Judge Bass inked forms Monday

Incumbent Grady County State Court Judge John William (Bill) Bass Sr. was the first candidate to qualify to seek election to the bench, but another candidate says he will also qualify for the post.
Whigham Attorney Joshua (Josh) Bell said this week he will sign qualifying papers later this week to challenge Bass for the State Court judgeship.
Judge Bass is seeking his third term as the judge of the State Court of Grady County.
“If the people so choose, I would appreciate the opportunity to continue serving the citizens of Grady County as the judge of the State Court. It has been my honor and privilege to serve for the last seven-and-a-half years,” Judge Bass told The Messenger in March when he announced his plans to seek reelection.
Judge Bass has practiced law here since 1985 and has been a resident of the county since 1984. He earned his law degree at Florida State University in 1985. Prior to that, he attended Huntingdon College, a Methodist college in Alabama, where he met his wife, Celia, and earned a bachelor of building science degree in 1971.
The incumbent State Court judge has become very involved in the Council of State Court Judges and is currently serving as the organization’s president.
In addition to his work with the Council of State Court Judges, Judge Bass serves on the state’s Judicial Council, which is made up of leading judges from all classes of courts and headed by Georgia Supreme Court Justice Carol Hunstein.
Judge Bass says he has worked to make the State Court of Grady County a model court. He has put into place initiatives to eliminate wasted time and money in the operations of the court.
According to Judge Bass, the budget for the court has not been increased in the last six years.
In March, he told The Messenger, “My objective is to have a court that is mindful of public policy and deserving of the public trust.”
Judge and Mrs. Bass are the parents of two sons, Bill Jr. and Joel, both of whom are residents of Grady County. The Basses are also the proud grandparents of five grandchildren.
The position of State Court judge is a part-time position, and Judge Bass and his son Bill Jr. practice law together in The Bass Law Firm.
If no other candidates qualify, Bass and Bell will square off in the Nov. 2 general election.