As District Attorney for the South Georgia Judicial Circuit (composed of Decatur, Grady, Mitchell, Baker, and Calhoun counties), Joe Mulholland came to office four years ago after a last minute registration allowed him to run unopposed when the then D.A. surprised everyone and withdrew his name for reelection. At that time, Mulholland had been a member of the Georgia Bar for only about three years. Yes, the chief prosecutor for that chunk of Georgia had only been an attorney for around 1,000 days.
Flash forward four years and it’s time for Mulholland (a Democrat) to throw his hat into the ring for another election. But, interestingly, Assistant District Attorney Ryan Cleveland has also done so, as a Republican. As the Post-Searchlight of Bainbridge notes,
Cleveland, 36, A graduate of Brigham Young University, [...] received a master’s degree in public administration in 1999 and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Mercer University School of Law, Macon, in 2005. [emphasis added]
So Mulholland, who continues to literally learn on the job, is being challenged by someone who also, as he qualifies to run for the first time, has himself only been an attorney for around 1,000 days.
Is there no attorney with more than a few years of experience who is willing to run for District Attorney there?
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“bench press 350 lbs. and squats 485.”
I’ll bet Trim didn’t know that when he was obnoxious to Konop’s son.
My apologies Doug. I can be rather overly-enthusiastic about certain issues, or as my wife likes to say “an insufferable a**”. I do have a stereotypical view of the successful/quasi-successful businessman who thinks their ability to pander widgets qualifies them as an expert on everything. In general, I find that these people end up in the legislative branch of government where they make a total mess of things. The ones that don’t. well. . .I only have two words. Ross Perot. Anyway, I am short, fat, and balding. I’ve also been told I waddle, so I don’t want to offend Tiny over there.
dorian,
Konop was actually kicked out of the gym we used to go to. He broke too many bench press bars that they just couldn’t afford to keep him as a member. Poor guy. He has been relegated to benching his neighbor’s 1975 VW beetle instead.
Dorian,
No problem.
I think everyone admits that experience is a necessary element to the qualifications of a candidate. In my opinion, other vital elements are character, motivation and determination. With regard to experience, a simple review will show that Ryan Cleveland has close to three years working within the office he now seeks to run. He has seen firsthand the obstacles and the possibilities of the office, the position and the community. His trial record exceeds and rivals many of those in the civil arena that the commentators above call on for salvation. Most of the “commentary” on this blog focuses on this aspect alone. I don’t care to debate the system and whether it discourages or encourages any one of particular group of attorneys to its ranks. What I do care to debate is that anyone who knows Ryan Cleveland personally would have no doubt that he has no rival on the other necessary elements referenced above. No one can legitimately question his reasons for seeking this office. No one can legitimately question the manner in which he contributes to his community or cares for the integrity and role of the office of district attorney. No one can legitimately question the manner in which he has conducted himself during his time as an Assistant District Attorney. You may criticize his youth (and with that the energy and passion that walks hand in hand); however, if your concern is for the well being of the citizens of the South Georgia judicial circuit, your criticism undercuts that concern. I am not a resident of that judicial circuit (as I note neither are most of the “commentators” on this blog); however, I have family in that area. God forbid something were to happen to a member of my family, I have zero reservations that Ryan Cleveland is the person I want ensuring that my family member’s voice is heard and that those responsible account for their crimes.
Don’t know him jct, so I can’t comment either way. DA’s are generally politicians in jurisdictions of any size. Generally, not always. Experience helps, though. Say, for example, you have a capital murder case. High profile by nature. No question the DA should be the prosecutor. Problem is the cases are mine fields. You have to know the unified appeal procedure, and you can’t mess up at all on anything – because it all goes all the way up. Say, for example, you forgot to file the victim impact statements, or didn’t know when they had to be submitted. Well, you just lost your chance to use them in the penalty phase. Anyway, like I said, I don’t know the guy.
Donkey, it helps when, you know, you can’t google the person you are referring to. In contrast, I have a bodyguard named “Big Vito”. he is an italian jew who after serving in the Israeli Special Forces went on to get his black belt from the Gracie dojo, so “Phphphphpt!”
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