Alert: Major Public Event to Close Streets Near Court

An event scheduled for Thursday, April 15, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. at the Georgia State Capitol is expected to draw a large group of pedestrians. The Atlanta Police Department plans to close the following streets near the Court Complex from 12:00 noon until 10 p.m.


1) Washington Street from Mitchell Street to Trinity Avenue

2) Capitol Square from Washington Street to Capitol Avenue

3) M.L. King Jr. Drive from Piedmont Avenue to Central Avenue

4) Courtland Street from Gilmer Street to M.L. King Jr. Drive

5) Mitchell Street from Central Avenue to Washington Street

6) The west bound lane of Gilmer Street from Piedmont Avenue to Courtland Street

The Court Complex will NOT be closed Thursday, but those who must conduct business at the Complex are urged to allow extra time for transit to and from the area.

Judge Wright recognized for Dispute Resolution efforts

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Cynthia D. Wright was recently recognized by the Georgia Supreme Court Resolution for her six years of service on the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution.


Supreme Court Justice Hugh P. Thompson presented Judge Wright the Resolution at her final Commission meeting on April 8.

Judge Wright, who becomes Chief Judge of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit as of May 1, 2010, was appointed by the Supreme Court in 2004 to serve a six-year term on the Commission.

She served as Chair of the Commission’s Committee on Ethics from 2006 to 2009 and was Chair of the Commission’s Committee on Budget and Personnel from 2009 to 2010, where she fought for the fiscal future of the Commission and the Office of Dispute Resolution through the most difficult budgetary times it has faced in its 17- year history.

Judge Wright has been a steadfast champion of a court-connected alternative dispute resolution system that offers litigants effective, low-cost alternatives to litigation and that helps fulfill a Constitutional mandate to “provide for the speedy, efficient, and inexpensive resolution of disputes and prosecutions,” according to the resolution by the Justices of the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Judge Wright was appointed to the Atlanta Judicial Circuit by Governor Zell Miller in 1996, and was most recently reelected in 2006. Since 1998 she has served almost exclusively in the Family Division of the Fulton County Superior Court. She has also served as judge of the State Court of Fulton County.

Judge Wright graduated magna cum laude from Macon’s Wesleyan College in 1974 and earned her J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1977. She served as assistant legal counsel to Governor George Busbee from1978 to 1980. After private practice, she served as chief legal counsel to Governor Zell Miller from 1991 to 1995, during which time she authored the legislation and constitutional amendment that established the Lottery for Education.

Lawdragon, a guide to the nation’s best lawyers and judges, selected Judge Wright as one of the 500 Leading Judges in America. In 2000 the Family Law Section of State Bar of Georgia awarded Judge Wright the Joseph T. Tuggle, Jr. Professionalism Award. In 2006 the Family Law Section also presented her the Jack P. Turner Award for her outstanding contributions and achievement in family law in Georgia. The Atlanta Family Law Bar most recently honored her for her tenure in the Family Division.

Among her many community activities, Judge Wright serves on the board of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, and she is a frequent lecturer at family and other continuing legal and judicial education seminars. She has served as an adjunct professor at Emory University and is herself a student at the University of the South working toward her second Education for Ministry Diploma.

Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution

The Commission on Dispute Resolution is the sole state authority that oversees the quality and quantity of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services such as mediation and arbitration offered through the courts. The primary goals of the Commission are to save taxpayers money by reducing the need for more judges and more courtrooms; to enable the efficient use of judicial resources by reducing the need for trials; and to offer litigants inexpensive and productive alternatives to trying their cases before juries and judges.

Working through its staff in the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, the Commission regulates a court ADR system has grown from three counties in 1992 to 121 counties today. Since 1997, 137,000 court cases have settled through ADR. In FY08 alone, an estimated 20,000 cases were settled through court ADR, at a taxpayer savings of more than $6.4 million a year in salaries for the 17 judges and their staffs that would otherwise be needed to handle those cases.

The Commission comprises 16 judges, attorneys, and dispute resolution professionals who serve without compensation.

After Judge Wright’s departure, the current Commission members are:

Edith Primm, Esq., (Chair), Justice Center of Atlanta;

Justice Hugh P. Thompson, Georgia Supreme Court;

Judge Charles E. Auslander III, Magistrate Court of Athens/Clarke County;

Judge Debra Bernes, Georgia Court of Appeals;

Laurence L. Christensen, Esq., Georgia Mediation Services, Marietta;

Judge Edward E. Carriere, DeKalb County State Court, Decatur;

Bryan Cavan, Esq., State Bar of Georgia, Miller & Martin, PLLC, Atlanta;

Wade H. Coleman, Esq., Coleman Talley, LLP, Valdosta;

Sen. William S. Cowsert, Esq., Cowsert & Avery, Athens;

Judge C. Andrew Fuller, Northeastern Judicial Circuit, Gainesville;

Alan Granath, mediator, Atlanta;

Melissa C. Heard, mediator, trainer, Dallas, Ga.;

Dale Hetzler, Esq., Erlanger Health System, Chattanooga, Tenn.;

Martha Kitchens, mediator, Douglasville;

Judge J. Carlisle Overstreet, Augusta Judicial Circuit, Augusta

Celebrate Law Day 2010 at Piedmont Park

Bring the family and join the fun at Piedmont Park on Saturday, April 10 as the annual Law Day public celebration kicks off with a 5K race, followed by music, art, food and an all-American good time at the park.

The day begins with the 10th annual Legal Runaround, a 5K race, walk and tot trot benefiting the Atlanta Bar Foundation. Pets and strollers welcome. Registration begins at 7:30a.m. Preregistration is $15 if received by April 8. $20 if received after April 8. For registration information, call 404-832-6210 or email saponte@atlantabar.org.

After the race relax at the park’s Main Pavilion. Enjoy music, a kid’s art contest, snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy and other treats. Tour law-related booths and get a close-up look at equipment exhibits by the Atlanta Police Department and other public safety agencies.

In addition to cool give-a-ways, Fulton Emergency Management will have a 9-1-1 simulator of their actual computer-aided dispatch equipment, a display board with important tips about dialing 9-1-1 and a safety video.

And don’t miss the highlight of Law Day: recognition of outstanding public safety officers and court employees, including the Liberty Bell Award, Fulton County Court Employee of the Year, Peace Officer of the Year and prizes for the winners of the kid’s art contest.

Law Day has been observed since 1950 as an opportunity for all Americans to reflect on the rule of law and the foundations of our legal system. It’s a time to celebrate the rich history of our judicial system and a time to consider its future in this rapidly changing world.

Law Day 2010 is sponsored by: The Fulton County Courts, The Atlanta Bar Foundation, The Atlanta Police Department, The Multi-Bar Leadership Council, King & Spalding, Weinstock and Scavo, P.C., ALSTON + BIRD, LLP, FELLOWS LaBRIOLA, Hawkins & Parnell, LLP.



Law Day 2010

Who: Everyone is welcome

What: A Public Celebration of Law Day 2010

Where: Work Progress Administration (WPA) Picnic Shelter, Piedmont Park

When: 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Why: Because each of us benefits from a nation ruled by law



Directions to the WPA Picnic Shelter: http://www.piedmontpark.org/do/picnic.html

Click on the map to locate the shelter within the park.

Mental Health Professional Named to Head Fulton Drug Court

For Immediate Release
ATLANTA – The Superior Court of Fulton County has selected an experienced mental health clinician and manager as Drug Court Director.

Kevin D. Larry, who has more than 20 years experience in the mental health field, was selected following an extensive search.

The Superior Court’s Drug and Mental Health accountability courts together supervise more than 400 felony offenders with addiction and mental health problems. These accountability courts are credited by police with drastically reducing their charges’ incidence of repeat offenses and increasing the quality of life and safety of Fulton communities.

Mr. Larry comes to the Drug Court from the Fulton County Mental Health Department where he was the manager of The Fulton County Center for Health and Rehabilitation programs since 2007. He will begin his new assignment on March 3, 2010.

Previously, Mr. Larry worked as a psychiatric social worker at Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Medical Center; as a behavioral manager at HealthPlus of Michigan; a therapist at the Mott Children’s Health Center in Flint Michigan; and a transplant social worker at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan.

Mr. Larry obtained a bachelor’s degree at Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree in Social Work at Wayne State University in Detroit. He also has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

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 our court, please visit our Web site at http://www.fultoncourt.org/.

No program reductions despite $1 million cut

The judges of the Superior Court of Fulton County have approved a final budget for 2010 that is $984,090 less than 2009 expenditures. The $24.3 million 2010 Superior Court budget does not include reductions in Court progerams, nor staff layoffs, said Court Administrator Judy Cramer.
"We will be tightening our belts throughout the courthouse," Ms. Cramer said. "But due to the excellent work of our business office we will not lose any employees."
Among the cost-saving measures employed to reduce this year's budget are not filling open positions and postponing the hiring of the support staff for the Court's 20th judge named in November by Gov. Perdue. Other savings in operating costs include savings on postage for juror summons, calling fewer prospective jurors, and tighter purchasing controls.
But the most important actions were those taken to avoid massive cuts that threatened to cripple the county's judicial system.
In November Fulton County officials notified the Superior Court that its 2010 budget would be reduced by $5.2 million from the 2009 budget of $24.5 million. Chief Judge Doris L. Downs said such a drastic cut would threaten public safety.
Her warning, echoed by Fulton District Attorney Paul Howard and other elected judicial officials, set off a public outcry aganst such cuts at subsequent Fulton Commission meetings that steadily mounted until Jan. 20 when Fulton Commissioners approved a Court budget that is approximately $1 million less than the prior year.
"While we were cut almost $1 million from last year after having five positions eliminated at mid-year 2009, we have adjusted and will continue to provide good public service," Cramer said in announcing the cuts to staff.
"Thanks to all of you for your patience and support during the period of budget uncertainty we experienced in 2009."

Thank You!

Thank you to the hundreds who signed the Court’s petition to save the Fulton Justice System and to those who stood before the Fulton County Commission to urge full funding of vital public safety and judicial services.
On Wednesday Jan. 20, 2010 Fulton Commissioners reinstated $1.3 million to Justice System agencies and court programs.
Among the funds restored to the 2010 budget on Wednesday is $150,000.00 for Drug Court, $800,000.00 to Pretrial Services for State and Superior Courts and $426,000.00 for the Circuit Public Defender’s office.
While there are cuts to the 2010 Justice System budget they are much less than what they would have if each of you had not added your voice to those who stood up for programs that make Fulton a safer county.

Doris L. Downs

Chief Judge

Superior Court of Fulton County

Fulton Superior Court Judge Westmoreland Moves to Business Court

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Melvin K. Westmoreland has moved from the Fulton Justice Tower to the historic Lewis Slaton Fulton County Courthouse.

Westmoreland, a Superior Court Judge in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit since 1988, said he moved to Courtroom 9G in the 136 Pryor St. Courthouse for two reasons.

He recently became the only elected Superior Court Judge serving in the Fulton Business Court and now exclusively hears civil cases. Judge Westmoreland’s new chambers (Room C927) put him on the same floor with Business Court Senior Judges Alice Bonner and Elizabeth Long and Business Court manager Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez.

The move also makes room in the Fulton Justice Tower for newly appointed Superior Court Judge Shawn LaGrua. When LaGrua is sworn in as the circuit's 20th judge she may hear a mixed docket of criminal and civil cases. Criminal cases are restricted to the Tower which has secure holding cells and elevators used to transfer prisoners to and from the Fulton County Jail.

"With only civil cases I don't need holding cells and it helps to be close to the other business court operations," Judge Westmoreland said.

Judge Westmoreland's chambers telephone is 404-612-2570.