County Elections Board To Hear Challenge Of Judge Candidate's Qualifications: Report

DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA — The Douglas County Board of Elections and Registration will hear evidence in a case against a candidate for magistrate court judge, accusing her of not meeting the qualifications to run for the position, the Douglas County Sentinel reported.

Douglas County Magistrate Judge Susan Camp filed a motion last week seeking to disqualify her only opponent for the position, Democrat Sylvia Baker.

Camp is the only Republican still holding a countywide elected position, and is the only Republican who qualified for the May 24 primary for chief magistrate judge. Her opponent, Baker, is the only Democratic candidate to qualify as well.

Camp, first elected in 1998, said in the motion that Baker doesn't meet the requirements to hold the office because she hasn't been a member of the State Bar of Georgia for at least three years.

• Related: Incumbent Magistrate Judge Files Motion To Disqualify Opponent

She asked the county elections director to disqualify Baker or hold a hearing on the matter — so on Tuesday, the elections board will meet at 3 p.m. to hear evidence in the case and make a decision, though it's not expected to be the final say, the Sentinel reported.

The losing party can appeal to the Douglas County Superior Court, and depending on the outcome from there, the case could be further appealed to the Supreme Court of Georgia.

According to the Sentinel, the state law setting minimum requirements for a magistrate court judge was updated in 2019, requiring a judge to be a resident of the county for two years before their term begins; be at least 25 years old; remain a resident of the county during the term of office; be a U.S. citizen; be a registered voter; and have obtained a high school diploma or GED.

Baker cited these revisions in her written response to Camp's challenge, which don't list a requirement to be a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Sentinel reported; however, the 2019 update does note that state requirements are in effect "unless otherwise provided by local law."

Camp argues that local legislation passed in 1984 states the chief magistrate judge "shall have been an active member of the State Bar of Georgia for the three years immediately preceding his selection."

Since then, each chief magistrate court judge in Douglas County has been a Georgia attorney and member of the state bar. Many other counties require the chief magistrate judge to be a member of the state bar, including Cobb, Paulding, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Fulton counties.

A final decision would need to be made in a timely manner, with advanced voting for the May 24 primary set to begin May 2.