August 5, 1998

Mr. Doug Ivey

Deputy Director of Operations

Georgia Building Authority

1 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

RE:	Problems with the New Door Locks on the Fourth

Floor Judicial Building

Dear Doug:

Enclosed please find a copy of a memorandum from my secretary, Lola Diamond, to me dated June 30, 1998 outlining problems with the new lever handle door locks for the Court of Appeals. In addition to the problems listed for the judges, Kaye Carter in Room 614 has also had problems with the door in her office.

On Friday, July 31st, the last day of our Motion for Reconsideration Distress period, Judge Johnson and his four year old son were locked in his office for approximately 40 minutes. There was no other exit from his office at 435 Judicial Building and there existed a potentially dangerous situation. Had a fire broken out at that time, I hate to think of what the final result may have been. Additionally, it is fortunate that we did not have a situation in which Judge Johnson's son had walked into the office and closed the door and been locked in there by himself. As it was, he was crying after the door was finally opened.

I want to take this opportunity to compliment Trèy Poke and his staff with getting GBA maintenance personnel on the scene immediately. However, they were unable to remove the door lock or to unlock the door from the outside and Judge Johnson's release was achieved after tools were passed under the door to him and he was able to remove the handle from his side and push out the handle on the other side which enabled the GBA personnel to reach inside the door and disengage the locking mechanism. Obviously, had Judge Johnson's son been in the room alone, the process to unlock the door would have taken much longer, and most likely would have resulted in either having to drill out the lock or break down the door.

Letter to Mr. Doug Ivey

August 5, 1998

Page Two

I want to express this Court's dissatisfaction with the new locks that have been placed on the Court of Appeals. It seems too many problems are occurring too frequently for locks, which I am told are very expensive, to be that new. Judge Blackburn's staff was locked out of his office and the glass had to be removed to gain entrance. I believe the door had to be taken off the hinges to repair the problems with that lock.

I certainly hope you can look into this situation and take whatever steps are necessary to rectify the problem.

I hope you do not think that neither I, nor the Court, do not appreciate the situation in which you and GBA find yourselves in terms of maintaining a building that is over 40 years old on a budget insufficient to do the job. The Court will be happy to exert whatever influence or support we may have with any request GBA may have to the legislature for appropriate funding to maintain the building as it should be maintained. Eventually, I believe, the legislature is going to have to bite the bullet and commit some serious funds to major renovation of the Judicial Building.

Thank you for entertaining this complaint. If you would like to discuss this matter with me, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

William L. Martin, III

Administrator/Clerk

Court of Appeals of Georgia

WLM , III/ld

Enclosure

cc:	Chief Judge Gary B. Andrews