In the state of Georgia, there are different levels of courts with varied mandates. At the bottom of the pyramid are the municipal, magistrate, probate, juvenile and the state courts. Above them there lies superior, appeals and supreme courts with increasing level of mandate and where appeals can be launched from junior courts. For a nomination of a person into a judge position, recommendation has to be done to the governor by the Judicial Nomination Commission. The governor then makes the appointment if the suggested person meets the laid down qualification depending on the state. Some of the positions are elective depending on the guiding laws of the state. For a State judicial job, one must have been a resident for three years before the appointment and must have practiced law for seven years (Cox, 2000).
In February 2012, honorable Marvin Arrington resigned from the position of the superior court judge in the state of Georgia. Consequently, the Judicial Nomination Commission recommended Robert C. Mcburney for that position. After consideration of his qualifications and experience in the United States judicial system, governor Deal appointed him to the vacant position. Mcburney acquired his bachelors from Harvard College and a law degree from the same institution’s law school. Prior to his appointment, he served as an assistant attorney in the United States department of justice, in the northern district of Georgia for ten years. Due to diligence in his work, he was awarded by the Federal Investigation Bureau. He received an award for outstanding counterterrorism investigations. He also got the council of inspectors general award for excellence. Moreover, he received a national prosecutorial excellence award from the federal Law Enforment Officers’ Association (Office of the Governor, 2012). He is fully qualified for this position and can even serve in higher courts owing to his experience, awards and education. His experience and prior residence qualified him for the position, but ethical questions were raised about his appointment. This was because of the previous position held by Mcburney when governor was being investigated, then as a member of congress. It was seen as an attempt to favor him in case the law suit ever came up (McCaffrey, 2012).
In December 2011, governor Deal also appointed Michael Boggs to sit in the court of appeal as a judge. The position had been left vacant by honorable J.D. Smith, who had resigned. He was again re-elected in 2012; therefore his term ends in the year 2018. Between the year 2001 and 2004, he served in the Georgian House of representatives and later became a superior judge in the Waycross Judicial circuit between 2005 and 2011. He great experience and is also an outstanding member of several bodies including, Georgia judicial nomination commission, special council on criminal justice reform and judicial council of Georgia standing committee on accountability courts. His nonpartisan status and experience of over seven years in the state judicial system qualified him for the appointment (Office of the Governor, 2011). This was evident in his re-election when he got ninety nine percent of the votes. Prior to his appointment, he had created favor with the people due to his qualifications and understanding of the law. People had faith in him to deliver justice in his position without fear or favor given his impartial nature in the political environment. This is necessary so as to create trust and confidence with the people by in his judgments.
Both of the judicial officers having been admitted to serve in the courts within Georgia State, Institute of continuing judicial education must continually train them. Within the state, there are accredited law schools which are utilized to disseminate useful law and administrative related information to members of the judiciary. University of Georgia, for example is used from time to time for seminars, which help the judicial officers to be effective in their job. A code of conduct exists for the officers and has to be observed all the time. To make these possible, trainings on ethics for the officials are organized, keeping them equipped to serve the state in their capacities as expected by the citizens. The institute of continuing judicial education acts as a resource consortium for reference purposes, should the need arise. The resource centre can also be used by the judicial officers to make reference in judgments. Due to the concept of precedence, research assistants have to be involved and the resource centre comes in handy. With such resources and training, the judicial officers are in a position to be ethically and academically sound to serve the county and state.
Conclusion
Both Mcburney and Michael Boggs are both qualified to hold the position appointed to in the state. Both have the experience and accreditation in law to operate in a profession way. The state also has robust legal and moral systems to help in the management. The two honorable gentlemen with the help of the citizens and other support systems are in a position to drive the state forward. The political leadership has its responsibility in supporting the judicial officers to maintain order and rule of law in the counties and state. Though the ethical standing of Mcburney is questionable, he has not been accused in any court and therefore remains innocent. Moreover, he was vetted and cleared of any wrong doing. Overly, their performance is tried and tested in the field and can therefore, perform as expected.
Office of the Governor. (2012).Deal appoints Atlanta Judicial Circuit Judge. Retrieved from
http://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2012-02-24/deal-appoints-atlanta-judicial-
circuit-judge
Office of the Governor. (2011).Deal appoints Boggs to Georgia Court of Appeals. Retrieved
from http://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2011-12-20/deal-appoints-boggs-georgia-
court-appeals
McCaffrey, S. (2012). Judicial appointment may signal probe involving Deal is over. The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved from
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/judicial-appointment-may-
signal-probe-
involving-de/nQWRt/
