An already pointed race for a judgeship in DeKalb is heating up further as the candidates square off in public.

The first time Superior Court Judge Linda Hunter and challenger Tom Stubbs had a head-to-head debate, she accused him of “flat-out fabrications,” and he said she was prone to losing her temper and throwing people in jail.

They will meet again Thursday in a DeKalb Bar Association forum at a large auditorium in downtown Decatur.

Three other candidates, also scheduled to appear at the forum, are seeking the seat being vacated by the retirement of Superior Court Judge Anne Workman.

When Hunter and Stubbs debated at a meeting of the Pride Rings in Stone Mountain civic group, Stubbs said Hunter is the only DeKalb judge who has jailed a citizen who appeared for jury duty.

The judge acknowledged jailing two prospective jurors whom she characterized as refusing to serve.

“No juror is above the law,” she said.

She said other judges have done the same thing, citing the recent jailing of a woman accused of lying about why she didn’t appear for jury selection in the Fulton County trial of accused courthouse killer Brian Nichols.

Stubbs said one of the jailed prospective jurors was a counselor for rape victims who asked to be excused from a sexual assault case and wound up in a heated argument with the judge. Stubbs promised to try to calm such disagreements.

Hunter said Stubbs has little courtroom experience.

“I challenge my opponent to tell you what his trial record is,” Hunter said.

In response to a question from a member of the Stone Mountain audience, Stubbs said he could recall one DeKalb Superior Court jury trial in which he was the lead defense lawyer, but he said he has tried cases in other jurisdictions.

• Linda Hunter: Associate in Atlanta law firm, then assistant solicitor and assistant district attorney in DeKalb. Appointed to State Court in 1987 and to Superior Court in 1991.
• Tom Stubbs: Private attorney for 17 years. Elected president of DeKalb Association and board of governors of State Bar of Georgia.

Division 10

• Tangela Barrie: Law clerk for federal judge in Florida, three years as private attorney. Prosecutor in Texas for one year; assistant district attorney in DeKalb for seven years. Resigned this year to run for judge.
• Johnny Mason: Trial lawyer for 10 years. Thirteen years as judge for State Board of Workers’ Compensation, interrupted by one year as chief judge of Office of State Administrative Hearings.
• R. Joy Walker: Private attorney, then senior public defender in Atlanta. Appointed associate judge in DeKalb Recorders Court in 2001 and chief judge in 2002.

UP CLOSE

• See the candidates: The DeKalb Bar Association is sponsoring a forum for Superior Court candidates at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Maloof Auditorium in the county government complex in downtown Decatur, 1300 Commerce Drive.
• Ask a question: The public may suggest a question for the candidates by e-mailing execdir@dekalbbar.org. A panel of attorneys will review questions and reject those that are “impertinent, disrespectful, improper under applicable judicial canons of ethics or that seek solely to embarrass a candidate.”

ON THE WEB

• Linda Hunter: www.reelectjudgelindahunter.com
• Tom Stubbs: www.stubbsforjudge.com
• Tangela Barrie: www.barrieforjudge.com
• Johnny Mason: www.judgejohnnymason.com
• R. Joy Walker: www.judgerjoywalker.org.