On Monday, I stood at the start line of a hot, humid, and crowded 10k. Before then, I had done longer races, including a couple of half marathons and a full about seven months ago. And over the last three months I had been working with a coach to up my game. I had even begun […]
A good number of people in my Facebook feed are passionate about gun control right now. And it appears that I have friends or “friends” on both sides of the debate. It would be nice if this passion would transfer to other amendments such as the Fourth or the First. Alas, much of it is […]
It appears that the big news from the State Bar’s annual meeting is that the Bar will do nothing to encourage voters to oppose the referendum that will gut the Judicial Qualifications Commission. In the wake of the last-minute vote to gut the JQC, its chair, Lester Tate, resigned. Mr. Tate called upon the Bar […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2016-06-18 19:58:562016-06-18 19:58:56Why Can’t the Bar Create an Internal JQC to Discipline Lawyers who are Judges?
Since the Orlando Night Club shooting, Trump and others have criticized the President for not using the magic words “Radical Islam” in discussion of the news. According to NBC News: When Donald Trump blasted President Obama for failing to make reference to Islam in connection with the Orlando nightclub massacre, the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2016-06-14 17:09:002016-06-14 17:09:00A Radical Fundamentalist By Any Other Name is Still a Radical Fundamentalist
Under Article Six, Section Three of the United States Constitution, “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” The Religious Tests Clause made good sense when it was passed. The Framers had in mind various Test Acts that were a part of British […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2016-05-23 17:00:162016-05-23 17:00:16Roderick K. Bridges, God’s Choice for State Court
I meant to write a post on this topic at the end of the legislative session. Very late in the game, the Georgia General Assembly radically changed Georgia’s Judicial Qualifications Commission, the ethics watchdog agency for Georgia judges. Shortly after these changes were made, the head of the JQC very publicly resigned. I have mixed […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2016-05-10 19:28:382016-05-10 19:28:38Much Belated Thoughts on Changes to Georgia’s JQC
Last week, I was able to help a young man stay in the country rather than be deported to a land where he has few ties. The young man is officially a citizen of a foreign country. But he is practically an American, having grown up in Georgia and with all of his family here. Several months ago, he […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2016-05-08 07:13:232016-05-08 07:13:23Removing the Stigma When You’ve Done Your Time
Rapper, YoGotti, recently released a video shot in a Henry County, Georgia, courtroom and throughout the courthouse. Henry County government officials are not amused. An official is on the record saying that the video, featuring a small claims lawsuit involving a hair weave that went up in flames, does not accurately represent “Henry County values.” […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2016-04-23 10:51:392016-04-23 10:51:39Yo Gotti: Making the Henry County Judiciary Famous
I’m all for democracy, but election season is not fun for lawyers. This year, unlike any other, I have been spammed by lawyers running for office: whom I do not know and don’t think I’ve ever met; In counties where I seldom practice; and who delivered a prepared telemarketer-style speech when they get me on […]
Before this week, I had never heard of the All Writs Act of 1789. As I understand from the news accounts I have read this week, a Federal Magistrate cites it as authority to order Apple to develop software that law enforcement can then use to break into an iPhone. For anyone who’s ever dealt […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2016-02-18 16:42:242016-02-18 16:42:24The Conscription of Apple Engineers into Government Service
A Big Lesson From a Short Failed Race
/by J. Scott KeyOn Monday, I stood at the start line of a hot, humid, and crowded 10k. Before then, I had done longer races, including a couple of half marathons and a full about seven months ago. And over the last three months I had been working with a coach to up my game. I had even begun […]
We are Having the Wrong Debate
/by J. Scott KeyA good number of people in my Facebook feed are passionate about gun control right now. And it appears that I have friends or “friends” on both sides of the debate. It would be nice if this passion would transfer to other amendments such as the Fourth or the First. Alas, much of it is […]
Why Can’t the Bar Create an Internal JQC to Discipline Lawyers who are Judges?
/by J. Scott KeyIt appears that the big news from the State Bar’s annual meeting is that the Bar will do nothing to encourage voters to oppose the referendum that will gut the Judicial Qualifications Commission. In the wake of the last-minute vote to gut the JQC, its chair, Lester Tate, resigned. Mr. Tate called upon the Bar […]
A Radical Fundamentalist By Any Other Name is Still a Radical Fundamentalist
/by J. Scott KeySince the Orlando Night Club shooting, Trump and others have criticized the President for not using the magic words “Radical Islam” in discussion of the news. According to NBC News: When Donald Trump blasted President Obama for failing to make reference to Islam in connection with the Orlando nightclub massacre, the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee […]
Roderick K. Bridges, God’s Choice for State Court
/by J. Scott KeyUnder Article Six, Section Three of the United States Constitution, “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” The Religious Tests Clause made good sense when it was passed. The Framers had in mind various Test Acts that were a part of British […]
Much Belated Thoughts on Changes to Georgia’s JQC
/by J. Scott KeyI meant to write a post on this topic at the end of the legislative session. Very late in the game, the Georgia General Assembly radically changed Georgia’s Judicial Qualifications Commission, the ethics watchdog agency for Georgia judges. Shortly after these changes were made, the head of the JQC very publicly resigned. I have mixed […]
Removing the Stigma When You’ve Done Your Time
/by J. Scott KeyLast week, I was able to help a young man stay in the country rather than be deported to a land where he has few ties. The young man is officially a citizen of a foreign country. But he is practically an American, having grown up in Georgia and with all of his family here. Several months ago, he […]
Yo Gotti: Making the Henry County Judiciary Famous
/by J. Scott KeyRapper, YoGotti, recently released a video shot in a Henry County, Georgia, courtroom and throughout the courthouse. Henry County government officials are not amused. An official is on the record saying that the video, featuring a small claims lawsuit involving a hair weave that went up in flames, does not accurately represent “Henry County values.” […]
How Not to Solicit Campaign Contributions
/by J. Scott KeyI’m all for democracy, but election season is not fun for lawyers. This year, unlike any other, I have been spammed by lawyers running for office: whom I do not know and don’t think I’ve ever met; In counties where I seldom practice; and who delivered a prepared telemarketer-style speech when they get me on […]
The Conscription of Apple Engineers into Government Service
/by J. Scott KeyBefore this week, I had never heard of the All Writs Act of 1789. As I understand from the news accounts I have read this week, a Federal Magistrate cites it as authority to order Apple to develop software that law enforcement can then use to break into an iPhone. For anyone who’s ever dealt […]