At its recent monthly meeting, the Newton County Bar Association elected the following officers: Michael Geoffroy of LaMalva, Geoffroy & Oeland, president; Randy McGinley of the District Attorney’s office, president-elect; Frank Turner Jr. of Greer, Stansfield and Turner, treasurer (re-elected); and Maria Banjo of the Public Defender’s office, secretary.

Beau Worthington concluded his term as president. Geoffroy said of Worthington, "Beau did a great job of increasing membership and working for the community. Both he and Shannon Sneed did so much to help with the High School Mock Trial competition, in which all three of Newton’s high schools compete."

The meeting’s speakers, Court of Appeals Judges Lisa Branch and Carla McMillian, discussed practical recommendations for appealing cases before their Court as well as their overall philosophies about the importance of an accessible bench. The next meeting of the Newton County Bar Association will be a reception, from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 21, at Amici to honor Justice Hugh Thompson. A former Newton County attorney, Justice Thompson is soon to be sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.