Court funding dispute pits judge against White Co.

CLEELAND - A funding issue between the White County Commissioners and the Enota Judicial Circuit Juvenile Judge has resulted in the county spending extra funds, the judge not holding court in White County and people in the county having to travel to Lumpkin County for court appearances.

The commissioners from each of the four counties in the circuit - Lumpkin, Union, Towns and White - met back in April to work out a budget for the court system, including the juvenile court. Juvenile Court Judge Jerry Bruce who was appointed to that position in July said the circuit commissioners agreed to just $500 in travel reimbursement.

Those funds were used up at the end of August and Bruce said he decided until the commissioners come up with travel money he will stay in his home county Lumpkin and hold court there.

That means that White County is now having to spend extra money to transport inmates to Dahlonega for court and other peple having business with the court must travel there as well.

The issue was discussed at this weeks commission meeting after County Manager Carol Jackson said she received an inquiry from Union County Commissioner Lamar Parris about the funding issue. The agenda item called for considering an increase in juvenile court travel expense up to $3,000 circuit wide, with White County's portion $789. White County commissioner Craig Bryant discussion went as far as suggesting that the county withdraw from the circuit and have its own judge.

Judge Bruce says he had not made any request for an increase and he did not know that it was on the agenda and no one had asked him to be at the meeting to discuss it.

Commissioner Terry Goodger made a motion during Monday's meeting to simply get the issue resolved by agreeing to pay White County's portion, but that motion failed when three commissioners - Craig Bryant, Edwin Nix and Lyn Holcomb - voted no.

Commission Chairman Travis Turner said the best way to resolve the matter is to have Judge Bruce come talk with the commission. Judge Bruce said Towns County has agreed to pay travel expenses and he is holding court in that county.