ATLANTA – Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) today announced that he has appointed attorney James Balli to the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC). Speaker Ralston has also reappointed Richard Hyde to the JQC. Both appointments are effective July 1, 2017.
The JQC conducts investigations and hearings with respect to complaints of ethical misconduct by Georgia judges and is also authorized to issue advisory opinions regarding appropriate judicial conduct.
James Balli, who is the Speaker’s attorney-appointee to the JQC, is a partner with the law firm of Sams, Larkin, Huff & Balli LLP of Marietta, Ga. In accordance with state law, Balli’s appointment to the JQC will expire on July 1, 2020.
Richard Hyde, who is the Speaker’s citizen-appointee to the JQC, is an investigator with the law firm of Balch & Bingham LLP in Atlanta. In accordance with state law, Hyde’s appointment to the JQC will expire on July 1, 2019.
In November 2016, Georgia voters approved a constitutional amendment reforming the JQC to ensure fair and impartial consideration of complaints. The amendment and enabling legislation also removed undue influence of special interest groups on this important public body. In the recent legislative session, House Bill 126 was adopted which further restructured the JQC. HB 126 was signed into law by Governor Deal on May 1, 2017. The full text of HB 126 may be found here: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20172018/HB/126.
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