Proposed GOP Resolution Against Ralston
The following is a proposed resolution sent out for the GAGOP Convention. It seeks the resignation of Speaker David Ralston and to term-limit future Speakers.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, it has been brought to the collective attention of the Georgia Republican Party that Georgia House Speaker David Ralston is perversely abusing the power of his office, which is conferred upon him by the elected members of the State House, to needlessly delay the trials of his private clients for financial gain; and
WHEREAS, Speaker Ralston, in both his capacities as a private defense attorney and the Speaker of the House, has allowed these near indefinite trial delays for individuals indicted for child rape, child molestation, DUI, domestic violence and other serious crimes against the public; and
WHEREAS, such delays carried out by Speaker Ralston are unethical exploitations and perversions of a century old law, O.C.G.A 17-8-26, that was intended to allow temporary continuances for lawyer-legislative members of the General Assembly to conduct public business on behalf of the citizens of Georgia during the 40 day legislative session; and
WHEREAS, by commanding obscene retainer fees to dispense such perverse exploitation within our judicial system, Ralston’s abuse of power permits criminals to escape justice, whereby such immorality is repugnant to U.S. Constitution’s Sixth Amendment (right to a speedy trial) and to Georgia’s Speedy Trial Code (O.C.G.A. 17-7-170).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THIS CONVENTION that the delegates of this convention and its executive committee urgently demand the resignation of the Georgia Speaker of the House of Representatives, David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), as a result of his egregious abuse of power and moral turpitude.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS CONVENTION urge all Republican members of the State House vote to remove David Ralston as Speaker, should he be defiant in resigning his leadership post and, in addition, to change O.C.G.A. 17-8-26 to prevent any future Speaker of the State House from abusing such power by delaying justice for victims.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS CONVENTION recognizes that these egregious acts exhibited by Speaker David Ralston are injurious to the political prospects of Georgia Republicans succeeding in the 2020 elections, including the U.S. Presidency down to locally elected offices throughout the State.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS CONVENTION calls on the House of Representatives to set a two-term limit on the future Speakers of the House.
About Author
lawtonsack
Lawton is a graduate of Georgia Southern University (the GSU) with a degree in Information Technology. He has held numerous positions within the Georgia Republican Party throughout the years.
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At the risk of defending a guy in apparent disfavor by his own side I have to wonder how a defense attorney using every legal means to defend a client can even be a successful politician. If the justice system is working as it should the vast majority of their clients are guilty but still deserve the most vigorous defense allowed under the law. Are there deeds that haven’t been published? Has he stepped over the bounds of the law? How is a vigorous defense of someone accused of a heinous crime within the law considered moral turpitude? If the law is wrong then change the law. I suspect this 18th century term was just thrown in to color up the resolution.
tur·pi·tude
/ˈtərpəˌt(y)o͞od/
noun FORMAL
depravity; wickedness.
“acts of moral turpitude”
synonyms: wickedness, immorality, depravity, corruption, corruptness, vice, degeneracy, evil, baseness, iniquity, sinfulness, vileness…
So you’re saying it’s a feature, not a bug?
Well, yeah, but again I would want the law to be changed. The Biblical bent with the accusations of sinning and what not for an attorney taking advantage of the law the Georgia Republicans seem to be on as of late is not based on our legal system. As to Ralston, I still think he got away with extra legal activities when the Bar Association let him off the hook for playing with a client’s escrow account. I don’t think another attorney would have escaped so clean without the Speaker’s title.
I’m not in favor of limiting the duration of a Speaker even after seeing the tenure of one Tom Murphy, who at various points wielded more power than the governor. It is an internal matter for the House to choose their leaders. In recent years with the super majority legislature kowtowing to the governor we essentially have a dictatorship. Now obviously with the ebb and flow of politics that is subject to change and with the special session that was called because of the uh, hurricane, we could have easily seen a return of a more powerful legislature if the governor’s election had a different outcome. If Abrams had been elected then Ralston would now be king. Apparently that possibility disturbs some of the Republicans. I’m curious as to why. It also is apparent that they don’t care that we have a Republican governor who barely knows Shinola from apple butter.
A special session is likely in the cards in 2020 should a Dem Gov be elected. It will suddenly be determined that a number of Boards are long overdue to be reconstituted among other things.
Shady Deal having skated on a plethora of things, I figure a significant fraction of those behind the resolution have an axe to grind.
Very good point. If he truthfully had other commitments that took priority under the rules, why wouldn’t he use the rules to help his client’s cause? One reason would be that it would be a political liability — which is why you rarely see criminal defense attorneys competing successfully in the political arena. People have a hard time understanding the role (“how can you represent people like that?”) until it’s them or their loved one who needs the attorney.