Superior Court elections sometimes rare

ATHENS - After 40 years between contested elections for Superior Court in Clarke and Oconee counties, the impending retirement of Senior Judge Joseph Gaines has set off a scramble. <br> <br> In the past month, five candidates have emerged, and there could be more before qualifying ends in June. The last time there was an open seat on the Superior Court bench in the Western Circuit was in 1962, when Judge James Barrow first won election. <br> <br> About two-thirds of Georgia&#39;s judges get on the bench by appointment, usually to fill unexpired terms. Incumbent Superior Court judges in most circuits are rarely challenged, so many of them are, in effect, judges for life. <br> <br> Western Circuit Superior Court Judges Lawton Stephens and Steve Jones were both initially appointed to the bench. Stephens was selected to complete the unexpired term of Barrow, who retired in midterm, and Jones&#39; position was a newly created judgeship that by law must initially be filled by a governor&#39;s appointment. Both have since won re-election uncontested. <br> <br> The race for Gaines&#39; seat will rely heavily on personal contacts and private endorsements. Candidates will run on their reputations and legal qualifications. Consolidating support in the close-knit legal community will be key. <br> <br> Georgia law professor Bob Brussack says the typical voter&#39;s familiarity with judges tends to go as far as their last stint of jury duty, and many will ask attorneys for advice on who they should vote for. <br> <br> Under the Georgia Code of Judicial Conduct, the candidates cannot make public comments on the issues that affect the office, make ``false or misleading&#39;&#39; statements about an opponent, cannot openly ask for a person&#39;s public support, or even be in the same room when campaign funds are collected.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/3/197862