As some citizens may be aware, several changes have been made to enlarge the jurisdictional limits of the Magistrate Court.

While the Magistrate Court is what most people call the “small claims” court, the new jurisdictional changes make this court a much more critical court than it previously has been. In addition to hearing evidence on search warrants, arrest warrants, setting bonds, and trying minor criminal cases, the Magistrate Court now has jurisdiction over claims for amounts up to $15,000, instead of the former $5,000 limit. Since $15,000 is really not a “small claim” for most people, this means that it is more important than ever to have qualified judges serving our Magistrate Courts.

Many people do not realize that the law still does not require Magistrate Court judges to be attorneys. This is an outdated system that is a holdover from a time in which there were not enough qualified attorneys to serve in all of our courts.

I am pleased to see, however, that this year in the upcoming July 18 nonpartisan Magistrate Court election, that the citizens of Fayette County have the choice to elect a highly qualified local attorney for the position of Magistrate Court judge, Post 3. Robert “Bob” Ruppenthal has announced his candidacy for this position.

He is a practicing attorney who has tried cases in all of the local courts as well as courts in surrounding counties. Bob has practiced both civil and criminal law. He has served as the president of the Fayette County Bar Association in 1998. He has acted as the temporary judge of the Fayette Juvenile Court on several occasions, and he has shown himself to be a man of integrity and excellent character in all of his endeavors, whether professional or personal.

As an attorney who has tried cases in magistrate courts, I know first-hand how critical it is for the judges to know the law and to have had experience themselves as attorneys in the court system.

As we enter the new millennium, I hope the citizens of Fayette County will take advantage of this opportunity for a fresh start, rather than allowing themselves to be stuck with the outdated system, and will elect someone who has actually practiced law and can provide the highest quality of service at the Magistrate Court level.

Bob Ruppenthal is most decidedly the best choice for the Post 3 position. Take note and go vote!

Kathy Brown Valencia
Peachtree City

Back to Opinion Home Page | Back to the top of the page