The Georgia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists today is grateful that a judge has finally signed an order to drop charges against a newspaper publisher who was jailed for filing an open records request. Senior Judge Richard Winegarden on July 18 agreed to sign the order dismissing charges against Fannin Focus publisher Mark…

ATLANTA – Despite the announcement on July 7 that charges would be dropped against Mark Thomason, the north Georgia newspaper publisher remains under indictment on felony charges for filing an open records request. The order to drop the charges was sent to Senior Court Judge Richard Winegarden who has refused to sign the order, calling…

The Georgia professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is thrilled that a prosecutor has dropped three felony charges against a newspaper publisher who sought public records. It’s about time. Those charges should never have been filed. While we are thankful Mark Thomason, publisher of the Blue Ridge, Ga.-based Fannin Focus, no longer has the…

The Georgia professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has made a formal complaint to the Judicial Qualifications Commission against a judge who had a journalist jailed over an Open Records Request. Brenda Weaver, Chief Superior Court Judge of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit, had Fannin Focus publisher Mark Thomason and his attorney arrested after…

Open Government training ordered   VALDOSTA – The State Attorney General’s Office has ordered the Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County to pay a $500 civil penalty to the State of Georgia and to participate in an open government training session with the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office admonished the Hospital Authority following…