Resident Asks Judge to Order Gov. Deal to Convene ‘Hill panel’
A Clayton County resident is asking a judge to force Governor Nathan Deal to convene a panel to decide whether Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill should be suspended. Hill was indicted last year and is currently facing 32 felony charges for crimes he allegedly committed during a previous term as county sheriff.
64-year-old James Buckman, a Clayton County activist, filed the request for a court order in Fulton County Superior Court. According to the petition, state law requires that once a public official with a pending indictment is serving in office a panel to decide on suspension has to be convened by the governor.
But attorneys for the governor interpret the law differently. On Thursday Deal spokesman Brian Robinson told WABE, the governor does not believe state law allows him to convene the panel.
“Sheriff Hill was indicted while a private citizen. He was elected by the people of Clayton County who were fully aware of the facts, so given the fact that he was not indicted while in office. We don’t feel like the law applies in this case. Therefore, there is no role for the governor to play at this juncture.”
A spokesperson for Georgia’s Attorney General declined to comment because the office has not had a chance to review the petition. Hill took office this week. The court of appeals is scheduled to hear arguments in his case in February.
One note of disclosure: James Buckman is being represented by the Pate Law Firm. Attorney Page Pate is WABE’s legal analyst.
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