Pubdate: Mon, 27 Jun 2005
Source: McAlester News-Capital & Democrat (OK)
Copyright: 2005 McAlester News-Capital & Democrat
Contact:  http://www.mcalesternews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1892
Author: Teresa Atkerson

COUNTY TO GET A NEW JUDGE FOR DRUG COURT

With change comes change.

Pittsburg County will soon have a second special judge. District 18
Judge Tom Bartheld made the announcement Friday during the ceremonial
swearing in of the three judges for District 18.

Bartheld said plans are to start a drug court. "We're doing it a
little different," he added. "We hope what we do will be a model for
the state."

All deprived and all delinquent cases and guardianships will come
under the jurisdiction of the new special judge, he added, along with
the drug cases.

"These documents need to be together," he said. "Lots of the
delinquent and deprived cases are because of drug abuse.

"This will be a great benefit for the district and wrap it all up
together," he added.

"It will benefit the children, the families and the people in the two
counties" in the 18th District.

Bartheld credited Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, and Rep.
Terry Harrison, D-McAlester, for getting the state funding for the
position.

Harrison said he has been trying to get funding for the position since
the beginning of his legislative career.

"It finally worked out properly," he said.

"For a long time, this has been one of the busiest judicial districts
in the state." His legislative colleagues tried to tell him
differently but he doesn't believe them. "Pittsburg County's caseload
per judge is very big," he said.

"It's been a priority to get another special judge."

Harrison pointed out if a person is sitting in the county jail waiting
for a courtroom date, it costs the taxpayers. Sometimes court dates
have to be made several months in advance instead of a couple of
weeks. "The longer that person sits in jail, the more it costs,"
Harrison said.

"The same is true in civil cases," he added. "A business person files
a suit, in most cases it only takes a few weeks for a court date but
that can be extremely, extremely damaging for a business.

"This is going to be a costs savings."

Harrison said the new position will go into effect Jan. 1, 2006. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)