In gaining a member, JQC loses investigator

Daily Report

January 22, 2013

Comments (1)

The Judicial Qualifications Commission investigator whose probes have ended dozens of judicial careers since 2008 will no longer roam the state in search of wayward jurists. Instead, Richard Hyde will be a member of the JQC itself, the agency that assesses how allegations and evidence against Georgia's judges should be handled. Governor Nathan Deal tapped Hyde to the JQC on Friday.

Chattahoochee Superior Court Judge John Allen, who chairs the commission, said Hyde would have to relinquish his investigative duties in order to serve as a member.

"It's a policy on our part as commissioners that we don't investigate," said Allen. The JQC will launch a search for another investigator, Allen said. In the meantime, JQC Director Jeff Davis, who used to handle disciplinary complaints at the State Bar of Georgia, will serve as acting investigator.

Hyde will replace Atlanta businessman Jack Winter, who has served two four-year terms as one of two citizen members of the seven-member panel, which also includes two judges and three lawyers.

In addition to his JQC duties, Hyde is an investigator for Balch & Bingham. A former policeman, TV news producer and investigator for then-Attorney General Michael Bowers, now a B&B partner, Hyde is a good choice for the slot, Allen said. "It will allow us a great deal of comfortable continuity, if you will," he said. "He knows what the processes and procedures are."

In an emailed statement, Davis echoed Allen's praises. "Given Richard's breadth of experience as a public corruption investigator with the State Attorney General, his recent investigation of teachers in the Atlanta schools cheating scandal, and his tireless work investigating judicial misconduct, it is clear that the Governor could not have made a better choice," wrote Davis.

Hyde declined to comment on his appointment.

Subscribe to Daily Report

You must be signed in to comment on an article

Sign In

Email:
Password:
	Remember me

Click here to Subscribe! >>

Reader Comments

James

January 18, 2013 06:30 PM

Public Confidence, Impartial Judiciary ....Well's let see. On September 14, 2011, we mailed off a complaint by certify mail (7009 2820 0002 7711 0556) requesting that Governor Deal investigate the Clerk of the Superior Court of Cusseta-Chattahoochee County for conspiring to violate the statutes, the Constitution of this State, and the violation of her oath of office, concealing and falsifying the public record pursuant to OCGA 45-11-1. You can see her comments at; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZutwyNrQLU
The Governor failed to act. Also in another case 11 CV 154, the Clerk continue to deny us access to the Court and Court Records and continue to falsify court records, which caused us to write another complaint to the Governor on October 24, 2012, by certify mail (7011 1570 0001 2063 2613), showing the following, that the Court conspired with the Defendants to have the case 11 CV 154 place on Judge Jordan's circuit visit for March 23, 2012. The Clerk printed out a docket on March 7, 2012 placing 11 CV 154 on Judge Jordan docket for March 23, 2012. The Clerk never provided us with any docket calls, notices, or judge assignment. On March 16, 2012, we received a notice of a hearing dated March 14, 2012 requesting that the case be placed on Judge Jordan docket for March 23, 2012 from the defendant. Later we found out the Notice of a Hearing was filed by the Clerk on March 16, 2012. The March 23,2012 docket was printed on March 7,2012, seven (7) days before the Defendant requested a hearing on March 14, 2012 and nine (9) days before the notice of hearing was filed with the court on March 16, 2012. These undisputed facts show a conspiracy to violate state statutes, USCR, and concealing and falsifying the record. I don't need to tell you how the judge rule in the case. But one defendant was in default, but the judge open the default for the defendant sua sponte for the defendant nunc pro tunc for May 1,2012, an entered September 14, 2012.To this date, the Governor has failed to respond.
Later it came to our attention, that another judge was assigned to case 11 CV 154, when I received the September 24, 2012 docket, well this is another long story.. but basically the judge explains to us that USCR 3.1, does not apply to rural counties and any visiting judge can preside over a case and keep the case if he chooses and since Judge Jordan has rule on this case, it's his case. So, I file a Motion with the Honorable Chief Judge John D. Allen, alleging that the method of assignment that was used violated our due process rights, and presented the above court records. On December 4, 2012, the Honorable Chief Judge Allen, entered an Order on the Order of Assignment stating: "Judge Frank J. Jordan, Jr. has already adjudged many issues in this matter and is the most familiar with this case, this matter is by consent of Judge Jordan assigned to him to conclusion."
With all this said, I still can't figure out why the JQC was investigating Chief Judge William Lee, for violation of USCR 3.1, and USCR 3.3 he was just engaging in what the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit does.