Judge Coursey Speaks at May Family Law Section Breakfast
Georgia, along with a few other states, permits jury trials in divorce cases. Judge Coursey acknowledged that he formerly believed that jury trials in divorce cases were generally a bad idea, but that his opinion has changed over time. Jury trials, he noted, provide him with an opportunity to see how the community at large is thinking, enabling him to temper his views and rulings and to better represent the community he serves. As an example, he pointed to the changing view of alimony since he took the bench 28 years ago. Currently, he observed, alimony awards are more the exception than the rule, and he has found that juries generally frown on alimony.
Judge Coursey’s closing comments were directed to the issue of professionalism; specifically, attorneys’ disclosure to the bench. He cited actual recent occurrences where lawyers took positions before him that were contrary to positions they had taken in their pleadings. His advice to the attendees was, “Know what you have done, and do not contradict yourself!”
The Family Law Section breakfast meetings are held the first Thursday of every month in the Harrison Room at the historic Old Courthouse in downtown Decatur. All are welcome.