a dedicated man, born in a segregated South who went on to break down racial barriers and build walls of inclusion and harmony. Through this book and his work with youth on the bench and in the larger community Judge Arrington continues to mentor, educate, and inspire future generations.

Judge Arrington has served as a Special Assistant to the President of the National Bar Association and formerly headed that Association's legal section. He was also appointed by the President of the American Bar Association to serve on the Association's Advisory Committee of the Special Committee on Election Law and Voter Participation. Judge Arrington has also served the State Bar of Georgia as Chairman of the Correctional Facilities and Service Committee.

Judge Arrington has served as a member of the boards of the Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority, the Metropolitan Atlanta Olympic Authority, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Advisory Board of the World Trade Club of Atlanta, the Commerce Club, the Atlanta Business League, the Atlanta Lawyers Club, and the Board of Governors of the Atlanta City Club. Judge Arrington has served on the Board of Trustees of The Lovett School and Clark Atlanta University. He is presently a member of the Board of Trustees of Emory University.

Judge Arrington has received numerous awards and commendations in recognition of his many accomplishments within the legal profession and for his commitment to community service. Emory University awarded Judge Arrington the "Emory Medal" in 1988 and the "Distinguished Alumnus Award" in 1989.

Judge Arrington's professional affiliations have included memberships in the State Bar of Georgia, the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association, Atlanta Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, the Gate City Bar Association and the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

• Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore—Born in Los Angeles, CA, Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore was the first woman to serve full-time on the benches of the Atlanta Municipal Court and the City Court of Atlanta. She is the first woman to serve as Chief Judge of the Superior Court of Fulton County and the first African-American woman to serve as Chief Administrative Judge of any Judicial Circuit in Georgia. Before retiring, after almost 30 years of service, Moore received the United States Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence.

Honorable Constance C. Russell ---

Judge, Superior Court

Atlanta Circuit, Fifth Judicial Administrative District County: Fulton

Office Address

T5705 Justice Center Tower 185 Central Avenue, SW Atlanta, GA 30303

Phone: 404-612-2803 Fax: 404-335-2814

Secretary: Vickie Edwards-Hood

Email: vickie.edwards-hood@fultoncountyga.gov

Birth date: December 1

Initial Term: (A) 03/04/96

College/University: Harvard University

Law School: University of Virginia School of Law

• Robert Benham—Born in Cartersville, GA, Robert Benham holds a J.D. from the University of Georgia and an L.L.M from the University of Virginia. After serving as an attorney for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Benham worked as a Special Assistant Attorney General in Cartersville while serving as President of the Bartow County Bar Association. After being appointed by Governor Joe Frank Harris as the first black state appellate judge in Georgia and serving for five years, Benham was appointed the 1st black Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Honorable Orin L. Douglass --- was born February 22, 1947 in Savannah, Georgia. His parents were both longtime educators in the Chatham County school system and he received his primary and secondary education in the Catholic parochial schools of Savannah.

In 1964, Douglass received his high school diploma from St. Pius X High School in Savannah, Georgia and in that same year was awarded a four-year athletic scholarship to attend Holy Cross College in Worchester, Massachusetts.

While at Holy Cross College, Douglas majored in Philosophy and received his A.B. degree in 1968. In that same year he was accepted and enrolled into Washington University Law School in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1971, he received his Juris Doctorate degree from that institution.

After graduating from Washington University, Douglass was admitted to the State Bars of Missouri and Georgia in 1973. After serving as a law intern for the St. Louis Legal Aid Society and subsequently, Assistant Circuit attorney for the City of St. Louis, Douglass returned to his home state of Georgia in 1974.

After a brief stint as associate counsel for the law firm of Hill, Jones and Farrington in Atlanta, Georgia, Douglass returned to coastal Georgia and moved to St. Simons Island, Georgia in 1974. Since that time he has practiced law in the Glynn County community as a general practice trial lawyer for almost twenty years and presently is judge of the State Court of Glynn County.

In 1981 Douglass was appointed by the Brunswick City Council to the position of Judge of the Municipal Court. He served in that capacity for 12 years until November 1992 when he was elected in a multi-candidate, countywide race to the position of Judge of the State Court of Glynn County. Judge Douglass is presently serving his fourth term in that position.

Judge Douglass is married to the former Shirley Hill of Valdosta, Georgia and to this 34-year union they have been blessed with the birth of three children, Orin Jr., age 33, a special child, Omar, age 28, a 2004 graduate of Holy Cross College, and Odet, age 22, a senior at Holy Cross College and a member of the class of 2011.

Douglass, the grandson of a Presbyterian minister, is a member of the Brunswick Second Presbyterian Church where he is an Elder, sings in the choir and serves as the assistant music director. He presently serves on the Executive Board of the Okeefenoke Council of the Boy Scouts and is a charter member of the Fourteen Black Men of Glynn, Inc. He also served as past chairman of the Communities in Schools of Glynn, a grass roots support organization which serves and supports he public schools of Glynn County, Georgia.

Judge Douglass has served on several special commissions appointed by the Georgia Supreme Court and the Governor of Georgia. He is past President of the Council of State Court Judges for the State of Georgia and was once nominated to the Governor’s shortlist to fill a vacancy on the Georgia Court of Appeals until his nomination was withdrawn as his request.

Judge Douglass presently serves on various commercial and non-profit boards of directors and in 2004 he was specially honored by his alma mater, Washington University Law School when he was inducted as an honorary initiate into the University’s Oder of the Coif. In 2006 he was awarded a Distinguished Law Alumni Award by Washington University for that year and in 2007 he was awarded the Alfred W. Jones, Sr. Man of the Year Award by the Brunswick-Glynn County Chamber of Commerce.

• Horace Ward—Born in LaGrange, GA, Horace Ward obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and a Master’s degree from Atlanta University. He subsequently obtained a law degree from Northwestern University after being denied by the then-segregated University of Georgia Law School. Ward later added in the case to desegregate UGA’s law school. He served for nine years in Georgia’s State Senate before being appointed by President Jimmy Carter as the first black federal judge in the state of Georgia in 1979.

Honorable Stephanie Davis --- was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Albert and Myrtle Davis. She attended St. Paul of the Cross Elementary School and graduated from Northside High School. She earned an AB degree in Communication at Stanford University and obtained her JD degree at Emory University.


Judge Davis’ first job as an attorney was law clerk to the Honorable Clarence Cooper in the Superior Court of Fulton County in 1986. After Judge Cooper’s appointment to the Georgia Court of Appeals in 1990, she joined his staff as staff attorney. She later served as staff attorney for Judges Harold Banke and John Ruffin. In 2000, Judge Davis was appointed to be a part time magistrate in Fulton County. She became a full time magistrate in 2002. Last year, the judges of the State Court of Fulton County appointed her Chief Magistrate of Fulton County where she presides over dispossessory matters, small claims, garnishments, civilian warrant applications, traffic court, criminal first appearances, the issuance of arrest and search warrants, as well as, mental health, environmental, child support and domestic violence cases.

A strong advocate for persons with disabilities, Judge Davis served as the first chairperson for the Fulton County Commission on Disability Affairs. She joined others in a successful federal lawsuit against MARTA to ensure equal access to transportation in metropolitan Atlanta. She currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board at the Shepherd Center and has served as an advisor on disability related issues for numerous boards and agencies.

Judge Davis has served on several boards, including the Board of the Directors of The Atlanta Women’s Foundation and the Executive Board for the Council of Magistrate Court Judges.

Judge Davis is an enthusiastic Atlanta Falcons fan. She currently devotes a great deal of her free time to her neighborhood, Atlantic Station and serves on the Board of Directors of the Art Foundry Condominium Association.

About the students receiving scholarships:

Amanda Bennett is a junior at Chamblee Charter High School. Amanda has served as a prosecuting attorney on her school’s mock trial team as well as a member of the Academic and Black History Bowl teams. She plays the violin for the DeKalb Youth Symphony and is currently a member of DeKalb County Teen Court. Amanda hopes to be a public defender one day.

Paul Harris, Jr. is a senior at Carver Early College High School, where he currently stands as class Valedictorian. He is dually enrolled at Georgia State University and has been honored with the National Honor Society Leader Award as well as the President’s List at GSU. He is the Captain of his school’s debate team and the Vice-President of the Key Club. After receiving his Juris Doctorate, Paul plans on becoming a criminal defense lawyer.

Joa O’Neal is a senior at Carver Early College High School. She has been an active member of the Atlanta community for years, volunteering with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the Be a Match Foundation, Hands on Atlanta, and many breast cancer research initiatives. She plans to continue to college next fall and ultimately hopes to have a career in non-profit administration.

Christopher Preston is a senior Political Science major at Morehouse College; he is also the first male in his family to attend college. He is a Dean’s List student who spent a summer studying at the London School of Economics. Preston currently serves at the president of the 100 Black Men of America Collegiate Chapter of Atlanta, GA. Upon graduation, Preston plans to continue to law school.

Ashanté Rosier-Robinson is a senior at Chamblee Charter High School. She is the secretary of her school’s Student Government Association and a volunteer with Hosea Feed the Hungry and Hands on Atlanta. After attending law school, Ashanté plans to use her knowledge of the legal system to press for a higher quality of education in South DeKalb county public schools.

Tevin Williams is a senior at Carver Early College High School. He is an honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society. Tevin has been consistently involved with the Sandtown community Recreational Center Community Service Projects. Next fall, he plans on attending the University of Georgia as a pre-law major, after which he will pursue a Juris Doctorate.

Pretrial Offices Have Been Combined

ATLANTA - Less than a month after the merger was approved Fulton County Superior and State Court Pretrial offices have been combined!

The merger, approved Oct. 21 by Fulton County Commissioners and completed Nov. 19, marks a new era of cooperation and efficiency said Superior Court Chief Judge Cynthia Wright and State Court Chief Judge Patsy Porter.

The merger combined offices that supervised misdemeanor and felony defendants. The measure was promised earlier this year by Court leaders to increase the efficiency of court operations in the face of ongoing budget constraints.

“This change ushers in a new era of cooperation between State and Superior Courts of sharing services to increase the efficiency of both Courts,” said Chief Superior Court Judge Wright who became Chief Judge in May.

State Court Chief Judge Porter, who also took office this year, agreed that the merger is “a good opportunity to work together as a court system; to show that we are on the same team.”

A committee of State Court judges Susan B. Forsling, Susan E. Edlein and Fred C. Eady worked with State Court staff to hammer out the details of the transfer, Judge Porter said. She praised the “invaluable” service of State Court staff members Mark Harper, Valerie Jordan and Adelaide Wilder in preparing for the transfer of the misdemeanor pretrial release and supervision to Superior Court.

Current State Court pretrial office employees became Superior Court employees under the agreement, said Superior Court Administrator Yolanda Lewis. Combining the operations provides court officials an opportunity to evaluate and improve efficiencies, Lewis said.

"We look forward to a new and improved Pretrial program which will expand the use of technologies and services," Lewis said.

Pretrial Services officers provide neutral, non-adversarial and verified information to judges, defense attorneys, and the prosecutors for use in determining whether to grant bond at a defendant’s initial court appearance and any subsequent hearings where bond and or conditions of release are being determined.

Supervision officers conduct drug testing of defendants to determine the prevalence of drug addiction in the jail population and provide initial screening for addiction and or mental illness to determine which defendants may be appropriately referred to Drug or Mental Health Court.

Working around the clock seven days a week Superior Court Pretrial Services screened 14,220 felony defendants in 2009. Of that total, judges assigned 4,435 defendants to the supervised release program.

Defendants in the supervised release program are much more likely to appear in court and avoid further arrests. In 2009, 97 percent of defendants released to Pretrial supervision attended all scheduled court hearings while avoiding new criminal charges.

The Superior and State Courts of Fulton County are Georgia’s largest and busiest trial courts.

Learn more about the Superior Court on Facebook and follow Court developments on twitter. You can also access information about Superior and State Court programs on the internet at http://www.fultoncourt.org/.

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Fulton Courts merge programs

ATLANTA – The pretrial release supervision programs of the Fulton County Superior and State Courts will be combined in what Court officials call the beginning of a new era of cooperation and efficiency.

Approved Wednesday by Fulton County Commissioners the merger combines offices that supervised misdemeanor and felony defendants. It was a measure promised by Court leaders earlier this year to increase the efficiency of court operations in the face of ongoing budget constraints.

“This change ushers in a new era of cooperation between State and Superior Courts of sharing services to increase the efficiency of both Courts,” said Chief Superior Court Judge Cynthia Wright who became Chief Judge in May.

State Court Chief Judge Patsy Porter, who also took office this year, agreed that the merger is “a good opportunity to work together as a court system; to show that we are on the same team.”

A committee of State Court judges Susan B. Forsling, Susan E. Edlein and Fred C. Eady worked with State Court staff to hammer out the details of the transfer, Judge Porter said. She praised the “invaluable” service of State Court staff members Mark Harper, Valerie Jordan and Adelaide Wilder in preparing for the transfer of the misdemeanor pretrial release and supervision to Superior Court.

Current State Court pretrial office employees will become Superior Court employees under the agreement, said Superior Court Administrator Yolanda Lewis. No jobs will be eliminated during the transition and combining operations will provide an opportunity to evaluate and improve efficiencies with both programs, Lewis said.

Pretrial Services officers provide neutral, non-adversarial and verified information to judges, defense attorneys, and the prosecutors for use in determining whether to grant bond at a defendant’s initial court appearance and any subsequent hearings where bond and or conditions of release are being determined.

Supervision officers conduct drug testing of defendants to determine the prevalence of drug addiction in the jail population and provide initial screening for addiction and or mental illness to determine which defendants may be appropriately referred to Drug or Mental Health Court.

Working around the clock seven days a week Superior Court Pretrial Services screened 14,220 felony defendants in 2009. Of that total, judges assigned 4,435 defendants to the supervised release program.

Defendants in the supervised release program are much more likely to appear in court and avoid further arrests. In 2009, 97 percent of defendants released to Pretrial supervision attended all scheduled court hearings while avoiding new criminal charges.

The Superior and State Courts of Fulton County are Georgia’s largest and busiest trial courts.

Learn more about the Superior Court on Facebook and follow Court developments on twitter. You can also access information about Superior and State Court programs on the internet at www.fultoncourt.org.

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Jury Newsletter Focuses on Judges

The current issue of Jury Matters includes profiles of three judges, including one visiting from Japan; upgrades to security at the Fulton County Superior Court; tips on resolving disputes without going to court; and the history of Grand Juries.


October, 2010 issue


The quarterly newsletter also has information on staying comfortable and keeping up with business demands during jury service.

And a regular feature, our Service feedback form helps the Court maintain top customer service for those who provide a vital public service.

Download your copy and learn more about the judicial branch and how jurors preserve our democratic system of government.

“Invaluable” Business Court Turns 5

ATLANTA – The Fulton Superior Court Business Case Division, which marks its 5th anniversary today, Oct. 11, 2010, has grown into an “invaluable resource” for Atlanta’s business community according to an attorney who specializes in business litigation.

Fulton’s Business Court, recognized in 2009 as the most innovative business court in the nation by the National Association of County Executives, has enhanced Atlanta’s position as a business hub in the Southeast.

“When discussing the option of requesting transfer to the Fulton Business Court, we tell our clients that it is the closest thing to being in Federal Court without actually being there,” said Walter H. Bush, a shareholder at the law firm Carlton Fields “We tell them that matters are handled in an expeditious and efficient matter, the judges understand business law cases and no game playing to avoid getting to the real issues is allowed.”

Since October 2005, Business Court has dealt with litigation involving more than 400 Atlanta area businesses and has drawn praise for the dispatch with which complicated Business disputes are resolved. Business Court also has freed up the Superior Court judges’ civil case calendars by handling these time-consuming, complicated cases.

“The Business Court has provided a valuable service to the business community and the bar during the past five years, said Mary C. Gill, Chair of the Georgia Bar Association’s Business Court Committee.

“The Business Court was established to provide an efficient and dedicated forum to resolve complex commercial and business cases, said Gill, a partner at Alston & Bird LLP. The Business Court has succeeded in meeting these objectives through enhanced procedures and availability, as measured by the increased caseload over the past five years.”

Through September of this year Business Court has resolved 21 of the 64 cases it has handled in 2010.

The Fulton County Business Court was the state’s first specialized venue for complex commercial and business litigation. A Rule Amendment approved by the Georgia Supreme Court in June 2007 that made transferring cases to Business Court easier has more than doubled its caseload.

Eligible cases involve contractual disputes, commercial litigation, securities, or questions of corporate, limited liability company or partnership law. Business Court-eligible cases involve multiple issues and/or parties and complex questions of substantive law that require additional judicial resources to manage and adjudicate.

Business Court uses a high-tech Courtroom with document cameras, projectors, and evidence display system. Teleconference hearings can be arranged, to further reduce time and costs associated with complex cases. Business litigator Bush said that having judges who only hear Business Court cases brings flexibility of time, subject matter expertise, and judicial experience to the resolution of these disputes.

“I am reminded of the old story about the lawyer who called his partner to tell how the case came out. ‘Justice was done,’ to which the partner replied, ‘appeal immediately,’ Bush said. “For those actually seeking justice, the Fulton Business Court is a terrific forum, and to those attorneys who practice business related litigation and their clients with business disputes, it is an invaluable resource.”

Currently, Business Court cases are heard by Superior Court Judge Melvin K. Westmoreland and Senior Superior Court Judges Alice D. Bonner and Elizabeth E. Long.

The Superior Court of Fulton County is Georgia’s largest and busiest trial court and is a national leader in innovations that increase access to justice for all citizens. Follow the Court on Facebook and twitter and access Court programs and information on the internet at www.fultoncourt.org.

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Lewis Named Fulton Superior Court Administrator

For Immediate Release Aug. 27, 2010

ATLANTA – Clayton County Court Administrator Yolanda L. Lewis has been named Court Administrator for the Superior Court of Fulton County.

Lewis will replace veteran Fulton Superior Court Administrator Judy Cramer, who is leaving to begin a new career in the ministry.

Lewis has been Court Administrator in Clayton County since April 2008. Previously she was Assistant Director for Court Services at the Administrative Office of the Courts, a state agency that provides administrative assistance to Georgia Courts. Prior to joining the Administrative Office of the Courts in 2004 Lewis was a strategic planner at the Governor’s Justice Coordinating Council and worked as a program coordinator at the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Mobile, Alabama.

Lewis received her Masters of Public Administration from the University of South Alabama in 2002 and a certificate in Judicial Administration and Management from the University of Michigan in August 2010.

The Superior Court of Fulton County is Georgia’s largest and busiest trial court. Its 20 elected judges and four fulltime Magistrate Judges receive in excess of 30,000 new cases annually.

The Superior Court of Fulton County is one of the top-performing urban courts in America. Our innovative programs, nationally recognized best practices and excellent judges and staff are making a difference in the lives of Fulton residents. We are committed to ensuring that all find justice find in our court. For additional information about our court, please visit our Web site at http://www.fultoncourt.org/

Court Security Projects Funded

On Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010 the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted to include major improvements to the security of Fulton Courts in a federal bond issue.
The 5-2 vote capped two weeks of negotiations between county and judicial leaders to reinstate $5.4 million in previously approved projects to improve security at the county's Juvenile Court and create a state-of-the-art security command center in the Fulton Court Complex.
The security changes were among improvements a Governor's Commission on Court Security recommended in 2006 following a shooting spree at the Fulton Court Complex in which a Superior Court Judge, court reporter and Deputy were killed by an escaping defendant in a rape case.

The $26 million bond project also includes lighting, building maintenance and roof replacement of a senior center. Other items approved Wednesday include a job training center near the Fulton County jail, a prisoner reentry center for prisoners coming out of Georgia prisons, an arts center roof replacement, and bus stop lighting and street security cameras. A health center would be renovated to increase services and the aviation community center at the county's airport in the Fulton Industrial Boulevard area.

New Issue of Jury Newsletter Available Online

August 2010 Jury Matters Newsletter

The current issue of Jury Matters includes profiles of two Fulton County Superior Court judges and the Clerk of Superior Court, plus tips on navigating family law issues and an update on how social media are adding to concerns about fair trials.

The quarterly newsletter also has information on staying comfortable and keeping up with business demands during jury service. And a regular feature, our Service feedback form helps the Court maintain top customer service for those who provide a vital public service.

Download a copy and learn more about the judicial branch and how jurors preserve our democratic system of government.

Court Publishes Services, Locations Directory

The Superior Court of Fulton County has published a Directory of Fulton Courts services, locations and directions. The Directory is available for download from the Court's website: www.fultoncourt.org/sca200807/
Users of the Directory are encouraged to submit updates and additions by email to pio@fultoncourt.org.

Drug Court Sets Graduation

FOR RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, 21 JULY 2010

The Fulton County Drug Court recognizes 15 graduates at it's Summer graduation ceremony Friday, July 23, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. in the Fulton Government Center Assembly Hall, 141 Pryor St., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303.

Drug Court defendants who have fulfilled the requirements of the accountability court program will be recognized and a reception will be held for the graduates following the ceremony. The event is open to the public.

Drug Court has been operated by the Superior Court of Fulton County since 1997 and has proven an effective alternative to prison for addicted offenders. There are currently approximately 400 active Drug Court participants. The program has achieved a 70 percent success rate for graduates and is a cost-effective alternative to incarceration. A Mental Health Court for defendants with mental disorders has been in operation since 2007.

NOTE: Media wishing to cover the event must agree to limit their visual images to graduates who have signed HIPPA release forms. A list of graduates who have agreed to be photographed and interviewed will be available at the event.

The Superior Court of Fulton County is one of the top-performing urban courts in America. Our innovative programs, nationally recognized best practices, and excellent judges and staff reflect our commitment to ensuring that all find justice in our court.

For additional information about these and other programs operated by our court, please visit our web site at http://www.fultoncourt.org/.

Court's 20th Judge Takes Office

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shawn Ellen LaGrua has taken the oath of office and is now the Court's 20th elected judge.

Judge LaGrua was appointed to the new office by Governor Sonny Perdue. She was the Inspector General of the Georgia Secretary of State's Office. Previously, she had been Solicitor General of DeKalb County and an assistant district attorney in DeKalb and Fulton counties, for the Tallapoosa Circuit and the Prosecuting Attorney's Council.

Judge LaGrua graduated from the University of Georgia in 1984 and received her juris doctorate in law from the Georgia State University College of Law in 1987.

Judge LaGrua is a Master of the Logan E. Bleckley Inn of Court, an Advanced Evidence professor at Georgia State University College of Law, and a founding member and chair of the Georgia Association of Woman Lawyers, Judicial Application Review Committee.

Her community activities include serving on the boards of directors of The Georgia Center for Children, The Daisy Hill Foundation, Ahimsa House, Gold Shield Foundation, and Project Destiny Academy of Excellence.

Judge LaGrua will hear a mixed docket of criminal and civil cases. Her chambers telephone number is 404-612-8460.

Fulton Judge Named to Court Reporter Board

ATLANTA – Fulton Superior Court Judge Ural D. Glanville has been appointed to the board supervising the work and professional standards of Georgia’s official court reporters.

Judge Glanville is one of two judges on the nine-member Board of Court Reporting. The Judicial Council of Georgia, which is comprised of the Chief Judges of the Georgia’s Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Superior, State, Magistrate and Juvenile courts, established the Board of Court Reporting to define and regulate the practice of court reporting in Georgia.

Judge Glanville’s appointment to the Board by the Judicial Council a vote of confidence in his abilities, said Fulton Superior Court Chief Judge Cynthia Wright.

“For Judge Glanville to be appointed to oversee this critical part of our system of justice is a tribute to him--and our Court has utmost confidence in him to discharge the duties required,” Chief Judge Wright said.

The Board consists of five certified court reporters, two attorneys appointed by the State Bar of Georgia and two judges, one from the State Court and one from the Superior Court. The Board meets four times a year and conducts two certification examinations a year. Certification by one of two national associations is required for anyone to be a court reporter in Georgia.

Judge Glanville has been a Fulton Superior Court Judge since 2005 and is also an Army Judge Advocate Officer. Previously he served as a Magistrate Judge in Fulton State Court, and prosecutor in the Solicitor General’s Office in DeKalb and Fulton Counties. Judge Glanville received his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.


For additional biographical information and a reproducible .jpg photo of Judge Glanville, go to: http://www.fultoncourt.org/sca200807/judges/superior-court-judges/a-l/ural-d-glanville.html

For more information on the Board of Court Reporters, go to: http://www.georgiacourts.org/agencies/bcr/index.html

Fulton State’s First Permanent Family Division

ATLANTA (June 29, 2010) -- After operating as a pilot project for 12 years, the Family Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County has been made a permanent part of Georgia’s largest and busiest trial court.

Established in 1998 by the General Assembly as a pilot project, the Family Division is an innovative program in which legal, psychological and social services professionals assist litigants and their families in resolving domestic legal disputes in a coordinated, non-confrontational and expeditious manner.

The Judges of Family Division volunteer for the assignment and receive specialized training. Fulton County has actively supported the Court by funding the Family Division. The Supreme Court of Georgia made the Family Division permanent just days before its legislative mandate was to have expired on June 30, 2010.

“We appreciate the Supreme Court’s action, the County’s ongoing funding, and the support of the legal community for the efficient and effective resolution of family disputes,” said Chief Superior Court Judge Cynthia Wright, who previously served as a Family Division judge. “Our Bench has enthusiastically supported the Family Division and the Judges who serve the families of Fulton County.”

The Supreme Court order said the justices decided to permanently establish the program to “Provide a speedy, certain, comprehensive, non-adversarial approach to the judicial resolution of multiple family problems and disputes while more systematically and effectively addressing the interests of children and the family unit.”

“Few issues come before our courts that are more important than the stability of our families,” Chief Justice Carol W. Hunstein said of the decision to make Fulton’s Georgia’s first permanent Family Division. “The swift resolution of matters such as divorce and child custody, adoption and domestic violence, safeguard our children’s well-being and society at large.

“The Fulton County Family Court has become a model for the state of Georgia,” Chief Justice Hunstein said.

Fulton’s Family Division was created to take into account the special nature of domestic legal issues. Among the innovations introduced to Georgia by the program:

• Family Law Information Center, providing free assistance to litigants, including legal consultations and forms for filing and responding to domestic legal actions,

• One Stop, an office that assists those seeking protection from domestic violence and stalking,

• Onsite Mediation, offered at no cost to litigants to resolve their legal issues,

• I-CAN! - the Interactive Community Assistance Network, is free, internet-based help to properly complete legal forms using client-provided answers to a series of questions presented by a video guide,

• On Site

• paternity testing and
• drug and alcohol testing,

• Seminars, including:

• Free, monthly legal seminars and clinics
• Families in Transition - a mandatory seminar in English and Spanish for parents or guardians engaged in litigation which involves the question of custody of a minor child or children and
• Assisting Children in Transition for the children of divorcing families.

• One Family, One Judge concept, with all actions involving a family being heard by the same judge.

Family Division Chief Administrative Judge Gail S. Tusan was one of the first to volunteer for the Family Division. She, along with fellow Family Division Judges Bensonetta Tipton Lane and Tom Campbell, knows firsthand how important the service is to families who appear before the court.

“Our judges and staff are committed to helping Fulton’s families work through difficult transitions and access much needed services, said Judge Tusan. “In today’s dire economic times, the ability to afford counsel is even more challenging.

“The Family Division guarantees that every citizen with a family related issue will be heard,” Judge Tusan said.

The program is also very efficient. In 2009, the Family Division resolved 5,677 cases, provided 1,227 free attorney consultations, fielded 34,814 help requests, issued 2,021 temporary protective orders and held 41 Families in Transition and 27 Assisting Children in Transition seminars. At the end of the first quarter of 2010 the program was on track to top those numbers, according to court records.

The Family Division effort has been extended by volunteer activities such as the Domestic Violence Project, which operate a free assistance center located within the Court complex.

“Since its inception, AVLF has worked collaboratively with the Family Division to address the varied needs of families in transition,” said Jennifer Stolarski, director of the Domestic Violence Project.

“From the Guardian ad Litem program to the Mediation program to the Family Law Information Center to the One Stop and Safe Families Offices, we have seen the difference that the coordinated efforts of the Family Division can make for our clients and for individual families. The Family Division adds tremendous value to our community, and we look forward to our continued partnership.”

Jon W. Hedgepeth, chairman of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Family Law Section, said he hopes other county Superior Courts will emulate the Fulton Family Division.

“The Family Division is by far the most efficient and effective program in resolving family law issues,” Mr. Hedgepeth said. “It is my hope that other counties will realize the effectiveness of a division dedicated to family law and implement similar programs.”

For more information on the Family Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County, go to: http://www.fultoncourt.org/ and click on Family Division in the left column. To read the Supreme Court of Georgia order making the Family Division a permanent part of the Fulton Superior Court, go to: http://bit.ly/FultonFamilyDivision

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Just For Jurors

Want to know more about jury service and why it’s so important to the working of the Justice System?
The Superior Court of Fulton County now has a newsletter for jurors to answer those and other questions.

Jury Matters contains profiles of judges, tips on how to make jury service more enjoyable, why serving on a jury is important and how to deal with having to set aside time for this important civic duty.

The current issue profiles the six Fulton County residents who comprise the Jury Commission, citizens appointed by the Chief Judge to six-year terms. The Jury Commission ensures that Fulton’s jury lists comprise a fair cross section of the county’s residents as required by the U.S. Constitution.

The Superior Court of Fulton County, with 20 elected judges and an ongoing caseload of some 30,000 cases, is Georgia’s largest and busiest trial court. The Court annually issues jury duty summons to nearly 100,000 Fulton residents, but has a goal of reducing that number by increasing the efficiency of its jury operation. The Court invites citizen feedback on how to do more with less.

Jury Matters can be downloaded from the Court’s webpage for jurors.

Go to www.fultoncourt.org/ and click on Jury Division in the left column.

Hearing in Election Petition Case on Wednesday

A hearing in the Mary Norwood election petition case (10CV187251) will be held on Wednesday, June 30 at 9:30 a.m. before Superior Court of Fulton County Judge Jerry W. Baxter in Courtroom 4D, Fulton Justice Center Tower, 185 Central Ave., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303.
Media should fax Rule 22 electronic coverage requests to 404-224-3748. For further media information contact, pio@fultoncourt.org.

Superior Court Reassigns Burglary Cases

Responding to Citizen Concerns

ATLANTA -- Burglary charges in Fulton County will no longer be decided by Magistrate Judges, Fulton County’s Chief Judge announced Friday.

Citing concerns about the increasing incidence of burglary and its impact on communities Chief Judge Cynthia Wright said the Court’s elected Superior Court Judges will hear all burglary cases effective June 21, 2010.

“I and my fellow Judges have listened to input from our citizens and have taken their concerns to heart,” Judge Wright said. "We are making this change so that we can adequately review the charges, a defendant’s past criminal history, impose appropriate sentences and be held accountable by the public for the sentence imposed."

Up until this date, burglaries have been assigned to the Court’s Felony Fast-Track program. Begun in 2006, the Fast-Track is credited with reducing Fulton’s criminal case backlog of nonviolent, drug and property crime cases by 40 percent while giving the county’s elected Superior Court Judges more time to deal with murder and other violent crimes.

“The Felony Fast-Track program does an excellent job of processing nonviolent drug and minor property crime, but at this point the Court believes it more appropriate that burglary be removed from that program based on the increasing incidence of burglary and the increasing incidence of violent burglary,” Judge Wright said.

Judge Wright said Fast-Track and every other program and process of the Superior Court is and will continue to be under review to ensure that the Court functions efficiently and effectively and with greater accountability.

“Each time we attempt to improve our Court we understand that there will need to be adjustments to procedures,” Judge Wright said. “But our commitment is always to public safety, efficiency in court procedures and providing due process for all.”

Fulton Superior Court is Georgia’s largest and busiest trial court, with some 30,000 cases on its calendar.

The Fast-Track program is one of several innovations piloted by the Court. Others established in the past two decades include Georgia’s:

• First Family Court to speed decisions in divorce, custody and support actions to minimize the pain and dislocation associated with these proceedings.

• Most ambitious and effective Drug and Mental Health courts. Our programs address the most serious repeat offenders to maximize public safety by turning lawbreakers into taxpayers.

• Most efficient and effective pretrial release supervision program that saves taxpayer money while keeping defendants for reoffending.

In 2009, the Court began a backlog reduction project, funded by a $1.2 million federal grant to sort out 350 crimes-against-persons felony cases that were more than 1 year old.

This year, the Court developed a case management pilot project that seeks to maintain the reduction in cases by meeting or beating nation best practice timelines and benchmarks for processing felony cases that was recently agreed to by the Court, District Attorney, and Public Defender.

Fulton’s 19 Superior Court Judges preside over administrative appeals and civil, serious criminal, and domestic relations cases. And, since Fulton County includes Atlanta, the state’s capitol, Fulton Superior Court Judges hears all lawsuits involving state government units. The Fulton Superior Court Administrator manages Approximately 300 staff that operates the programs and services designed to provide the citizens of Fulton County with meaningful access to the judicial system.

Chief Judge Corrects The Record

Thursday, 17 June 2010 08:55
By Don Plummer

On Wednesday Chief Judge Cynthia Wright corrected several mischaracterizations of the status of cases being heard by the Superior Court of Fulton County.

During an interview on WSB TV Chief Judge Wright said the recent dismissal of a murder case due to the length of time it had been pending was because of the specific facts in that case.

“The length of time a case is pending does not necessarily require dismissal because cases can grow old due to a variety of reasons, including incompetency to stand trial, appeals, motions and other case-related issues,” Chief Judge Wright said.

In fact, Judge Wright said, the Fulton Superior Court has continued to make significant progress in reducing the number of pending murder cases by completing 57 cases since January, leaving the Court with a total of 179 active murder cases.

Overall, felony caseloads have been reduced in the past four years, Judge Wright said.

One reason for the reduction: the Court instituted a Felony Fast-Track case-management program.

This joint effort of the Court, the Fulton District Attorney, and Fulton Public Defender deals with all nonviolent drug and property crimes – which comprise more than 70 percent of all felony indictments in Fulton - in nine weeks from arrest to conclusion. And, less than 1 percent of those cases require trial, further saving court time and tax dollars. Since Felony Fast-Track began in 2006, the court’s inventory of these type cases has been reduced by 40 percent.

A new pilot project agreed to by the DA and Public Defender will expand the rigid case management standards of Felony Fast-Track to new felony cases has been in development for several months, Wright said.

The case management plan was the result of a two-day seminar last fall organized by the Court and led by national case management experts. The seminar, attended by the Fulton County District Attorney, Fulton’s Public Defender, Superior Court Judges, Clerk of Court and members of their respective staffs, led to creation of the case management plan being implemented.

The plan will include 10 of the Court’s 20 judges and will operate under a memorandum of understanding agreed to by the District Attorney, Public Defender and other justice system partners. Under the expanded case standards plan murder and other serious violent felonies will be concluded within 48 weeks of indictment. All other crimes against persons felonies will be processed within 36 weeks of Indictment, Wright said.

The Fulton judicial system does face challenges due to a lack of funding that affects every agency, Wright said. A new unified computer system, a 10-year campaign that was approved this year, will go a long way toward streamlining the state’s largest judicial system, but more has to be done to bring the system up to the demands of civil and criminal cases, she said.

More money must be allocated for all justice agencies so they have adequate staff to process the large volume of civil and criminal cases in Fulton, she said.

The Superior Court must not focus exclusively on criminal cases because the Court has other Constitutionally mandated obligations to process civil cases, including domestic litigation involving families and children, Wright said.

Balancing those multiple responsibilities and increasing coordination with other justice agencies to achieve maximum efficiency is a goal that Wright has set for her two-year term as Chief Judge.