Fulton County State Court: New judge faces challengers
Just six months after being appointed to the bench, State Court Judge Susan Edlein faces two election foes: Clayton County Senior Assistant District Attorney Anece Baxter White and former Fulton County Juvenile Judge Wanda L. Dallas.
Just six months after being appointed to the bench, Fulton County State Court Judge Susan Edlein faces two opponents in the General Election: Clayton County Senior Assistant District Attorney Anece Baxter White and former Fulton County Juvenile Judge Wanda L. Dallas. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the votes, a runoff will be held Dec. 2.
Edlein, who left a job with Holland and Knight, a big civil-lawsuit firm, to accept the bench position, is backed by some of the city’s biggest politicos, including Mayor Shirley Franklin, state Senators David Adelman and Kasim Reed, and state representatives Stacy Abrams, Kathy Ashe, and Ed Lindsey. The court hears criminal cases below the grade of felony, as well as civil actions.
Edlein says her experience in a private law firm and work with businesses and commercial litigation has helped her preside over the similar cases in State Court.
Baxter White, a former army lawyer, serves in the Clayton County DA’s office that’s been criticized for its shoddy leadership under Jewel Scott, the outgoing county barrister who was ousted in a Aug. 5 runoff. Scott’s stint faced criticism for its large case backlog and dragging its feet during a murder trial (Baxter White argued for the county in the trial). She says she’s the sole candidate who’s argued before the state Supreme Court, and says she’s never had a case overturned on appeal.
Dallas is a former trial lawyer and judge who also taught civil and criminal litigation at Georgia State University. She says the court must process misdemeanors effectively to help maintain public safety and the quality of life for residents — think marijuana possession and DUIs. She also wants to implement an electronic filing system to cut costs and streamline operations.
Check out CL’s 2008 Voter’s Guide and add your comments to races you care about. It continues to be updated, and on Oct. 21, come back to find a handy cheat-sheet to guide to the voting booth.