CAMPAIGN INFO, GO TO: http://www.georgiajudges.org (twibbon created by Victoria Andersen, Judiciary Watchdogs)
Judges are very powerful people and some of them will complain legislators when their authority and/or abuse of power is being questioned. Georgia lawmakers are pushing to abolish the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) as an independent commission. They plan to replace it with an agency that is controlled by legislators. The JQC has played an important role in weeding out people unfit to be dispensing justice. In many instances, the mere prospect of being hauled before the JQC and having their misdeeds exposed in a hearing is enough to persuade a judge under investigation to voluntarily resign.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on this campaign, please visit:
http://www.georgiajudges.org
Vote NO on Proposed Amendment 3!
MISLEADING LANGUAGE in the proposed Amendment 3: "Georgia Replacement of the Judicial Qualifications Commission: Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to abolish the existing Judicial Qualifications Commission; require the General Assembly to create and provide by general law for the composition, manner of appointment, and governance of a new Judicial Qualifications Commission, with such commission having the power to discipline, remove, and cause involuntary retirement of judges; require the Judicial Qualifications Commission to have procedures that provide for due process of law and review by the Supreme Court of its advisory opinions; and allow the Judicial Qualifications Commission to be open to the public in some manner?
NO!
The current Judicial Qualifications Commission is composed of 2 judges appointed by the Supreme Court, 3 lawyers appointed by the State Bar Association, and 2 citizens who are not members of the State Bar appointed by the Governor. The Judicial Qualifications Commission has sweeping authority to “discipline, remove, and cause involuntary retirement of judges.”