Thomasville Times-Enterprise, Moultrie native Tabitha Ponder Beckford running for Court of Appeals seat

LinkedIn

Candidate website

Believes legal experience in insurance defense and indigent defense in Georgia honed skills to serve families, leading to the establishment of a personal law firm practicing statewide.

Believes in a hands-on legal approach, with experience as a Magistrate Judge, insurance defense counsel, assistant public defender, and head of a law firm aiding the injured and assisting with real estate, now seeking a Georgia Court of Appeals seat.

Was previously an insurance defense attorney for Clyatt, Clyatt, & Golden in Valdosta, Georgia, assistant public defender  for the Tift Judicial Circuit, and owned and operated a small law firm aiding  the insured and families with real estate needs.

Said, "I currently staff the Georgia Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee... I continue to serve as a Special Master for Cobb County Superior Court..."

Currently on the Georgia Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee under the leadership of Justice Colvin and the Special Events Committee 
Co-Chair of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL).

Is a part-time Magistrate Judge for Cobb County

Previously worked at Albany State University for 7 years as a U.S. History & Georgia Government/Pre-Law Adjunct Professor.

Member of the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, the Cobb County Bar Association, the Cobb County Trial Lawyers Association, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), and the Georgia Association for Black Women Attorneys (GABWA).

- Was previously an insurance defense attorney for Clyatt, Clyatt, & Golden in Valdosta, Georgia, assistant public defender  for the Tift Judicial Circuit, and owned and operated a small law firm aiding  the insured and families with real estate needs.
- Currently on the Georgia Judicial Council’s Access to Justice Committee under the leadership of Justice Colvin and the Special Events Committee 
Co-Chair of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL).
- Is a part-time Magistrate Judge for Cobb County
- Previously worked at Albany State University for 7 years as a U.S. History & Georgia Government/Pre-Law Adjunct Professor.
- Member of the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, the Cobb County Bar Association, the Cobb County Trial Lawyers Association, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), and the Georgia Association for Black Women Attorneys (GABWA).

Legal Experience

As of March 19, 2024, Tabitha Ponder’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Said, "I am a passionate member of the Faith Christian Center in Austell, where I serve in the Youth Ministry. I enjoy spending time with my family, singing, and Latin dancing."

Is a member of the Faith Christian Center in Austell, where she serves in the Youth Ministry.

Believes in community involvement through active participation in legal associations, volunteer leadership, and service in local organizations, including the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and the Cobb County NAACP.

Said, "I have been part of this community for many years, working tirelessly to make it a better place."

- Is a member of the Faith Christian Center in Austell, where she serves in the Youth Ministry.
- Believes in community involvement through active participation in legal associations, volunteer leadership, and service in local organizations, including the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and the Cobb County NAACP.
- Said, "I have been part of this community for many years, working tirelessly to make it a better place."

Community Involvement

Tabitha Ponder

BallotPedia, Jeff Davis (Georgia)

The candidate's website says, "In 2014, Jeff returned to the State Bar of Georgia as Executive Director, continuing his public service and commitment to ethics and personal accountability for licensed attorneys."

 As the State Bar’s Executive Director, he supported the Office of General Counsel in role of regulating lawyers in Georgia.

The candidate's website says, "Jeff fondly recalls those days when he represented anyone who walked through the door, regardless of their ability to pay... Jeff never turned away a client who needed help..."

The candidate's website says, "Since 2021, Jeff has maintained a general civil and criminal practice and consults with other lawyers and government entities on both legal and judicial ethics issues."

The candidate's website says, "In 2000, Jeff moved with his family to Madison, Georgia, where he “hung out his shingle” across from the Morgan County courthouse, becoming a small-town trial lawyer who represented clients in cases ranging from ... property and zoning, real estate, wills and probate, criminal law, and general business and civil litigation."

Was a trial lawyer in Morgan County, representing clients in cases from divorce/family law to property and zoning, real estate, wills and probate, criminal law, and general business and civil litigation. 

The candidate's website says, "Jeff Davis is uniquely equipped to excel as a Court of Appeals judge, having represented clients in the municipal, magistrate, probate, juvenile, state, and superior courts in counties all over our state."

Represented "clients in the municipal, magistrate, probate, juvenile, state, and superior courts in counties all over our state."

The candidate's website says, "Jeff brings decades of experience as a prosecutor, civil litigator, criminal defense attorney, and ethics expert to his bid for the Court of Appeals... Jeff has handled numerous cases in the Court of Appeals..."

Has experience as a prosecutor, civil litigator, and criminal defense attorney.

The candidate's website says, "In the mid-90s Jeff was named Real Estate Counsel for Caribou Coffee Company... As counsel for a then-small business, Jeff understands the legal and regulatory considerations that must be addressed when growing a business."

Was a Real Estate Counsel for Caribou Coffee Company, and has experience with the legal and regulatory considerations of businesses.

Handled many cases in the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Was an Assistant General Counsel with the State Bar of Georgia where he prosecuted lawyers who violated the ethics rules the the unauthorized practice of law to protect Georgians from fraud.

- Was a trial lawyer in Morgan County, representing clients in cases from divorce/family law to property and zoning, real estate, wills and probate, criminal law, and general business and civil litigation. 
- Represented "clients in the municipal, magistrate, probate, juvenile, state, and superior courts in counties all over our state."
- Has experience as a prosecutor, civil litigator, and criminal defense attorney.
- Was a Real Estate Counsel for Caribou Coffee Company, and has experience with the legal and regulatory considerations of businesses.
- Handled many cases in the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia.
- Was an Assistant General Counsel with the State Bar of Georgia where he prosecuted lawyers who violated the ethics rules the the unauthorized practice of law to protect Georgians from fraud.

The candidate's website says, "In the beginning of his legal career, he served as Assistant General Counsel with the State Bar of Georgia where he prosecuted lawyers who violated the ethics rules... He also monitored and prosecuted the unauthorized practice of law..."

The candidate's website says, "As an administrative arm of the Supreme Court of Georgia, the State Bar’s Office of General Counsel is tasked with monitoring the ethical conduct of more than 53,000 attorneys... in its critically important role of regulating lawyers in Georgia."

Believes in strict enforcement of judicial ethics, noting Jeff's role as JQC Director led to over 50 judges' resignations or removals for misconduct after numerous investigations and prosecutions.

Believes in strict enforcement of judicial ethics, with his role as Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission leading to over 50 judges' resignations or removals for misconduct.

- Believes in strict enforcement of judicial ethics, with his role as Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission leading to over 50 judges' resignations or removals for misconduct.

The candidate's website says, "In 2010, Jeff was chosen as Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC)... While Jeff was Director, the agency received the prestigious First Amendment Foundation Freedom of Information Award for the JQC’s efforts to protect and ensure public access to courtrooms and court records."

As Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, advocated to protect and ensure public access to courtrooms and court records.

- As Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, advocated to protect and ensure public access to courtrooms and court records.

As of March 19, 2024, Jeff Davis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes in community service through faith; served as elder, pastor, and founded a church and fund supporting local food bank and youth organizations.

Believes in community service through faith.

Was the Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC), where he served from 2010 to 2014.

Founded the Gathering Madison fund, which is a community fund that provides financial support to the local food bank and  the Boys and Girls Clubs of Morgan County.

- Believes in community service through faith.
- Was the Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC), where he served from 2010 to 2014.
- Founded the Gathering Madison fund, which is a community fund that provides financial support to the local food bank and  the Boys and Girls Clubs of Morgan County.

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Jeff Davis

- The Court of Appeals hears nearly all types of cases appealed from a lower-level trial-level court, such as Superior Court, Magistrate Court, and State Court. The Court of Appeals does not hear appeals on murder, constitutional questions, and criminal cases where the Georgia Supreme Court has jurisdiction.
- Cases before the Court of Appeals are decided by a three-judge panel. 
- Judges on the Georgia Court of Appeals are elected to six-year terms. Elections are nonpartisan and statewide. The Governor can appoint Court of Appeals Judges when vacancies arise.