Bradley Pushes Back at Pickens Forum

Incumbent Superior Court Judge Roger Bradley retaliated against challenger and Municipal Judge Robert Sneed during a candidate forum in Jasper last night. Since he announced his candidacy, Mr. Sneed has aggressively criticized Judge Bradley, focusing on the back-log of cases in Appalachian Superior Court. Bradley, however, pushed back last night, making criticisms and accusations of his own against his opponent.

Sponsored by the Pickens County Tea Party, the event was held at the Chattahoochee Technical College in Jasper. The structure of the event allowed both candidates a few moments to give their background and explain their purpose in running for office. However, since the event was not a debate, candidates were not allotted the opportunity for rebuttal in the face of certain claims

Speaking first, Sneed reiterated his previously stated concerns and criticisms regarding Bradley and the operation of the superior court. His criticism included the squandering of tax payer money through inefficient operations, a back-log of criminal and civil cases, and orders not being timely filed. Sneed also claimed that child custody cases were taking an excessive amount of time to go through the system. This excessive time, he said, poses

“a threat to their (the children’s) safety and could ultimately cause permanent psychological damage to the children.”

In response, Bradley accused Sneed of owing over $30,000 in homeowners association and property fees.

“Just this evening,”

Bradley said,

“I was met and was handed by a member of the board of directors of Talking Rock Recreation Association, a file folder of $30,000 plus of unpaid property owners’ liens, unpaid homeowners’ association liens, by my opponent, his wife and his family.”

Further, he said a special interest group recruited Sneed for the particular purpose of running for superior court judge. Bradley went on to say that Sneed has never had a criminal or domestic case in either Bradley’s, Judge Weaver’s or Judge Mercier’s courtroom. As such, Bradley argued, everything Sneed has heard about Bradley has been generalized, false hearsay fed to him by his special interest group.

Since Bradley had the final word, though, Sneed did not have an opportunity to refute the accusations. However, in an email to FYN today, Mr. Sneed addressed some of these accusations made by Judge Bradley last night.

“The accusation that I owe any monies to Talking Rock Creek Properties is wholly denied. The Talking Rock issue involves a disputed claim which is approximately 30 years old. The statute of limitations expired 20 years ago. I do not nor have ever owed Talking Rock any monies accused by Roger Bradley,”

he stated. Also addressing the accusation of his special interest ties, he wrote, “I do not represent nor was I recruited by a special interest group to run against Roger Bradley. The only special interest group that I speak for is those children that he left in limbo by failing to look out for their best interest regarding custody issues.” During the forum last night, Bradley made a comment, though, that leaves a question mark on the issue. He said that when his interpreter asked Mr. Sneed why he was running, Sneed said it was not his idea to run.

While Sneed said he was running because it’s time for a change and to fix the current system, Bradley stated his aspiration for continuing serving as superior court judge, which were

“being a conscientious Christian,”

and

“continue to work with Judge Weaver and Judge Mercier to decrease the criminal back-log and…to keep the civil docket current.”

Also participating in the forum were candidates for Clerk of Courts, Probate Judge, Magistrate Judge, and District Attorney. Kathy Bruce and Rena Fleming Kirk challenged Incumbent Gail Brown for Clerk of Courts; Dale Quinton and LaSandra Ray Cooley challenged Incumbent Allen Wigington for Magistrate Judge and Nancy Cochran Maddox challenged David Lindsey for Probate Judge. Surrogates, however, represented the District Attorney Candidates, due to a conflict of scheduling with an event in Gilmer County. Lynn Doss represented her husband Harry Doss, Edwin Marger represented B. Allison Sosebee and Kay Hendricks represented her husband, Incumbent Joe Hendricks. Each made statements on their candidates’ behalf.

Video of the event coming soon.