The Columbus City Council is slated to discuss on Tuesday the potential hire of a municipal judge, but city officials have refused to identify what candidates they are considering.
The Dispatch on Thursday asked David Armstrong, the city’s chief operations officer, who had applied for the post. Armstrong said the city had received three applicants. Asked who the applicants were, Armstrong declined to say. He did not provide a reason for the denial.
Calls to Pat Mitchell, the city’s human resources director, were not returned.
Several sources told The Dispatch city officials had formed a committee that interviewed the applicants. The committee consisted of Mayor Robert Smith, Ward 1 councilman Gene Taylor, Columbus Chief of Police Tony Carleton, municipal court administrator Wendy Blunt, Mitchell and Armstrong.
The mayor did not respond to calls by press time today. Neither did Armstrong. Taylor could not be reached for comment.
The Dispatch has learned two Columbus attorneys — Joshua Clemons and Gary Goodwin — are two of the three applicants for the position, which pays $23,449 a year.
Goodwin did not respond to messages by press time today.
Clemons has practiced law since 2004 and currently is a child support enforcement attorney for the state Department of Human Services.
He told The Dispatch this morning he has always wanted to be a judge.
“I would hope that I can be fair, reliable and all the things you would want in a judge,” Clemons said.
Clemons said he was interviewed last week by the city’s committee.
History of the position
The open municipal judge post was last held by Nicole Clinkscales, who was appointed to the bench by the council in 2010. She resigned this summer to campaign for a position in the state Legislature. Judicial regulations forbid judges from running for state office while sitting on the bench. Clinkscales lost the election.
In late August, the state Commission on Judicial Performance released a report on several allegations against Clinkscales during her time on the bench, including making statements on social media that were racially biased and prejudiced; endorsing a political candidate on Facebook; and presiding over a drug case involving one of her family members.
The judicial watchdog agency recommended a public reprimand for Clinkscales’ actions. The state Supreme Court is currently reviewing the recommendation.
Marc Amos is the other municipal judge. While Clinkscales’ former post has been empty, the city is using Lowndes County Justice Court Judge Chris Hemphill to help with the workload. The city is paying Hemphill $100 per hour to fill in.
‘A very important job’
Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box told The Dispatch on Friday he was still planning to take a closer look at the candidates, but was not on the interview committee and therefore not very familiar with the applicants.
“I don’t know what they decided yet,” Box said. “I just want to see someone who has a little experience. It’s a very important job and we don’t need to go into that without thinking about what we’re doing.”
Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin also said he was not on the committee and hasn’t talked to any of the applicants.
“I do believe the committee met (last week) and interviewed some of the candidates,” Gavin said. “How many? I do not know. I do hope that their recommendation will be a candidate that will be a good, fair judge, but also a tough judge.”
Gavin also said the council should place an emphasis on integrity in the wake of the commission’s findings on Clinkscales.
“Whether you’re a city councilman, mayor, police chief or judge, you represent the city and you represent what’s best for the city,” he said. “A lot of the times we have to put personal things that we like to do in our personal lives aside. We have to be above all of that.”
Box agreed.
“That would be very important to consider for a judge — perhaps more or as much as any position we fill,” Box said. “It needs to be someone of integrity. That’s very important.”
Mitchell previously told The Dispatch municipal judges have the option to work 29 or 30 hours per week. Judges who work 29 hours do not receive benefits, while judges who work 30 hours get insurance and retirement benefits.
The city council meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Municipal Complex.
Dispatch reporter Andrew Hazzard contributed to this report.
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