Wednesday, January 7, 2004
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Wednesday, January 7, 2004 |
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PTC lawyer plans second bid for Superior Court judgeship By JOHN MUNFORD Local attorney John Mrosek announced his candidacy last week for a Superior Court judgeship. Mrosek, who unsuccessfully opposed incumbent Johnnie L. Caldwell Jr. in 2000, has not decided whether to run against Caldwell or Tommy R. Hankinson, both of whom have indicated they will seek re-election. Mrosek lost to Caldwell in 2000, winning Fayette County precincts by 1,047 votes but ultimately losing by more than 2,600 votes after results were added from Upson, Pike and Spalding counties which comprise the Griffin Judicial Circuit. Mrosek, 46, of Peachtree City, said he did not want to commit to a particular opponent this early in his campaign partially because he wants voters to focus on who he is as a candidate. Other factors in coming months could also influence who he runs against, he said. Mrosek is an attorney in private practice who is currently municipal court judge for Luthersville. He is the former city attorney for the towns of Brooks and Tyrone. Caldwell, 56, of Thomaston, has served as superior court judge since 1995 when he was appointed to the bench. He had previously served more than 14 years as district attorney for the Griffin Judicial Circuit after a stint in private practice. Hankinson, 55, of Thomaston, is finishing up the unexpired term left by retired judge Ben J. Miller. Previously he had been an attorney in private practice after a three-year stint in the U.S. Army as a captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He has also served as Special Assistant Attorney General for Georgia from 1987 until he was sworn in as judge Jan. 1 of last year. Fayette County State Court Solicitor Steve Harris announced last year that he will run against Hankinson, who was appointed as Miller’s replacement by outgoing Gov. Roy Barnes in 2001. He also previously served in private practice as a trial attorney after spending eight years with the Atlanta Police Department. Harris, 52, lives in unincorporated Fayette County and has been the state court’s lead prosecutor since that office was created eight years ago.
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