In Recess

The Year Ahead

Justin and Jennifer sit down with our new GCCA President, Lindsay Mobley! As the Director of Court Services for Troup County, Lindsay brings incredible experience and leadership to the field. She chats with us about an exciting new conference venue and what she hopes to accomplish in her first year as President.

Strategic Planning 101

In this episode Chad and Jennifer sit down give us a conference preview for our fall conference in Savannah, GA. They will highlight some of our exciting speakers and social events. This will be a conference you don't want to miss. To keep with the conference theme they will also discuss key take aways from Mike Hourihan training on Strategic Planning. Mike has worked with GCCA in the past and facilitator from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia.

Protect & Serve: Sheriff's Office Tips to Keep Courthouse Personnel Safe

In this episode, Chad and Jennifer sit down with Major Rick Petrie, the head of Courthouse Security for the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office at the Cobb County Judicial Complex. Major Petrie will present the same crucial information he provides to judges and courthouse staff, focusing on practical tips and strategies to enhance the safety of courthouse personnel, whether they're inside the complex or out in the community.

Beyond The Bio: Meet Your New President

On this episode, we talk with our new president Tim Ezell and education co-chairs Mallory Minor and Kimberly Wright. This group of court professionals brings in all the leadership experience. Ranging from Municipal Court, Magistrate Court, and Superior Court you will learn about their leadership perspectives and their vision for GCCA. This episode also features a word from our sponsor Kennesaw State University. So, please check out what they have to offer. They have a wide range of professional degrees that can help your professional growth.

Increasing Accessibility

Josh and Justin sit down with Stacey Peace, ADA Coordinator for the State of Georgia, to discuss all things ADA. During the episode Mrs. Peace talks about the new ADA Legislation, addresses the specific code sections court administrators should be aware of, and also discusses the types of support her organization is able to offer to the court system.

The Gavel and the Whisperer: Unpacking the New Interpreter Rules

Justin and Jennifer sit down for an entertaining discussion with Georgia attorney and Nationally Certified Legal American Sign Language Interpreter, Paul Panusky about our state’s recently updated statutory requirements for court interpreters. Listeners will gain important knowledge about the necessity for certified interpreters in a court setting as well as our new licensing requirements and how to verify your interpreter has them. A big thank you to our episode sponsor, the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program at Kennesaw State University. To learn more about their amazing program, visit their website here.

Promoted: From Peer to Leader

In this episode, we delve into a fascinating topic that many can relate to: the dynamics that shift when a colleague transitions into a supervisory role. During the discussion, we explore the unique challenges and nuances that arise when someone who was once a friend becomes your boss. Our guests, Tahnicia Phillips from Cobb County and Porche Kelley from Chatham County, share their valuable insights and personal experiences on this subject.

A Message From Your President

This episode we have a chat with our new president LeNora Hawkins-Ponzo. She shares her vision for GCCA as the president for 2024. We also have some updates for our up coming conferences.

Pillars of Leadership

What makes a great leader? During this episode we discuss the pillars of effective leadership with two of GCCA's very own seasoned court administrators. Panelists include: T.J. Bement - District Court Administrator, Tenth Judicial Administrative District Lynn Epps - Retired Trial Court Administrator

Prepared: Emergency Preparedness and Responses

The importance of having an emergency plan was a reality all courts faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we will talk with courts who faced other types of emergencies, such as natural disasters, infestations, and water damage. We will learn firsthand from their experiences on how we can be better prepared in the event of an emergency in our own courts.

What's New?

In this episode, we talk with Tracy Johnson and Kriste Pope. They are the Education and Conference Co-Chairs. They will be giving us an update on all things spring conference.

Dealing with difficult people

Meet The New President

Josh Weeks is the new president for 2022. In this episode, we learn how Josh began his career in the court system. He is currently the Juvenile Court Administrator in the Conasauga Judicial Circuit. The circuit covers both Whitfield County and Murray County.

Resuming Jury Trials During the Pandemic

Last year Jury Trials were suspended due to the pandemic, many Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted and Courts have resumed jury trials as a result. Before, the pandemic courts would seat as many jurors in their jury assembly rooms as possible and try as many jury trials as possible. Now courts are restricting the number of jurors reporting to ensure they are following the CDC guidelines. Jurors are vital to the function of the court system and help courts resolve many cases each year. To help us understand how courts are reimplementing jury trials the episode features, the Bell-Forstyh Judicial Circuit Chief Judge, Jeffery S. Bagley, and Cobb Judicial Circuit Jury Administrator, Wendy Portwood.

Social Media: Putting Social Media To Work For Your Court

Florida Courts have been leading the nation in social media with 90 percent of their jurisdictions utilizing social media platforms. Joining us for this episode we have Craig Waters, who has been credited for this accolade. Waters is the current director of the Public Information Office at the Florida Supreme Court, where he has worked for the last 34 years. He is also an attorney and former journalist. He launched his career in court communications in 1994 when, as a staff attorney, he created the court’s first website. The innovative communications programs he spearheaded included establishing the court’s Public Information Office in 1996, organizing the first gavel-to-gavel livestreams of his court’s oral arguments starting in 1997, founding Florida’s first professional association for court PIOs in 2005, and using social media for court communications starting in 2009. He is best known as the public spokesperson for the Florida Supreme Court during the 36 days of election disputes 20 years ago known to history as Bush v. Gore.

Juvenile Legislation

Episode # 1 discusses the proposed juvenile legislation encompassing HB 440, HB 439 and HB 438. Judge Amber N. Patterson, who is currently serving as chair of the task force assigned to this legislation by the Council of Juvenile Court Judges, informs us on what each bill is seeking to change, and how if passed, would effect current juvenile procedures.

Crisis in the Courts: How courts are managing COVID-19

COVID-19 drastically changed the day to day operations of our courts. Episode 2 discusses the challenges Georgia courts have faced to ensure the safety of the public and staff, while ensuring access to justice is adequately maintained. This episode features a seasoned panel of court administrators throughout our state, and discusses how different jurisdictions are operating in the face of the current pandemic. Discussions include Court Operating Procedures, Budget Cuts, Court Programs, Jury Trial Preparation, Caseloads and Hearings, and the GA CARES Act. Joining us on the panel is District Court Administrator Will Simmons-6th Judicial District, Court Administrator Robyn Rooks-Bell-Forsyth Circuit, Deputy Court Administrator Edwin Bell-DeKalb County Superior Court, and Court Administrator Tammy Hardin-Catoosa County Juvenile Court.