AJC columnist Jay Bookman pointed out in a recent article that judges would like to handle their judicial disciplining behind closed doors. The move to secrecy is important since the Judicial Qualifications Commission has publicly reprimanded 60 judges in Georgia over the last eight years. But now, Bookman writes, judges want to change the process dramatically….
Government leaders using phones to message during open meetings
The AJC watchdog Chris Joyner recently wrote about a worrisome practice – council members using their cell phones during open meetings. Opponents in Milton were recently corresponding with a city councilor during public discussions of their issue, prompting questions of impropriety since Sunshine laws demand most government meetings be totally open. After the story published,…
SPJ Georgia welcomes dismissal of charges against publisher
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…
Georgia Publisher still caught up in criminal justice system over records request
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…
SPJ: Dropping of charges against newspaper publisher is overdue
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…
SPJ Georgia files complaint against judge in Open Records case
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…
Society of Professional Journalists Georgia condemns outrageous response to Open Records Request
The state Open Records Act was designed to make our elected officials more transparent and accountable. That’s what Mark Thomason, publisher of the Blue Ridge, Ga.-based Fannnin Focus, was attempting to do when he filed a records request related to the activities of Judge Brenda Weaver. Specifically, he requested copies of checks that had…
SPJ Georgia 