JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION
State of Georgia

Open Meeting Minutes
Atlanta, GA

July 17, 2021
10:00am

This meeting of the Investigative Panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission of the State of Georgia was held at the offices of Taylor English Duma LLP and via Zoom. Mr. Pope Langdale chaired the meeting and Ms. Phyllis Motes served as Recording Secretary.

Commission Members Present:

Mr. Pope Langdale
Judge Stacey Hydrick
Mr. Bob Barr
Mr. James Balli
Mr. Dane Kirby
(Judge Verda Colvin, via Zoom)

Others Present:

Mr. Chuck Boring – Director
Ms. Courtney Veal – Deputy Director
Ms. Phyllis Motes – Case Manager
Lance Alford – Investigator

Chairman’s Comments:

Chairman Langdale called the meeting to order and determined that a quorum was present.

Upon motion and second, the Minutes of the June 19, 2020 Open Meeting were approved. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Langdale said that he had no particular comments. He congratulated both the Director and Deputy Director on their hard work.

Director’s Reports:

The Director began by giving an update on the recently issued Fourth Judicial Emergency Order which was signed and filed last week. He stated that trials will be suspended through August 11, 2020.

Mr. Boring then reminded the Panel that the next meeting is scheduled for August 21, 2020.

The Panel then entered into a brief discussion regarding where the August meeting would be held. No decision was reached.

Mr. Boring then talked about the recent office relocation. He stated that the office is functional, but we are waiting on additional equipment and the new case management system.

Mr. Boring then moved to a discussion on election runoffs. He stated that this may present further work for the Rule 29 Committee.

The Director then told the Panel that the information regarding Magistrate Court training deficiencies can be found on Box.

Mr. Boring then stated that the Judicial Qualification Commission will begin compiling a list of all judges who are aware that they currently have a pending complaint before the JQC. He added that this is to be certain that the judges follow the rule which requires them to recuse from cases involving attorney members.

Mr. Boring then directed the Panel’s attention to the June Financial Report.

Mr. Boring then asked if there was any old or new business that needed to be discussed.

Chairman Langdale then began a discussion on the UGA law students helping with the formal opinions. He said that he had a further discussion with the Dean about the project, and the Dean was wondering if we might be able to pay them.

The Director stated that it was his understanding that we did not have to pay interns if they receive class credit.

There being no further old or new business for discussion, the Open Meeting was adjourned.