Can Ga. speaker handle two full-time jobs?

BLUE RIDGE, Ga. — Some residents in north Georgia believe the combination of two full-time jobs for one state lawmaker is simply delaying their justice in criminal and civil cases.

Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston is fond of saying he's a country lawyer, but he's a powerful one at that. For the last two years, he's also held the third most powerful position in state government. 
    
Channel 2 Action News reporter Tony Thomas has uncovered numerous instances where Ralston has requested legislative leave, effectively delaying his court cases so he can attend to state business and speak at conventions.
   
Lawanda Whitener is a plaintiff in a Fannin County civil case that has been impacted by Ralston's dual roles.
 
"It may be legal, but it's not fair to the people," she told Thomas.
 
She filed the case four years ago and said trial date after trial date has been pushed back. Civil cases can drag on for years, but Whitener and her lawyer said Ralston's jobs are holding them back. 

Lawyer Warren Coppedge wrote a judge in July 2010 that the case "has been continued on multiple occasions due to Mr. Ralston's conflicts. The plaintiff is entitled to her day in court."
  
Thomas first reported earlier this month about the concerns over Ralston's use of the little-known law to delay court cases. By law, judges can not reject the legislative leave requests, and lawmakers don't have to say exactly what their business is or where they will be.  The law is designed so the part-time lawmakers can freely attend the legislative session and committee meetings.

Thomas spoke with Ralston at his Blue Ridge legal offices Thursday morning.
  
"Can you handle both (jobs)?" Thomas asked.
  
"Sure, I've been handling both," Ralston replied.
 
On Wednesday, Thomas went to three county courthouses across north Georgia where Ralston practices most frequently to find out how many times the speaker has used legislative leave.
 
In Fannin County, where cases are not computerized, Thomas dug through 26 criminal and civil cases, including Whitener's, and found Ralston had requested leave 53 times. 

In Gilmer County, in 50 case files chosen randomly, Ralston was granted legislative leave 61 times. And in neighboring Pickens County, 15 requests were made in 11 cases Thomas looked at. In total, Thomas counted 87 cases and 129 delays.
 
"So, 100 and some odd requests for leave over four to five years? I actually thought it would have been higher," Ralston said.
 
He points out that he has no control over when cases are scheduled. He said he has agreed to trials in three months so far this year and said there are discussions under way for more.
 
"I think within the demands of the position of being speaker, we are moving these cases along," he said.
 
Whitener and some others disagree and said if Ralston can't go to court when scheduled, he should let someone else go in his place. Ralston counters with the assertion his clients have specifically chosen him as their lawyer, and no one else.
  
"Should we have to suffer on and on and on? Should we not have some closure?" Whitener said.

WSBTV