Residents will see a shift in their judgeships this year as candidates announce for open seats.
The latest to enter a race: Bloomingdale municipal judge Richard Sanders announced his candidacy for Chatham County Recorder's Court Judge. Sanders's challenger, Burt Anthony Burton. announced his intent to run for the same seat last summer. Burton is an assistant district attorney in Chatham County, who touts handling 2,000 criminal cases since working in the office and increasing its efficiency.
Sanders released a press release last week and kicked off his campaign at the Brockington on East Hall Street. In the release, Sanders said he’s running because “he believes that he is the most qualified and caring candidate who is concerned about the overall outcome of the cases that would come before him.”
In Georgia, the Recorder's Court handles all traffic citations, DUI cases, and county ordinance violations.
A judgeship on the court opened after Chief Recorders Court Judge Tammy Stokes announced her run for Chatham County superior court judge following the announcement of Judge Louisa Abbot's retirement.
Sanders, a Columbus, Georgia native, earned his bachelors of science in justice studies at Georgia Southern University in 2004. Shortly after, in 2005, he attended the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. He was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2008.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Prior to his role as Bloomingdale municipal judge, Sanders served as a judge on the Chatham County Juvenile Court and as a Municipal Court judge in Garden City. Since 2008, he has handled civil matters at the law firm Andrews and Sanders.
With his law partner, Douglas Andrews, he also co-authored the book “Divorce in Georgia,” which answers questions about the divorce process in the state.
Raisa Habersham is a watchdog and investigative reporter for the Savannah Morning News. Contact her at rhabersham@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Bloomingdale judge announces run for open seat on Chatham County recorder’s court
The Latest
Featured
