Kelley appointed to study committee by speaker on Judicial Commission
A new committee has been established to look into concerns lawmakers have over how judges are being disciplined and for what actions, and one local representative will be helping to determine what to do.
Speaker of the House David Ralston ( R-Blue Ridge) announced in a press release on Aug. 19 the appointment of seven members to the House Special Study Committee on Judicial Qualifications Commission Reform.
It will be chaired by Re. Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs) and include Rep. Christian Coomer ( R- Cartersville,) Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs,) Rep. Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown,) Rep. John Meadows (R-Calhoun,) Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (DDecatur,) Rep. Jay Powell ( RCamilla.)
Kelley, one of six republicans on the committee, said that it is a first for the legislature in that this group will have subpoena powers to get answers to ques- tions that have long been on the mind of Ralston.
According to the release, this special study committee is created by House Resolution 1363 and seeks to investigate and study the operations of the Judicial Qualification Commission and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems prudent.
The Judicial Qualification Commission acts as the governing body for judges, discipling then when they’ve violated judicial code, Kelley explained.
“Historically its been known as a trustworthy amd respected institution, and over the last few years we’ve see this institution’s reputation go down,” Kelley said.
The main concern, Kelley said, have been based on complaints about how the Judicial Qualification Commission does its job and how it decides what actions are appropriate in punishing judges who violate judicial code.
“The legal community is concerned how judges are getting investigated when coming before the Judicial Qualification Commission, bringing them before it for the right purpose, and disciplining them in the right way,” Kelley said. “That’s the focus of what we’ll be doing on this committee to address those problems.”
He said he was “honored and pleased that this trust and confidence he (Ralston) has in me to have me on the study committee.”
Kelley, who was in Atlanta last week for caucus meetings with his party, said the committee is likely to remain one of his major areas of focus in the months ahead.
An attorney at Parker and Lundy, Kelley is up alone on the ballot to serve as state representative for the 16th district in the coming 2-year term. He served on the deputy whip team during the past session along with committee assignments on Banks and Banking, Code Revision, Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications, Health and Human Services, Higher Education, Judiciary and Ways and Means.