Candidate for Probate Judge
Fayette County

Background
     I was born in Rome, Georgia in 1945. I grew up in the South, in and around the metro-Atlanta area. I am married to Joanne Ellison Whitlock, who works with me in my Fayette County, Georgia Law Practice. We live and work in Fayette County, where we have had ties for 30 years.

     I have a JD Degree in Law, from John Marshall Law School, in Atlanta. I also hold a BA Degree in Biblical Education. Joanne and I are members at Jonesboro First Baptist Church, and we have attended there since 1993. We are both substitute Sunday School Teachers.

     I have been practicing law in Fayette County for the past 29 years. I have restricted my practice over the last 15 years to, Wills and Probate matters, Criminal Law, Traffic Law, and Non-Contested Civil matters, throughout the metro-cities, counties, and occasionally in Athens, Dahlonega, LaGrange, Dublin and other distant places.

     I have served as President of the Fayette County Bar Association, Treasurer of the Georgia Municipal Judges Association and I am currently a member of the Fayette County Bar Association, the Griffin Judicial Circuit Bar and the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

     In 1978 I opened one of Georgia's first D.U.I. schools and began handling a great number of Traffic cases. Later I sold the D.U.I. School and became a Municipal Judge in the Cities of Fayetteville, and Riverdale, where I served for a total of about 12 years.

Ideology
     I love simplicity! Our law, in Georgia, as in many other states and the country, is unnecessarily complicated. Because of that, the Judicial System, Justice and Fairness, is quite frequently compromised.

     I obviously can’t correct all of that; but if I am elected Judge, and I’m in charge of the system, I will be constantly looking for ways to simplify what I do. I think the people of Fayette County are looking for the same things that I am looking for when I go into a court system…a procedure they can understand, knowledgeable employees and clerks, fairness, justice, and friendliness. That’s not asking too much!

     Our Probate Court has enjoyed that, unlike many of the systems around the metro-area. But not all courts can make such a claim.

     Our Probate Court will grow substantially in the next few years. There will be a greater number of wills and estates probated due to the diminishing baby-boomer generation. New homeland security laws, not to mention, the new state and federal laws, will impact requirements for gun permits and passports, which are issued by our Probate Court. Folks are living longer and dealing with new diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and are necessitating guardianships, which will become more and more common. In addition, after the 2010 census, our Probate Court will have jury trial jurisdiction. All these situations present challenges to simplicity.

     But I have the determination to look for simple solutions to each challenge, and if elected, provide …a procedure people can understand, knowledgeable employees and clerks, fairness, justice, and friendliness.

     Fayette Countians have fought hard to maintain a “quality life-style” for their families. We need “quality court systems” to enjoy a “quality life-style”. I will do my best, to provide the best, for the best…The Citizens of Fayette County.

Thank you,
Jim Whitlock