Langstaff tapped for judgeship
Albany attorney Thomas Langstaff is the heir-apparent to replace Richard Hodge as the U.S. federal magistrate judge in Albany.
While Langstaff declined to comment on the matter Tuesday, courthouse sources said that the announcement of Langstaff to the judgeship is imminent. Hodge recently retired due to an illness.
Albany City Attorney Nathan Davis was among a host a candidates for the judgeship. Langstaff, who was an unsuccessful candidate for the at-large Dougherty County Board of Education seat in 2008, is the brother of Albany City Commissioner Bob Langstaff. A licensed attorney since 1986, he is active in Dixie Youth baseball. He and his wife, Virginia, have four children.
The Albany division is one of five divisions of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, which serves 70 counties. By law, magistrate judges are given substantial authority to handle a wide range of both civil and criminal matters which come before the federal court. However, it is up to each district to determine the proper utilization of magistrate judges.
Magistrate judges must be at least five-year members in good standing of a bar of the highest court of a state and not related by blood or marriage to a judge of the appointing court. The court appoints a merit selection panel (similar to a judicial nomination commission) to receive applications.
Although the applicable Judicial Conference regulations do not specify exactly how the merit selection panel is to proceed, traditionally the panel, relying upon the lengthy written application submitted by each applicant, will select certain applicants for a personal interview with the panel. The panel will then recommend to the Court five applicants whom the panel deems to be best qualified. Those finalists are interviewed by all of the district judges in the district, sitting and the district judges will make the final selection of the nominee.
The nominee IS required to undergo an FBI background check and an IRS tax check.
In 1990, Congress changed the title of this office from “United States magistrate” to “United States magistrate judge” to emphasize that the position is a judgeship. The term of office is eight years, but the judge can be reappointed upon satisfactory performance.
$344M coming to Bishop’s district
U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany/Columbus, announced that the House of Representatives approved more than $343.8 in funding for his district. Among the projects is the controversial Albany Transit Multimodal Transportation Center, which received $1.5 million of the $9 million in federal funding that officials say has been appropriated.
“The bill passed by the House will steer much-needed funds to Southwest Georgia for programs and projects that will create a healthier environment for our citizens, provide a higher quality of life, and plan for future growth in our area,” Bishop said. “The funds will have an immediate impact in terms of improving health care technology and access, increasing opportunities for at-risk youth, and keeping our transportation systems safe and strong. In addition, the funding provided to both Fort Benning in Columbus and the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany will support our ever-growing military bases.”
The following Second District-projects were included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act approved today by the House of Representatives:
Transportation/HUD Appropriations — $100,000 – City of Unadilla for streetscaping and sidewalk improvements; $150,000 – City of Richland, for streetscaping and sidewalk improvements; $500,000 – Albany for heavy-duty buses; $1,500,000 – Albany Transit Multimodal Transportation Center; $450,000 – Albany Industrial Park; $300,000 – Crisp County Airport for various improvements.
Labor, HHS Appropriations — $100,000 – Fort Valley State University for food and nutrition programs; $100,000 – Easter Seals for Southern GA in Albany for children’s respite services; $150,000 – Columbus State University for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs; $150,000 – Albany State University to recruit/retain under-represented students; $100,000 – Enrichment Services Program Inc. of Columbus, an after-school GED training program for at-risk youth; $100,000 – Phoebe Putney Health System in Albany for healthcare programs for students.
Military Construction Appropriations — $4.87 million – Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany for construction of a Weapons Maintenance Hardstand Facility; $333.4 million – Fort Benning for BRAC and other related construction projects, including Battle Lab ($30 million); Combined Collective Training Facility ($10.8 million); Dining Facility ($15 million); Fire and Movement range ($2.8 million); Trainee Barracks Complex, Ph 1 ($74 million); Training Area Tank Trails ($9.7 million); Training Battalion Complex ($38 million); Training Battalion Complex, Ph 1 ($62 million); Warrior in Transition Complex ($53 million); Readiness Center ($15.5 million);
Blood Donor Clinic Replacement ($12.313 million); Dental Clinic ($4.887 million); SOF Expand Battalion Headquarters ($3.046 million); Wilson ES Construct Gymnasium ($2.33 million)
Commerce, Science and Justice Appropriations — $200,000 – The Family Center of Columbus; $250,000 – State of Georgia Meth Project, Atlanta.; $75,000 – SWGA Humanitarian Rural Outreach in Bainbridge; $145,000 – Taylor County Family Matters in Butler; $250,000 – Project Rebound in Columbus; $80,000 – Miller County New Vision Coalition in Colquitt; $50,000 – Crawford Community Learning Center in Roberta; $75,000 – Dooly County Family Connection in Vienna; $75,000 – City of Cairo’s Holder Park Youth Center; $75,000 – Calhoun County Family Connection in Edison; $75,000 – Building Toward Wellness in Columbus; $75,000 – SW Judicial Circuit Family Violence Council in Americus; $150,000 – Thomas County E-911 in Thomasville; $100,000 – Arlington Wireless IP Technology System; $75,000 – Butler Police Department for law enforcement equipment.
Financial Services Appropriations — $100,000 – University of Georgia for a demonstration project on workforce expansion, development and poverty in SW Georgia; $100,000 – Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone (Vienna) for rural economic development.
Crime victims Remembered
Dougherty County victims’ advocates are busy this week bringing attention to our community’s crime and its victims. “We want all victims to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect and hope,” said Tonya Abner-Hall, director of the District Attorney’s Office’s Victim Witness Assistance Office.
Already this week, Mayor Willie Adams has signed a proclamation and a moment of silence was observed. Other events on tap are a “Strike Out Crime” bowling tournament today; a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Thursday at Veterans Park Amphitheatre; and a community awareness program from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Albany-Dougherty Government Center, 222 Pine Ave.
For information, call 438-3985.
Langstaff tapped for judgeship
