DeKalb County Superior Court: 5 lawyers vie for 2 judgeships
October 17, 2008 at 4:06 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsThe race for a DeKalb County Superior Court judgeship (also known as the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit) has all the markings of a political brawl — lots of fundraising, news coverage and harsh accusations flung against each other at a heated debate.
Hell, it’s even managed to divide law firms and bar associations. Someone make some popcorn.
Judge Linda Warren Hunter, who’s banged the gavel for 21 years, is trying to hold onto her seat. She’s backed by former DeKalb County district attorneys J. Tom Morgan and Jeffrey H. Brickman.
Hunter’s opponent, Tom Stubbs, is a family law attorney with 17 years experience arguing cases. He’s supported by former Gov. Roy Barnes and State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, both of whom are attorneys.
The race started with a bang back in July when Stubbs accused Hunter of unpredictable rulings and a testy temperament. The Daily Report, Georgia’s leading lawyers’ newspaper, delved into the race and found lawyers who said Hunter can be harsh at times, while others said she was fair-minded and reasonable.
Hunter fired back that her challenger isn’t experienced enough in the matters he’d hear were he to win the election. (A subscription is required to view the articles, but Stubbs has copies available on his website.) In what appears to have been a particularly raucous late-September debate, the two battled over Hunter’s decision to jail two would-be jurors — out of the nearly 17,000 she’s seen since taking the bench — for contempt.
Hunter was appointed to the bench in 1991 by former Gov. Zell Miller. Prior to the appointment, she served on the DeKalb State Court and as an assistant district attorney. She’s the first African-American woman to serve as chief judge of the DeKalb County Superior Court, the Daily Report says.
Before practicing law, Stubbs served in the U.S. Senate as an economist. He’s experienced in state and federal court and says the wide range of cases he’s tackled, from criminal to family law, make suited to become a Superior Court judge.
We’d love for anyone to share more feedback on this contest with us and our readers.
We’re also seeking more input on an open Superior Court judgeship in DeKalb, where three candidates vying to replace Judge Anne Workman, who’s retiring.
Before resigning this year to run for the seat, Tangela Barrie served as an assistant district attorney in DeKalb. She says she has more felony jury trial experience in the court than her opponents combined.
State Board of Workers’ Compensation Administrative Law Judge Johnny Mason has presided over workers’ comp since 2001 and has more than 20 years experience in arguing and hearing cases.
DeKalb County Recorders Court Judge R. Joy Walker — who won kudos from Internet progressives in 2006 after she dismissed a citation written to a DeKalb motorist for having a “lewd” anti-Bush bumper sticker — is a former senior public defender in Atlanta. She was appointed to the DeKalb County Recorders Court in 2001 as an associate judge and was promoted to chief judge the following year.
Check for updates on this race and posts on others at CL’s 2008 Voters’ Guide. Come back to the Voter’s Guide next week to download our Voter’s Cheat Sheet.
October 20th, 2008 at 1:46 am
R. Joy Walker is Chief Judge of the DeKalb County Recorder’s Court. This below happened UNDER YOUR WATCH, R. Joy! Ticket fixing…my lord!
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2008/10/10/metrail.html
DEKALB COUNTY
Ticket-fixing probe leads to charges
A long-running investigation of allegations of ticket fixing by DeKalb County Recorders Court employees has led to charges against five court employees and six other people, a police spokesman said Thursday.
The case came to light in January when court employee Charlene Johnson was charged with accepting a bribe. Another person, Marlene Findley, was charged with conspiring to defraud the government, according to court records.
Police spokeswoman Keisha Williams said she did not have the names of others charged in the case. She said detectives plan to interview 15 more people.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Hunter is the most biased, vindictive person to ever serve as a judge. She reads nothing, she picks a side at the beginning and becomes that persons advocate, and she treats people like dirt. She is unstable and mercurial and unleashes her anger on the unsuspecting public.
EVERYONE should understand what has been going on in her court room for years. She’s a woman and she’s black so she’s been able to get away with it. The jig is up – Stubbs can’t allow this disgrace to serve our county anymore. Thank God for the brave who will fight for what’s right.
October 30th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Tangela Barrie is the best person for the DeKalb Stone Mountain seat PERIOD. She has the experience, integrity, drive and community involvement to make an excellent judge.
November 1st, 2008 at 5:05 pm
My service as an Assistant District Attorney in DeKalb County has provided me, Tangela Barrie, with the unique opportunity to work as a trial lawyer in Superior Court. I have prosecuted hundreds of serious felony cases. My extensive Superior Court experiences set me apart from the other candidates. Each candidate’s FELONY JURY TRIAL experience in SUPERIOR COURT should be scrutinized, as approximately 75% of the jury trials conducted in DeKalb Superior Court are criminal cases. I have more felony jury trial experience in DeKalb Superior Court than both of my opponents combined.
Prior to becoming a prosecutor, I practiced civil law in the areas of commercial litigation and family law. My experience in civil law will also serve me well as your next Superior Court Judge. Furthermore, as a former federal judicial law clerk, I handled criminal and civil matters and consistently addressed issues involving the constitutional rights of victims and defendants. I certainly will draw from my previous work experience to protect the rights of all parties and ensure justice. My criminal superior court, civil law and judicial clerkship experiences have afforded me the training and professionalism to conduct a fair and efficient courtroom.
Additionally, my experience as a special prosecutor in the Domestic Violence/ Sexual Assault Unit makes me uniquely qualified to bring a new specialty court to Superior Court. I would like to implement and handle a Domestic Violence Court for the purpose fast tracking domestic violence cases through the court system. Swift and early intervention of the court system on domestic violence cases is needed in order to minimize the risk of future or escalating violence. This intensive program would also provide counseling to defendants and victims. I am also prepared to participate with the existing Drug Court. In fact, I already have experience handling Drug Court matters. During my tenure in the felony trial unit of the District Attorney’s Office, I volunteered to serve, in addition to my regular courtroom assignment, as the Drug Court prosecutor. I fought for a drug free community by not only prosecuting drug dealers, but also by giving non-violent, drug abuse victims, who could successfully complete a two year rehabilitation program, a second chance to be productive citizens.
I was recently awarded, by the District Attorney, the 2007 Assistant District Attorney of the Year Award. As a result of my success in the District Attorney’s Office handling Superior Court matters, I realized that I have unique talents to offer the community. My extensive trial experience, love for justice, desire for fairness, and knowledge of felony law make me the best candidate for Superior Court Judge. Serving the community through this position is my way of giving back to the community. As a mother of two young sons, I want to be an example for my children by showing them that community involvement is the first step in creating positive change.
http://www.barrieforjudge.com
November 2nd, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I have the requisite trial and judicial experience, the requisite commitment to service in the legal profession and in the community, and the requisite personal characteristics and skills. Following my graduation from the University of Pennsylvania and my attendance at Woodrow Wilson College of Law, where I graduated number one in my law school class, I practiced 10 years as a Trial Attorney. I represented clients in a variety of matters, including criminal defense, family law, personal injury, workers’ compensation and civil rights. I tried cases at all levels of court and argued before the Georgia Supreme Court.
As a 13-year Trial Judge with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, I manage heavy caseloads and trial calendars, conduct trials, rule on evidence and motions, assist in resolving issues through mediation and conference calls, and make tough decisions regarding the economic and physical lives of workers injured, and sometimes killed, on the job. I sit as Judge and Jury during trials and write legal decisions. I have issued over 1000 timely written decisions, and few have been modified on appeal.
For the year 2000, I served as Chief Judge for the Office of State Administrative Hearings where I managed a statewide court system to handle disputes with State Agencies, such as drivers license suspensions, special education, Medicaid, child support modification, teacher certification, public assistance benefits, elections, and professional licensing.
As a community servant, I have been an Adjunct Professor at John Marshall Law School and taught at the Police Academy. I represent DeKalb County attorneys on the State Bar Board of Governors, where I serve on the Judiciary and Communications Committees. I have spoken at over 30 legal and educational programs and have published over 15 legal writings, including a chapter on Criminal Commitment Hearings and an article on Criminal Sentencing. I have served as Board Chair of the Supreme Court’s Bar Admissions Fitness Board, on the Board of Continuing Legal Education, and as Chair of the Judicial Section of the Atlanta Bar Association. I am a Founding Member of the Judicial Section of the Gate City Bar, and am a past Chair of the Law-Related Education Committee of the DeKalb Bar Association. I have served as a Board member of Georgia Legal Services Program and as Chair of Leadership DeKalb (class of 1996). I regularly participate in programs for kids and serve as Presiding Judge for the High School Mock Trial Competition. I serve on the Board of DeKalb R. Crisis Center, and have volunteered at Café 458, which serves homeless citizens, and have served as an advocate through the DeKalb/Atlanta Citizen Advocacy Program.
The above experiences have made me hardworking, and provided me with critical thinking skills and a caring attitude. I know the courtroom from the perspective of clients, attorneys, jurors, witnesses, and Judges, and I have a proven record of fairness, impartiality, open-mindedness, and efficiency. I deeply care about the integrity of the legal system and embrace the role of Judges as symbols of justice.
November 2nd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Some people think “who cares who gets elected judge? What I am ever going to need a judge for?” Still more of us doubt that we will ever have to see the inside of a Superior Courtroom, but if you are ever involved in a civil or criminal trial as a witness, a jury member, or as a defendant or plaintiff . . . or if you adopt a child, get a divorce, argue for custody of children or come to court in support of someone in one of these positions, trust me: you will want Judge Johnny Mason sitting on the bench.
Johnny is experienced. He has worked as an administrative law judge for 14 years, and practiced as a trial attorney for ten years prior to that. He is intelligent and compassionate. Johnny has an impressive Ivy-league education, but even more importantly, he has devoted countless hours to local volunteer efforts from the DeKalb Crisis Center to Cafe 458. He was a United States Election Observer in South Africa in 1994, when Nelson Mandela was elected as President in that country’s first democratic election. The list goes on and on.
For a comprehensive review of Johnny’s accomplishments, you can visit his website: http://www.judgejohnnymason.com and see firsthand why Johnny Mason is THE CHOICE for DeKalb County voters.
Of the three candidates, he is clearly the most experienced, and the best suited for the job. He has earned the endorsement of both the Atlanta and the DeKalb Bar Associations.
To further convince you, there is a very moving five-minute video about Johnny available for viewing on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Cl3H3FoUQ
Vote Johnny Mason on November 4th!
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
DeKalb Bar Association Judicial Poll Results
The DeKalb Bar Association recently surveyed its members regarding the contested judicial positions for the DeKalb County Superior Court races. The results are published as a public service to inform the community of the opinions of the DeKalb Bar Association’s membership regarding the qualifications of the candidates. The results were as follows:
SUPERIOR COURT (Division 8)
Candidate
Best Qualified
Well Qualified
Qualified
Not Qualified
Don’t Know
Number of Responses
Linda Warren Hunter
22
26
35
20
6
109
Tom Stubbs
39
19
26
18
9
111
SUPERIOR COURT (Division 10)
Candidate
Best Qualified
Well Qualified
Qualified
Not Qualified
Don’t Know
Number of Responses
Tangela Barrie
9
11
25
23
35
103
Johnny Mason
41
32
24
3
9
109
R. Joy Walker
19
31
28
12
16
106
November 14th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
The results from the Bar Association appears to be either misinforming or biased. After the election, the candidates that received the most qualified did the POOREST. It’s funny that the men got all got raving reviews. I guess it must be a man’s club. It’s time for women to take a stand and support our women candidates. The candidates with the lowest scores did extremely well. I think that I will go with the Dekalb people’s opinion rather than a little of 100 attorneys. Could it be that the attorneys were friends of the attorneys with the highest marks. The data appears tainted and can’t be trusted! Linda Hunter received over 70% of the votes..despite the results of 100 attorneys. Tangela Barrie received 47% of the votes in a three person race and now in a run off with Johnny who received a mere 26%. Again, I will go with the judgement of the citizens of Dekalb.
November 15th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I thought that I was the only one in cyberspace with the same thoughts about the so-called bar association poll results. It definitely can’t be trusted, so I dug a little deeper. I went to both candidate’s website and did more research in the search engine.
Johnny is an administrative judge in Fulton County. This is different from a judge in superior court. While he has a good resume, I could NOT find any information about him handling any SERIOUS FELONY cases. This is scary since Dekalb has just tried a death penalty case and our homicide rate is soaring.
Tangela Barrie, on the other hand, has an extensive history of handling serious felony cases in Dekalb’s Superior Court. It’s time for citizens to get smart about who we elect into office. Look at the mess going on in Recorders Court.
Tangela Barrie is the CLEAR CHOICE for Dekalb. We do not have the time to waste more tax payer dollars on electing someone who has to catch up that may cost tax payers more money for mistakes made on the bench!
What type of case will be awaiting one of these candidates on DAY 1, and who is the most prepared and qualified?
Barrie is the most prepared person for the seat.
VOTE RESPONSIBLY! DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!