What is your name?

Jeffrey R. Davis

Tell us more about yourself.

Jeff Davis is uniquely equipped to serve as a Court of Appeals judge, having represented clients in the municipal, magistrate, probate, juvenile, state, and superior courts in Georgia. He brings experience as a prosecutor, civil litigator, criminal defense attorney and ethics expert to his bid for the Court of Appeals, having handled numerous cases in the Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court. Jeff has actively served within the faith community, enrolling and completing a Master of Theological Studies degree at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, while maintaining a full-time law practice.

What office are you running for?

Georgia Court of Appeals

What is your party affiliation?

Non-Partisan

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

- High school: Baylor School - College: University of Tennessee-Chattanooga - Seminary: Emory University, Candler School of Theology - Law School: Georgia State University College of Law

Provide the link to your campaign website.

jeffdavisforjudge.com

What is your job/occupation?

Attorney

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

Walker County

Is this your first time running for office?

Yes

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

I am uniquely equipped to serve 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. I bring decades of experience as a prosecutor, civil litigator, criminal defense attorney, and ethics expert to my bid for the Court of Appeals, having handled numerous cases in the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia.

What actions would you take to enhance government transparency and trust in government?

I have devoted his legal career to public service. Promoting ethics and professionalism in the practice of law and the judicial system has been the cornerstone of my practice. I am running for the Court of Appeals to continue my service to the people of Georgia with three guiding principles: Justice. Integrity. Fairness.

The court system is increasingly seen as overtly political. What more can be done to assure the public that the courts are neutral arbitrators of the law?

I am running for the Court of Appeals because I believe that Georgians deserve to have a judge on the court who will faithfully uphold the rule of law and will decide cases fairly, without fear or favor. I believe that experience matters, and anyone seeking to serve on the appellate courts of this state should have experience practicing appellate law. If elected, I promise to Georgians that I will make decisions based upon the law as it is written, and I will serve with integrity.

What are your personal security concerns, given the increasing attacks on judges and court officials nationwide and the rise in hostility toward judicial officials generally?

All Georgians, regardless of their career, deserve to practice their profession without fear of violence or abuse of any kind. That includes members of all branches of government. I believe any necessary security recommendations for judicial branch officers belong with law enforcement personnel. I applaud recent action taken by the Georgia General Assembly to provide protections for members of the judicial branch.

How will you manage large caseloads exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic?

The two-term deadline rule at the Court of Appeals basically means that the court must find a way to get its work done no matter what. It is my understanding that the lag time for cases rising to the Court of Appeals from lower courts has meant that the Court of Appeals has not seen a large caseload uptick yet. However, if that does come, I stand ready to put in whatever time is required and work hand-in-hand with my colleagues to meet the deadlines spelled out in court rules.

A number of judges are now streaming their court hearings and trials so they are completely open to the public. Will you commit to streaming your courtroom proceedings so anyone will be able to view them? If not, why not?

Public trust in the judiciary is the bedrock upon which our society functions. I support open and accessible proceedings, and my experience at the Judicial Qualifications Commission gives me a record of supporting that before many others did. I know that the Court of Appeals streams all of its proceedings and I would be proud to continue that custom. As director of the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission, I received the prestigious Chief Justice Charles Weltner Award from the First Amendment Foundation, along with the Commission members, for the JQC's work ensuring public access to courts and court records.

Do you believe public access to public records is sufficient in your jurisdiction and, if not, what steps do you support to remedy that?

Public access to public records at the appellate courts has never been an issue in large part due to the dedicated men and women who work in the clerks’ offices. If elected, I would continue to work with them and make sure what they need from him is completed in a timely and dutiful nature.