Meet the candidates: Walker County magistrate judge
By
Monday June 16, 2008 5:03:42pm


Two people are running for the post of Walker County magistrate judge: incumbent Jerry Day and Ross Littlejohn. Both are Democrats and will face each other in the Democratic primary election on Tuesday, July 15. There is no Republican candidate, so the winner of the July 15 election will win the judgeship.



Jerry Day

Incumbent

How can voters contact you?

Home: (706) 638-5627

Office: (706 638-1217)

Email: magistrate@co.walker.ga.us

How long have you lived in Walker County?

Except for 2 years in U.S. Army (1964-65) and living in Floyd County 4 years right after marriage to Mary, I’m proud to have lived in Walker County my entire life.

Spouse and children’s names, ages, occupations

Wife, Mary B. (Bethune) Day; a child, Lacey Day Cobb (age 33) of LaFayette, a nurse; grandchildren, Dawson Cobb, 5, and Chloe Cobb, 2.

Current/past business experience

* Chief magistrate judge of Walker County since creation of the court by the Georgia Legislature in 1983

* Walker County justice of the peace and small claims court judge, 1979 through 1983 (prior to the creation of magistrate courts)

* Georgia DOT engineering department over 11 years, prior to being elected to office

Clubs / organizations (including churches) and any offices held

* Corinth Baptist Church, deacon, Sunday school teacher, treasurer

* Two times past president of LaFayette Optimist Club; member Kiwanis LaFayette when it existed; P.M. Western Lodge 91, F.& A.M.

* President of council of Magistrate Court judges

* Served two terms on Judicial Council of Georgia, which makes policy for improving and administering the state’s courts, and creating judgeships, budgets, legislative concerns involving Georgia’s courts, recommendations to Legislature

* Voted Magistrate of the Year by State Council of Magistrate Court Judges, 2002

Current/past political offices

Chief magistrate judge of Walker County since court’s creation in 1983; justice of the peace and small claims court judge, 1979 through 1983.

What are your goals for the post for which you are running?

* To continue providing fair and impartial justice to all citizens of Walker County, without regard to race, religion, national origin, nor financial or social standing.

* To continue community education program in Walker County, on the value and use of the magistrate court, and making the court easier for citizens to use — more “user friendly.”





Ross Littlejohn

How may voters contact you?

Home: (706) 638-5062

Cell: (423) 987-6200

Email: rossalittlejohn@gmail.com

How long have you lived in Walker County?

55 years

Spouse and children’s names, ages, occupations

Ellen Pettigrew Littlejohn, wife, retired

Dylan Littlejohn, 27, lawyer in Atlanta

Jayne Littlejohn, 25, fourth-year student at Temple Medical School in

Philadelphia, Penn.

Current/past professional/business experience

Retired boilermaker

Clubs/organizations (including churches) and any offices held

* First Baptist Church of LaFayette

* Western Lodge 91 of LaFayette; presently serving as senior steward and

benevolent and protective order of Elks No. 2018

* Member of Alhambra Shrine located in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Current/past political officer

None

What are your goals for the post for which you are running?

To serve the people of Walker County with dignity and respect. To bring fresh new energy to the magistrate and returning it back to the People’s Court. To bring and rule on cases as quickly and fairly as possible. To set up a satellite office in Rossville for the convenience of the people in the north part of Walker County. The Walker County Magistrate office will be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day for law enforcement agencies and the general public.


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wellnow
Comments: 21
Joined: 06/10/2008
06/20/2008 11:20:26 AM
It is time for a change in this office. I have spoke to some people and they tell me that Jerry Day's office will let go fugitives from another state when he knows that the agency wanting that person is coming to get them. Also they tell me that Jerry Day tries to have a trail during first appearance hearings instead for doing his job which is deciding if there is probable cause or not.

 
DCleg
Comments: 1
Joined: 06/19/2008
06/20/2008 03:41:33 AM
I feel qualified to fill in some blanks for voters who do not know Ross Littlejohn personally. I am from Warner Robins GA, and Ross's 1st cousin. We grew up in each others homes, and of course knew where we all came from.

Ross and his siblings were all honorable, bright, high achievers with a powerful sense of right and wrong. They worked, and went to school, and still helped at home, and it wasn't easy, but they made it.
Ross and his wife Ellen, worked hard to raise two amazing children. Ross was away with his job a lot, but he made sure it never kept him from being immersed in their lives. He was strict, and fair, and he was fun. The result is a son practicing law in Atlanta, and a daughter in medical school.

Ross Littlejohn is a man with a steady compass, a man of compassion, but also a man who can wade through the nonsense, and emerge with an answer that just makes sense. One other thing about Ross, you will rarely walk away from him without a smile on your face. He is too smart and humble to show you how smart he really is, but if you elect Ross Littlejohn, you can't help but find out.

Debbie Cleghorn Warner Robins GA
 
NorthGACitizen
Comments: 150
Joined: 01/08/2006
06/17/2008 10:01:46 PM
I know Littlejohn personally. He's a decent man that has worked hard all of his life. He has a good family and has lived in LaFayette a long time. I think that Ross would be fair and honest. I think he could update the Magistrate's office. I also think that it would take him some time to get used to the position but once accustomed to it, he would do well.

 
youngpup
Comments: 32
Joined: 06/17/2008
06/17/2008 06:23:25 PM
This is another office that needs a change. Can someone tell me more about Mr. Littlejohn? I don't know him either. What can he bring to the magistrates office? There is one instance that Mr. Day stated that he wasn't going to post a person's bond because another relative didn't want them out until after a certain function was held. I witnessed this myself. Remember in my other post when I said that I have a family member in jail. Same person and circumstance. I have also had friends to witness Mr. Day lean over his bench after fining someone and tell them if they can't afford the fine to call him and that they would work something out. We definately need a change. Tell me about Mr. Littlejohn.
 
NorthGACitizen
Comments: 150
Joined: 01/08/2006
06/17/2008 09:13:43 AM
I can vouch for Ross Littlejohn. He is a good man. I have nothing negative to say about the other candidate. I think Ross would bring a change of scenery to the magistrate's office.

How do you guys feel?
 
RayJay5
Comments: 37
Joined: 06/09/2008
06/16/2008 11:44:41 PM
It probably would not be cost effective. Maybe it could be taken from the Magistrates large salary. Jerry has said after election that he is going to retire. I don't see that happening unless someone beats him.

 
mdsp
Comments: 162
Joined: 07/16/2007
06/16/2008 11:11:08 PM
Does anyone have an idea what the cost of a satellite office would be or the cost to have this office available 24/7. I am just curious if our county can afford this or where the funds would come from.
 
voterb
Comments: 9
Joined: 12/01/2007
06/16/2008 06:22:41 PM
"the winner of the July 15 election will win the judgeship."???

While this is likely, are independent candidates prohibited from running? While it is too late for a candidate to be added to the ballot of the partisan election this July, there is opportunity for candidates to register as independents earlier in the month. That is the time for those that don't want to identify with either party to qualify and have their names added to the November ballot. That week is also the week that the parties that dropped the ball and failed to qualify any candidates can qualify candidates to run in the November election as independent candidates.
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