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!

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

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!

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.

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

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.