Dear Citizens of Cherokee County:

I have had the high honor and privilege to serve you for nearly 19 years as a Judge of the Cherokee County Magistrate Court, and I ask for your continued support.  The Cherokee County Magistrate's Office has been very busy this year. Collectively, our judges will handle approximately 32,500 to 36,000 actions requiring a judge's opinion or ruling. 

Every employee here in the Magistrate Court is committed to providing the highest level of service possible to the citizens of Cherokee County. 

I believe that I have demonstrated and have the proven record to continue as your elected Magistrate Judge.  Having now lived in Cherokee County for nearly 27 years, my wife, my children, and I consider Cherokee County our home and community.

During my first campaign in 2008, I made these following promises to you and I have delivered.

PROMISE #1: To implement an electronic arrest and search warrant system to save Cherokee County, and you as taxpayers, money and to help law enforcement officers remain in action on the street where they are needed.

          DELIVERED! The new Electronic Warrant Interface (EWI) system was beta tested on September 16th, 2010 and continues to prove its value to Cherokee County. The EWI system continues to provide savings to the taxpayers of Cherokee County.

Through September of 2019, we have issued 57,608 warrants with a yearly savings of $958,250 to the taxpayers of Cherokee County.

PROMISE #2: To be a good and faithful steward of County funds, and your tax dollars and resources.

          DELIVERED! During 2009, your Magistrate Court saved Cherokee  County approximately $48,000.00 by providing low-cost assistance to the overloaded State Court. Your Magistrate Court also returned $227,418.17 back to Cherokee County.

Through December of 2018, your Magistrate Court has collected and yearly returned an average of $683,441.84 to the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, other Cherokee County Departments, and agencies like the Georgia Indigent Defense Fund.

In early 2009, your Magistrate Court instituted a criminal bad check citation procedure. Through this citation procedure, the Court is able to recover monies for local merchants while eliminating the cost to Cherokee County taxpayers for prosecuting numerous bad check cases.

Through December of 2018, restitution from bad checks (and other civil cases) amounts to $73,495.26.

Through 2018, your Magistrate Court, using enforcement procedures regarding abandoned vehicles, collected $50,714.70 in excess funds. These monies are held in escrow for one year pursuant to law, after which one-half, will be paid out to the general funds of the County and its municipalities.

And finally, your Magistrate Court will took in revenues approaching $797,994!

PROMISE #3: To work in cooperation with other County Courts and departments to save costs and add value for the taxpayers of Cherokee County.

          DELIVERED! The EWI implementation was a cooperative effort involving the offices of the Clerk of Courts, the Sheriff, the District Attorney and Solicitor General, and the several city law enforcement officers within the County. In addition to providing substanial assistance to the State Court, your Magistrate Court also provides periodic assistance to the Juvenile and Probate Courts at no additional cost.

          At a estimated rate of $125.00 per warrant issued, this cooperative effort has led to estimated savings for the taxpayers of Cherokee County.

          Taxpayers Savings:       $7,201,000    (Since Inception, and as of 09/24/19)
 
          Many other jurisdictions estimate these same savings at a rate of $215.00 to $260.00 per warrant issued. We have purposefully chosen a more conservative rate.

Your Magistrate Court is continuing to keep the promise! Please see our "Activities" page for a running list of goals that we have set for each month, and the achievements realized for that month. Your Court and our promises to you to be good stewards of your County resources is a continuing promise! Each one of our employees arrive at work each morning looking for ways to improve our service and our efficiency to you, our boss! We'll continue to update this "Activities" page periodically so you can see for yourself how we're doing.

Again, it has been an honor for me to serve as one of your judges here in Cherokee County.  I take great pride in serving as your Chief Magistrate Judge.  If I can be of any assistance to you, or if you would like me to speak at your next civic or business meeting, please feel free to contact me at info@JudgeJamesDrane.com.  Please remember, court rules prohibit me from discussing the specifics of your case outside of the courtroom. I invite you to take a few minutes and visit my site.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

James E. Drane