From the President

• Citation: Vol. 30 No. 4 Pg. 0006
• Year: 2025
• Pages: 0006

From the President Vol. 30 No. 4 Pg. 6 Georgia Bar Journal May 2025

Dealing With the Expected—and the Unexpected

IVY N. CADLE

President

State Bar of Georgia president

Each incoming president of the State Bar of Georgia begins his or her term with a list—however long or short—of initiatives aimed at improving the Bar's ability to serve the legal profession, the public and the justice system. Having previously served in various capacities of leadership and having worked closely with their predecessors, Bar presidents also know they must be prepared for dealing with unexpected events that have an impact on the practice of law and our courts.

As the 2024-25 Bar year winds down, I can attest that my term in office has been no exception when it comes to expecting the unexpected. Last fall, Georgia was impacted by three tragic events: a mass shooting that claimed the lives of students and educators at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, a disastrous fire at the Biolab plant in Conyers and, most impactful on the legal profession, Hurricane Helene, the damage from which cut a wide path in our state from Florida to the North Carolina border.

One of the hardest-hit areas of the state was my hometown of Swainsboro, where my dad Jerry Cadle practices law. His office was without electricity for a week, and others in the community were without power for up to three weeks. It certainly affected the ability of the courts, employees of the courts and lawyers to serve their clients, as well as clients' ability to appear for court proceedings.

While expressing condolences and solidarity with those affected by these incidents, the collaborative efforts of then-Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs, new Chief Justice Nels S. D. Peterson, the Supreme Court of Georgia and the State Bar of Georgia, we were able to evaluate member needs and work on solutions, which included the declaration of a Judicial Emergency Order. That was a measured and appropriate response, and I'm glad that we were able to do that to make sure the administration of justice remained fair and effective for all of those who were negatively impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The Supreme Court ordered a 30-day stay for lawyers in the areas affected by the hurricane, and the State Bar's Young Lawyers Division partnered with the Georgia Legal Services Program to train more than 400 lawyers to help members of the public in need.

In addition to responding to these major events that were not expected, several rule changes that were part of my 2024-25 agenda, legislative proposals and study committee work should be mentioned among the highlights of this Bar year.

Artificial Intelligence and Technology

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