Newsletter GEORGIA JUDGES RELAX, RELEASE AND REJUVENATE AT NBA CONVENTION/JUDICIAL COUNCIL MEETING IN SAN DIEGO
Georgia was well represented by its judiciary who attending the NBA. The judges included: Justice R. Benham, Senior Judge H. Ward, Judge C. Gaines, U. S. Bankruptcy Judge (N.D. Ga.)Ray C. Mullins, While in San Diego, leadership of Judicial Council was transferred from the Honorable Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince (Florida) to the Honorable Justice Robert Rucker (Indiana). As part of that transition, we proudly voted for and witnessed Justice Benham’s election as a member-at-large to the Executive Committee of the Judicial Council. Responding to Justice Tucker’s invitation to all judges to actively participate in the work of the Judicial Council, Judges Adams, Edwards, Gaines, Tusan and other attendees volunteered to serve on several committees including Awards ,Leadership, Membership, Memorials/Resolutions, Luncheon, Program and Youth Outreach.
The judges and lawyers from San Diego took every time to remind us of all the reasons San Diego is referred by many as “America’s finest city.” The blue skies, warm breezes and bayside views made it hard for us Georgians to disagree.
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A judicial delegation of eleven jurists from Georgia led by Gate City Bar Judicial Section Chair Judge Crystal Gaines, Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham and Senior U.S. District Court Judge Horace T. Ward attended the 84th Annual Convention of the National Bar Association and the 38th Meeting of the Judicial Council held in San Diego from August 1 – 8, 2009. Energized by the interaction with former law school classmates, career long colleagues, new acquaintances, family and friends, inspired by the enlightening panel discussions, dynamic speakers and individuals honored throughout the conference, a great time was had by all. As stated by Dekalb Superior Court Judge Mark Anthony Scott, ““The NBA is the one convention I attend and feel truly at home. There are always judges and lawyers with whom I have attended school or share other common interests. San Diego was simply well organized and fun!” 
Fulton Superior Court Judges Gail S. Tusan and Kimberly Esmond Adams, Fulton State Court Judge Patsy Porter, Judge Mark A. Scott, Dekalb State Court Barbara Mobley and Fulton Juvenile Court Chief Judge Belinda Edwards. Judge Ray Mullins served on a panel sponsored by the NBA Bankruptcy Law Section which provided practitioners with an update on Bankruptcy Court’s current procedures to assist homeowners facing foreclosure and a study of the proposed bankruptcy reform as they relate to home loan modification under the Obama Administration.
This past year Judge Mobley served as a faithful member of the Program Committee which planned a very thought provoking series of seminars for the judges in attendance on topics including evidentiary rulings, aging out of foster care, and mortgage foreclosure. The latter seminar in particular entitled “The Mortgage Foreclosure Tsunami” prompted a lively discussion among the audience. The panelists discussed creative and innovation court annexed programming aimed at minimizing the negative effect of mortgage foreclosures.
