December 3, 1998

Chief W. W. Holley

Chief of Police

Georgia Building Authority

1 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Dear Chief Holley :

I would like to advise you that the Court of Appeals is still having problems with Georgia Building Authority police serving as sheriff's of our Courtroom. As I communicated to you several months ago, the GBA police are very late in attending oral arguments and I generally have to call security each morning of oral argument to have a GBA police officer in our Courtroom. As a test on November 3-4, I did not call, and on each of those days, no GBA police officer appeared for oral arguments. The calendars were very light and I kept time myself. However, the function of timekeeper is not the only reason the Court wishes to have a GBA police officer in the Courtroom. The presence of a trained, professional police officer lends to the dignity of the Court and certainly provides a needed measure of security.

There are two other matters we discussed which you were going to check on for me. The first was a breech of security back in June when a former Court employee, whose cardkey had been deactivated, and whose name had been given to security, was let into the Judicial Building on a Saturday, despite the instructions that she not be allowed to enter without myself or Court Fiscal Officer Kaye Carter present. In addition to the employee entering the building, the security officer also permitted entry to her husband who had no State ID card.

Finally, we had discussed the possibility of securing a surplus mailbox from the United State Postal Service to use as a drop box for after hours filings outside the Clerk's Office, Room 334 in the Judicial Building. I appreciate your efforts in trying to secure such a drop box, but if you are unable to do so, the Court can purchase one. Please let me know if you have made any progress in this area.

Thank you for allowing me to communicate these concerns to you. As always, I want to thank you and your department for the fine service and security you provide.

Sincerely,

William L. Martin, III

Administrator/Clerk

Court of Appeals of Georgia

WLM , III/ld