Minutes

Court Centennial Committee Meeting

Wednesday, April 27, 2005, 3rd Floor Conference Room Judicial Building

Attendees:

Chief Judge John H. Ruffin, Jr.

Judge Anne Elizabeth Barnes	Mr. Charles R. Adams, III, Attorney

Mr. Lendon Gibbs, Attorney	Mr. Robert Feagin, Attorney

Ms. Marjorie Girth, GSU	Mr. Harold Melton, Office of the Governor

Ms. Jane Martin, AOC	Mr. Bob McAteer, COA

Ms. Dianne Joy, COA	Ms. Holly Sparrow, COA

1.	The Chairman brought the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. After a welcome and
introductions, the Agenda was approved and Judge Ruffin asked the Program
Subcommittee to make the first report.

2.	The Program Subcommittee members reported that they had made some preliminary surveys
of attorneys and others as to the suggestions that had been made at the last meeting. There
was a consensus that a dinner with a prominent speaker, perhaps a U.S. Supreme Court
Justice, should be arranged. They indicated they had waited to see the results of the work
of Ms. Joy before setting out further specifics.

3.	The Chairman distributed a short description of the events he felt could be beneficial and a
description of the lessons the Centennial events should impart to the public. See
Attachment I. Judge Ruffin emphasized that the public should be involved in the events
not just lawyers. There was general agreement to the distributed list.

4.	Concerning holding oral arguments around the state, Judge Ruffin pointed out that some
panels of the Court of Appeals were already initiating efforts to hold arguments around the
state. Upon an inquiry by Mr. Adams as to whether these arguments would be held at the law	schools, Judge Ruffin stated that he thought the arguments should be planned as community
events, and, therefore, be held in local courthouses although the law schools have not been
excluded as possible sites. Mr. Adams then volunteered to contact the Macon Bar
Association as to the possible use of the Bibb County Courthouse.

5.	Judge Barnes commented that she thought an essay or oratorical event that involved children	would be an excellent idea since it offers an opportunity for children to be exposed to the	court in a non-threatening manner.

6.	Jane Martin volunteered that she had spoken with the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation
and the foundation is willing to help in any educational activities of the Centennial
Celebration if they are given a concrete proposal.

7.	The Chairman suggested that the Law Related Consortium would also be a good resource
for the court to use in such activities.

8.	Ms. Joy asked if there would be any reward for students connected to the essay or oratorical
activity that was proposed. Judge Ruffin pointed out that the court could only provide
recognition. Mr. Gibbs suggested that if outside funding is available, it might be able to
fund a reward or scholarship. Ms. Girth suggested that, at a minimum, copies of Court
History might be provided to the winning students.

9.	In reference to providing children information on the court's history, Judge Barnes proposed	that the Court create a brochure for children that would focus on the Centennial and, would	be both shorter in length and have simpler text, thereby, making the court history more	accessible to younger children.

10.	The discussion next centered around what age group should be targeted in an essay or
oratory competition. Jane Martin noted that the subject of debate is first taught in middle
school, and, therefore, middle school might be an appropriate age group. Ms. Girth
proposed that an essay contest be considered for middle school age students and a mock
appellate argument for the high school level. She suggested contacting the Younger
Lawyers group as a resource since they conduct the annual mock trial contest. Judge
Ruffin suggested that this event be coordinated with the Law Related Education
Consortium of which he is a member and Judge Harris Adams serves as Chair.

11.	The Chairman, thereafter, asked for the report of the Speaker's Subcommittee. There was
a short discussion of which events would need speakers and who would be the best
speakers. Judge Ruffin suggested U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kennedy since he is the
Justice assigned to this circuit, and he is both a good speaker and has visited the area
several times. The members agreed that a government speaker who would not have a
speaker's fee would be the best choice. Other possible speakers mentioned included Judge
Burkett, Judge Kaye of New York, Mr. Griffin Bell and Judge Marion Pope. Judge
Barnes pointed out that Judge Pope has a Georgia following and would be a significant
draw. Ms. Joy, in agreement, pointed out that having a speaker from the Court would be
a significant benefit to the celebration.

12.	Judge Ruffin requested Mr. Adams, the subcommittee chair to take these comments and
bring back a proposal to the next meeting.

13.	Several suggestions concerning a public service television program which might use
portions of the court video or be a question and answer forum of a panel of the Court's
judges was discussed including the possibility of distribution of the court video to public
service cable stations and contact with GPTV programming.

14.	The Chairman indicated that with the full committee's agreement, he would work with the
Program Subcommittee members to assign specific persons to return with specific
proposals for each type of event at the next meeting. These proposals would include
the activity description, locale, speakers, timelines, amount of necessary funding, and
potential sources of funding, etc.

15.	Judge Ruffin next asked Mr. Gibbs to present the Finance Subcommittee report noting that	the Court cannot itself raise money for the celebration. Mr. Gibs recommended that as a
legacy of the celebration, the Court might take the opportunity to create the means to have	a long term education program. To accomplish this, he proposed creation of a foundation	of ten prominent members who could assist with fund raising. Judge Pope would agree to	be the Chair. There was a discussion of other possible persons who might be called upon to	sit on such a foundation board. Mr. Gibb felt that the foundation, if created, could possibly	raise $100,000 to $150,000 during this year.

16.	Judge Ruffin commended Mr. Gibbs's idea and noted that the Committee would receive
this report as information. Judge Ruffin indicated he would present the suggestion to the
full bench of the Court of Appeals.

17.	Judge Ruffin asked Ms. Joy to provide a review of the proposed timeline and an evaluation	if the committee's work timely. She reported that if the planned events could be determined	by June 1, 2005 and the school project by August, 2005, the celebration would be on target.	Otherwise, she felt the committee might run into problems. She pointed out that it is not too
early to obtain speaker commitments for events, particularly, if any prominent national or	outside government speakers are to be contacted.

18.	After discussion of the timeline, the Chairman asked Mr. Melton if he would
coordinate seeking a governor's proclamation for a Court of Appeals Day. He
promised to do so.

19.	Lastly, Judge Ruffin asked Mr. McAteer to give the committee an update on the video
project. Mr. McAteer stated he had completed 12 interviews including retired judges and
former President Carter. He explained that a decision on the grant application to the
Georgia Civil Justice Foundation would soon be made.

Thereafter, there being no further business, Judge Ruffin adjourned the meeting.

Dianne Joy, Bob McAteer, Holly Sparrow

Contacts:

Public service cable TV stations - Needs for airing court video ( necessary format and length of video, policies on showing)

GPTV Laymen's Lawyer Executive Producer

Law Related Education Consortium

Georgia Bar Younger Lawyers Division - Mock Trial Coordinator