Monday, December 13, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Robin Fisher 404-232-8900

Appalachian Judicial Circuit Officially Opens Office

Atlanta, GA - - Another judicial circuit public defender office of Georgia's new state wide public defender system officially opened its doors to the community recently. Superior Court Judge Brenda Weaver and Gilmer County Commission Chairman, Rayburn Smith assisted Appalachian Circuit Defender Michael Parham with officially inducting his office as a part of the State's new defender system. The office, headed by Parham, will be staffed with five additional attorneys, administrative support staff, and two investigators. The Appalachian circuit will have satellite offices in both Fannin and Pickens counties. Parham is confident that an efficient public defender office will save the counties money by getting bonds set or reduced for pre-trial release and resolving cases in a timely manner. The Appalachian circuit office plans to develop relationships with local rehabilitation ministries and other public service organizations to encourage involvement with their clients. Parham's vision for his office it to approach each client holistically. "We are offering an opportunity for the citizens and organizations to get involved with our clients and their families. We hope this involvement will serve as the link between resources and needs; between those who want to change and those who can help them change," said Parham. Ultimately, the office's aim it to help their clients, reduce recidivism, restore men and women to a productive place in society, and to keep their clients from needing services in the future. The Georgia Public Defender Standards Council is expected to have the defender system operational statewide by next month.

Pictured left to right: Michael Parham, Appalachian Judicial Circuit Public Defender, Robin Fisher, Georgia Public Defender Standards Council, Rayburn Smith, Gilmer County Commission Chairman, & Brenda Weaver, Superior Court Judge

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