September 12, 2006

For Immediate Release

For further information contact:

William L. Martin, III

Clerk, Court of Appeals of Georgia

404-656-3450

Georgia Court of Appeals Centennial High School Oratorical Contest

ATLANTA - In celebration of its Centennial in 2006, the Court of Appeals of Georgia sponsored a state-wide high school oratorical contest. The subject of the contest was "The Separation of Powers and the Judicial Branch of Government." On Saturday, September 9, 2006, Caleb Smith of Cartersville High School, Cartersville, Georgia won the Court of Appeals of Georgia's Centennial High School Oratorical Contest. The title of Mr. Smith's oration was "The Judicial Branch: Guardian of the Constitution."

The judges of the final round of the contest were: Justice George H. Carley, Supreme Court of Georgia, Chief Judge John H. Ruffin Jr., Judge Anne Elizabeth Barnes, and Judge M. Yvette Miller of the Court of Appeals of Georgia and Judge Sidney L. Nation, Judge of the Superior Court of the Rockdale Judicial Circuit. Ms. Jill Pryor , a partner with the law firm of Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore, L. L. P., was the Chair for the contest, and she was assisted by Ms. Roberta Earnhardt, Assistant District Attorney, Rockdale Judicial Circuit.

Second place in the contest was Patrick Berg, from Deerfield-Windsor School in Albany. The third place and fourth places winners were Molly Holmes, Savannah Country Day School, Savannah, and Marie Agnello, Brookwood High School, Snellville, respectively. Quarterfinalists were Eric Alston, Brookstone School, Columbus, Yulianna Lopez, Northwest Whitfield High School, Tunnel Hill, Mia-Talia Lowe, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, Augusta, and Heather Williams, Bradwell Institute, Hinesville. Each public and private high school in Georgia was permitted to certify one school winner to the contest. Thirty-five students from around the state were certified to participate in the contest held Saturday at the State Bar Center in Atlanta.

The first through fourth place winners will receive scholarship awards from Justice Served, Inc. Justice Served, Inc., a charitable foundation, seeks to enhance the knowledge of Georgia citizens about the history of the Georgia courts and their vital role in providing equal justice to all.

Mr. Smith, the first place winner, will deliver the winning speech at the Centennial Dinner of the Court of Appeals of Georgia to be held at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta on Friday, October 6, 2006.

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