"Ga. Justices End Judicial Candidate's Run Before Election," Law 360

On Friday, September 30, the court held in a unanimous opinion that Ryan Christopher Williams was not set to be a qualified candidate for the upcoming November 8 election for chief magistrate judge of Douglas County, Georgia. Furthermore, they added that the Douglas County Board of Election and Registration had knowingly and unlawfully authorized his candidacy.

Throughout the trial, the court determined that the state law under which Camp desired judicial review does not encompass the process by which a candidate is placed on a ballot. However, on Friday, September 30, the court decided that the statute does govern procedural challenges and authorized the lower court to reverse the board's decision allowing Williams' candidacy.

The conclusion that Williams is not a qualified candidate will result in Judge Camp running unopposed this November.

Taylor English partner Bryan P. Tyson discussed the "remarkable" speed in which the court handled the case with Law360's Rosie Manins. 

Tyson remarked on the issue by saying, "I think it's the right result that the voters of Douglas County get to have the candidate who followed the legal processes to get on the ballot in front of them." "There will be signs posted saying that the votes cast for [Williams] won't count."

"I don't think I've ever had a case go from argument to opinion in 10 days," he said. "[The justices] demonstrated not only the ability to move very quickly to address an issue before an election, which is how things should be addressed, but also to do it with precision."