Three candidates vying for South Georgia Judicial Circuit judgeship

ALBANY — Registered voters in Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Grady and Mitchell counties will have an important, extra decision to make when they go to the polls on May 24, as they are charged with casting a ballot for one of three candidates vying to replace Chief Judge A. Wallace Cato as one of two judges in the South Georgia Judicial Circuit.

Mike Bankston, Ryan Cleveland and Heather Hendricks Lanier have all qualified to replace the retiring Cato, who has served the judicial circuit for nearly 38 years.

South Georgia native Bankston, who was at one time State Court Judge in Mitchell County and has served as chief assistant district attorney for the South Georgia Judicial Circuit since 2008, says he has a good understanding of the district and has prosecuted serious criminal cases such as murder, rape, armed robbery and child molestation.

Banskton, who spent 23 years in private practice in Camilla with Jame C. Brim and the law offices of Twitty and Bankston, also has experience handling civil cases and defending individuals in criminal trials.

“Because of all of that, I think I can offer a service to the Superior Court system,” Bankston said. “And I think I’m the most qualified candidate to do that.”

In addition to his qualifications Bankston said he also has a passion for public service and he understands people, which are two things he thinks is important for a judge who presides over matters that impact people’s lives.

“Public service is something that I’ve been in for some time now,” said Bankston. “It’s an office that is very important. It’s important to a lot of people’s lives. You have to be understanding, and you have to listen.”

Running against Bankston is attorney and Ryan Cleveland, who settled in Decatur County in 2005 after relocating from the Washington, D.C., area with his wife. He has spent the last several years in private practice, handling a variety of different cases.

Since settling in Southwest Georgia, Cleveland also has a history of public service, having served as Bainbridge city solicitor, and, most recently, as Decatur County solicitor general, a position he gave up to run for the Superior Court judgeship.

“That was a hard decision,” said Cleveland about the move. “(But) when an opportunity like this comes along, and they don’t very often, I just thought it was a good opportunity.”

Cleveland said he feels his history of working on a variety of different cases, including both criminal cases in Superior and Federal court, as both a prosecutor and as a defense attorney, along with this experience in civil cases, adoptions, family law and estate planning, gives him a wealth of experience he can bring to the bench.

“I think I have well-rounded experience,” Cleveland said. “I can hit the ground running as a judge.”

Rounding out the list of candidates is Dougherty County Judicial Circuit Deputy Assistant District Attorney Heather Hendricks Lanier, herself a native and lifelong resident of the South Georgia Judicial Circuit, having grown up in Baker County.

In fact, Lanier said she feels her deep connection to the area is something that will greatly inform her ability to serve in the circuit.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to continue my role as a public servant in my home circuit,” said Lanier. “My family is here, my husband’s business is here and this is where I grew up. I’m personally invested in the success and well-being of my home community.”

Indeed, Lanier has previous experience serving her home circuit prior to her time on the Dougherty County circuit, where she has tried several high-profile criminal cases. Lanier also served as a senior assistant district attorney in the South Georgia Judicial Circuit.

In her career, Lanier has prosecuted all levels and types of crimes, including Juvenile Court, State Court, domestic violence, driving under the influence, theft, traffic offenses and homicide.

That wealth of experience, as well as her connections to resources in other circuits, is something Lanier said she thinks makes her an ideal candidate for the Superior Court judgeship.

“I think I can bring some varied experience to the office,” said Lanier. “I would (also) come in with a leg up with a decade’s worth of experience and contacts.”