Walhalla judge donned the robe a year ago

The Walhalla municipal judge is close to ready to hand the mayor and city council a report on his first year behind the bench.  It was this time a year ago, to fill the void left by Scott Sprouse, that Jim Williams took over the courtroom at Main and N. College.  After 18 years, Sprouse resigned after his elevation to a circuit court judgeship.  Although Williams is one of the deans among Oconee County lawyers, he wasn’t totally clear exactly how a municipal court operated.  That has changed after 12 months of presiding over criminal charges sent to his court by the Walhalla Police Department.  Williams serves part-time, but his associate, Ashley Jones, is full-time, and he credits her work as the clerk of the municipal court with keeping the court smooth and efficient.  Workers this week are putting the final touches on renovating the municipal courtroom and, Williams predicts, that for the first time soon there will be an outdoor sign.