Mayor Shirley Franklin today established an independent panel to review the operations of the Municipal and City Courts of Atlanta. Franklin appointed Byron Attridge, a respected attorney and partner with the law firm of King & Spalding and native of Atlanta, to chair the “Mayor’s Municipal and City Court Review Panel.”
Said Franklin, “Increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of City operations is my top priority, especially given our budget situation. The City’s two court systems represent a significant taxpayer investment, and it is critical to ensure the courts operate efficiently and effectively.”
Noting that the city has successfully used independent, outside groups of experts to provide advice on issues such as ethics, housing, United Water and the festivals ordinance, Franklin said, “ I am confident that this Panel will conduct an open and thorough examination of our two courts and will identify ways to improve operations and save the City money,”
Earlier this month the Mayor announced the City’s intention to begin taking prisoners charged with state offenses directly to the Fulton and DeKalb Country jails effective January 1, 2003. This related policy decision is expected to save the City at least $10 million per year. “A review of court operations is the next logical step to make sure the City is spending its money prudently,” said Mayor Franklin.
In the Administrative Order creating the review panel, the Mayor requested that the Panel advise her on “the court system of the City of Atlanta and whether the current system could be revised.” The Order further states, the review is needed “in light of our goals of efficiency, avoidance of duplications, focus on essential services and cost savings the taxpayers.” The Order also directs Mr. Attridge to select two or more other Panel members who are members of the State Bar of Georgia, each with “experience in litigation, courts, prosecution and / or other relevant experience.” The review is scheduled to be completed within 90 days.
In accepting the Mayor’s request Mr. Attridge said, “I am honored to serve the City by chairing this review panel, and I am eager to get to work. We will conduct our review openly, fairly and thoroughly, and I am hopeful that we will find ways to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the city’s courts.”
As of today, Thomas G. Sampson, Esq. of the law firm of Thomas, Kennedy, Sampson & Patterson and Mark J. Kadish, Professor of Law, Georgia State University College of Law, have agreed to serve on the panel.
-------------------------------------------------
The text of the administrative order follows:
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2002-10
An Administrative Order Establishing The Mayor’s Municipal And City Court Review Panel Which Shall Provide The Mayor With Advice Regarding The City’s Operation Of The Municipal And City Courts.
WHEREAS, the City of Atlanta operations include two courts, the City Court of Atlanta and the Municipal Court; and
WHEREAS, in light of the City of Atlanta’s financial situation, the Mayor has determined that it is appropriate to review all City operations and responsibilities in order to address budget constraints and shortfalls; and
WHEREAS, as part of the process to address the financial situation, a need exists to increase the efficiency of City government, to avoid duplication of resources, and to ensure that the City focuses first on providing essential services to its citizens, businesses and visitors; and
WHEREAS, the City of Atlanta has fiscal responsibility for both courts; and
WHEREAS, there has been no recent comprehensive review of the judicial branch of the City of Atlanta.
NOW, THEREFORE, BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA, pursuant to Section 3-104 of the City Charter and Section 2-182(4) of the Code of Ordinances it is hereby ordered as follows:
1. I hereby establish an independent review panel to be known as “The Mayor’s Municipal and City Court Review Panel” (hereafter, “the Panel”). The Panel shall consist of three or more members of the State Bar of Georgia with experience in litigation, courts, prosecution and/or other relevant experience.
2. Byron Attridge, Esq. will serve as Chair of the Panel and shall select the
members of the Panel consistent with the criteria listed above.
3. The Panel shall advise the Mayor on the court system of the City of Atlanta and whether the current system could be revised in light of the goals of efficiency, avoidance of duplication, focus on essential services and cost savings to the taxpayers.
4. The Panel may seek appropriate assistance from other professionals in the performance of its work.
5. The Panel shall meet periodically as determined by the Chair, and findings shall be communicated to the Mayor as the Panel deems appropriate.
6. The Panel shall provide notification of its meetings to the public, and minutes of the meetings shall be made available to the public through a web site or other means of distribution designed to make them readily accessible. Any presentations of information to the Panel shall be made by invitation of the Panel.
7. The Panel shall provide the Mayor with recommendations regarding potential changes to the court system and shall include in those recommendations an analysis of what action would be needed to accomplish such changes.
8. The Panel shall conclude its work and submit a final report to the Mayor no later than February 28, 2003.
SO ORDERED this 20th day of November, 2002
(signed Shirley Franklin)
Shirley Franklin
Mayor
(signed Rhonda Dauphin Johnson)
Municipal Clerk