Lifelong Screven County resident Hailey Williams is asking voters to elect her as Screven County’s next Chief Magistrate Judge. The office is an important one as it is responsible for first appearance hearings for criminal charges, good behavior warrants, garnishments, small civil claims up to $15,000, evictions, abandoned vehicles, and other similar matters.
After going through the Screven County school system, Williams graduated from Ogeechee Technical College in 2016 with a degree in Business Administration. Education is a passion of hers and this May, she’ll also have a degree in Criminal Justice, which she plans to further post-election. She and her two children, Phoenix (6) and Victor (5), live, work, and play in Screven County.
Over the last five years, Williams has worked for the county in various capacities. Three of those five years were at the Screven County Sheriff’s Office, where she worked as a dispatcher, and the other two have been as a deputy clerk under Mandy Howard in the Clerk of Superior Court’s Office.
For the last year, in an overlap with the Clerk’s office, Williams has been working as the Clerk for the Magistrate Court in Screven County, which she says has allowed her to already have an understanding of the filing system and procedures of the office. She’s been working under Judge Jimmy Griner, who will be retiring, and learning about the operations on a daily basis.
Williams said there’s plenty in place in the Magistrate Judge’s office that she plans to build on, if elected. “As far as the overall office goes, it is smooth sailing and there isn’t a whole lot I would change,” Williams said. But one thing she would like to put at the forefront would be a possible change to the software the office uses. She said using what the Clerk of Superior Court uses, or something similar, could help streamline case files when necessary
The office, she said, is working well with the staff of a judge and a single full-time clerk based on the case load the office is carrying. For that reason, Williams said she doesn’t support the appointment of a constable to be assigned to the magistrate’s office for serving magistrate paperwork.
“A constable, even if paid for with a grant, will need a car and gas card and everything that goes with it,” she said, noting that she supports keeping the duties assigned to the Sheriff’s Office, which is compensated $50 per service.
Williams also mentioned an electronic warrant interchange system, similar to what Effingham County uses, which would streamline after hours and weekend warrant needs. In an extension of technology needs, Williams says she’d like, at a minimum, to see the magistrate judge’s office on the county website. Beyond that, resources would be updated frequently to ensure people can research the most up-to-date information.
On being a qualified candidate, Williams said she’s been doing the job in the office she seeks to serve.
“I have the civil knowledge from currently working there, I know the steps and the procedures for everything and I’m learning the criminal procedures right now. There’s always more to learn, but I’m qualified to do the job now.”
“When I found out Judge Griner was retiring, I figured ‘now is the time’ for me to step up and serve. If the citizens will have me, I want to be a part of our county on a bigger scale and have a role in making sure our county is one my kids are proud to grow up in. I want to be able to have a voice and help where I can in making this county a better place to live.”
Williams will appear on the ballot on May 21. Early voting runs from April 29 through May 17.
Follow Williams on the campaign trial by visiting her Facebook page.
The race is nonpartisan, but if you request a nonpartisan ballot, you will only be able to vote in nonpartisan races, like judicial positions and Board of Education. If you vote in the Republican primary, you will be able to vote for Republican candidates for District Attorney, county commission, Sheriff, and in non-partisan races. If you vote in the Democratic primary, you will be able to vote for Democrat candidates and in non-partisan races.
