SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::
Governor Nathan Deal has announced a criminal investigation will be conducted against Spalding County Clerk of Court Marcia Norris.
Deal on Wednesday signed an executive order authorizing the investigation. This action followed multiple requests submitted to Deal by local officials.
Among those who requested Deal initiate the investigation were Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben Coker, Spalding County State Court Judge Josh Thacker, Spalding County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bart Miller – who formalized the request on behalf of the entire board – and Griffin Judicial Circuit Senior Judge Christopher Edwards.
The GRIP has obtained copies of the requests submitted to Deal by Coker, Thacker and Miller, and the content of the three is virtually identical.
Coker’s letter, which was dated Aug. 28, read, “Dear Governor Deal, Please accept this letter as a formal request for investigation pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 15-6-82, into Madame Marcia Norris, Clerk of Superior Court and State Court of Spalding County. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 770.716.4250. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.”
The letters from both Thacker and Miller stated they had received and reviewed Coker’s letter, and supported his request for a criminal investigation.
The Georgia code section Coker cited – O.C.G.A. § 15-6-82 – pertains to the removal of Superior Court clerks, charges and trials, and states, “A clerk of the superior court is subject to be removed from office by the judge of the court for any sufficient cause, including incapacity or misbehavior in office. The charges must be exhibited to the court in writing, and the facts tried by a jury. The clerk shall be entitled to a copy of the charges three days before trial.”
Deal’s executive order states, “…upon criminal charges, alleged misconduct in office, or alleged incapacity of the clerk of superior court to perform the functions of his or her office, the Governor has the authority to appoint an investigative committee consisting of the Attorney General and two clerks of superior court who are members of The Council of Superior Court Clerks of Georgia. Now therefore, pursuant to the authority vested in me as governor of the state of Georgia, it is hereby that Attorney General Chris Carr, Tina Blankenship of Webster County, and Greg Allen of Forsyth County are hereby appointed as the committee to investigate “criminal charges, alleged misconduct in office, or alleged incapacity” as it relates to Ms. Norris.
