Athens-Clarke County accepts municipal judge's resignation; appoints Jim Davis as interim judge

The Athens-Clarke County Commission on March 25 accepted Municipal Court Judge Marcy Jalles' resignation and voted to appoint Jim Davis to serve as interim municipal court judge and interim administrative hearing officer effective March 29, 2025 through June 30, 2025.

The action came after the commission amended the special called session agenda to add an executive session to discuss pending or threatened litigation and to add the appointment item. The body voted to enter and later to exit executive session before taking the resignation and appointment votes in open session.

Mayor Gertz opened the special called session and asked for a motion to amend the agenda to add the executive session and the appointment item; Commissioner Wright moved and Commissioner Fisher seconded. After suspending the rules by motion, the commission entered executive session to discuss threatened or pending litigation; the commission later exited executive session and resumed the special session.

The commission then considered a resolution to accept Judge Marcy Jalles' resignation. Commissioner Wright moved the resolution and Commissioner Taylor seconded. The mayor called for the vote and the motion carried.

Following the resignation vote, Mayor Gertz nominated Jim Davis and asked the commission to approve his appointment. Mayor Gertz read the nomination, saying: "I hereby nominate Jim Davis to serve as interim municipal court judge and interim administrative hearing officer of Athens Clarke County, Georgia. Mister Davis will serve in these interim roles effective 03/29/2025 and serve through and including 06/30/2025." Commissioner Fisher moved to approve the nomination and Commissioner Davenport seconded. When asked about the selection process, Mayor Gertz said Davis "was formerly an employee of the County Attorney's Office and had served as the prosecutor in municipal court, so is familiar with protocols in municipal court," and that Davis had served in a similar interim role about two years earlier. The commission approved the appointment and authorized the mayor to execute any necessary employment agreements.

The special called session concluded with a motion to adjourn that carried.

The commission did not state a roll-call vote tally for the resignation or the appointment in the public record during the meeting; minutes or the certified vote record should be consulted for individual member votes.

Ending: The special called session adjourned after the votes and the commission moved on to the pre-budget work session that followed.