Cedartown attorney, Bobby Bersky, is pleased to announce his candidacy for probate judge. Bersky is a partner with Roper and Bersky, LLP in Cedartown, which he co-founded in 2011 with partner, Andrew B. Roper.

Bersky commends the outgoing judge for her outstanding legacy of service and dedication. “Joyce is a pioneer. She is a sincere and caring judge who has never lost sight of the personal impact of her decisions which is an attitude I believe is vital to the position,”

“My campaign is based on three principles. First and foremost I will carry on the personable tradition of the court. It should always be a welcoming environment for the citizens who may have questions and not know where to turn. Second, I will use my legal training and experience to make consistent and fair decisions based on the merits of each case. Third, I will run a professional, efficient and technologically savvy court. I will review the systems in place, compare them with other courts and see how we stack up. If we are behind the curve I want to get ahead of the curve. I want the Polk County Probate Court to always be known for having its act together.”

Bersky received his law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 2005 and has lived in Cedartown since then. Before opening Roper & Bersky, LLP he was employed with the law firms of McRae, Stegall & Peek, LLP (Cedartown) and James H. Turner, PC (Woodstock).

“I have been fortunate to work with some of the highest caliber mentors, colleagues and judges, truly some of the best probate minds in the state and am thankful to all of them for helping shape who I am as an attorney and a person.”

He says that probate related matters have been a daily part of his practice and that he’s handled matters for clients across the state involving estate and trusts, probate administrations, legal guardianships and conservatorships.

He also has experience in criminal driving offenses and notes that the probate court serves as the county traffic court.

“I’ve learned something from each of these experiences that will help me be an effective judge.”

The law does not currently require that probate court judges in smaller counties (less than 90,000 population) be attorneys.

Bersky thinks it is only a matter of time before that changes. He points out that the law recently changed to require municipal court judges to be attorneys.

“I strongly believe that we deserve a judge as equally as qualified as the judges in the larger counties and in the counties directly bordering us.”

Bersky notes that over the past decade voters have chosen attorneys as probate judges in Floyd and Haralson County and as chief magistrates in Floyd and Polk County even though at the time of their elections it was not a requirement of the position. As an example, he points to Haralson County’s sitting Probate Judge, Eddie Hulsey, who is an attorney and was first voted to the position 12 years ago.

“It is time for Polk County to take a step forward with the Probate Court. I want to serve the people and instill confidence throughout the community in the stability of the court, the high caliber in which it will be run and the equal treatment in which they will receive there.” Bersky explained.

Bobby and his wife, Molly, have two children - Beau, age 4, and Court, age 2.

“Our kids were born here and we look forward to them being raised here,” Bersky said. “We have vested our future here and I hope the voters will make a commitment for the future of the Probate Court by electing me as their judge.”