Despite rumors

to the contrary, there appears to be no current push to make Fayette County

its own judicial circuit.

State Sen.

Greg Hecht, D-Jonesboro, said last week that he has not heard of such

a move being prepared. Hecht, who serves on the Senate's Judiciary Committee,

said the legislation would have to be sponsored by Fayette's delegation

and there's not enough time left for it to occur in this legislative session.

Not only that,

but even after the legislation could be passed, it might take another

year for the plan to take effect, because special funding would be necessary,

Hecht added, for a separate district attorney's office and likely another

judge or two.

Hecht said

removing Fayette from the current Griffin Judicial Circuit would require

approval from officials in Spalding, Pike and Upson counties also.

District Attorney

Bill McBroom said he doesn't think there is enough of a caseload in the

civil division to justify creating a new judicial district just to serve

Fayette.