and By MICHAEL

BOYLAN

[email protected]

A popular reality

television series will show local residents a side of Superior Court Judge

Paschal English they have never seen.

Most people

meet English in court while he's dapperly dressed in a suit and judge's

robe. But photos from the set of CBS's "Survivor: Marquesas"

show a softer side of English, who's decked out in khaki shorts, a blue

T-shirt and a fishing hat.

English, 57,

of Thomaston, was announced as one of the competitors on the show Wednesday

morning on CBS's "The Early Show."

Two weeks ago,

English was approached by a Citizen reporter about a rumor that he would

appear on the show. He replied by asking where the reporter got the information

and said: "I'll tell you this: no comment."

English is

one of 16 Survivor contestants. Part popularity contest, the show is based

on determining the winner by eliminating one contestant per week based

on the popular vote of contestants at the end of each show.

The show was

taped in November and December on the island of Nuku Hiva in Marquesas,

an island nation in the South Pacific.

The first show

is slated to air Thursday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m. on CBS.

English presides

over criminal and civil cases in Fayette, Spalding, Pike and Upson counties.

He was considered for a federal judgeship last year but was eventually

turned down in favor of another candidate.

Survivor spokesperson

Colleen Sullivan said English was chosen from over 50,000 applicants who

sent in a three-minute audition tape.

"He's

a very strong person with integrity and he has ideals," Sullivan

said of the reasons why English was chosen to participate. "He also

has personality and charisma and we just really find him fascinating."

A confidentiality

agreement keeps English from speaking about his experience with the show.

After being

chosen as one of the 50 semifinalists, English underwent a battery of

physical and psychological testing in Los Angeles before being picked

as one of the final contestants by production officials and CBS representatives.

Officials in

charge of the hit series keep details of the outcome closely guarded "because

it's so huge for the viewers to see it for the first time at 8 o'clock,"

Sullivan said.

In researching

the original rumor, The Citizen was only able to confirm that English

was absent for a scheduled Nov. 16 court date in Fayette during the time

the show was being taped. Senior Superior Court Judge Andrew Whalen replaced

English to hear motions that day.

Several court

officials have told The Citizen they wondered why they didn't see English

during that period of time. Several rumors floated around the courthouse,

including that he was reactivated in the military after the terrorist

attacks of Sept. 11.

The Citizen

didn't run the story about the rumor because "it was not a life-or-death

situation," said Citizen Publisher Cal Beverly.

"We just

couldn't get any on the record verification" Beverly said. "We

decided to wait until we could verify the information."

Contestants

on "Survivor" live within one of the two tribes on the show.

English is a member of the Rotu tribe, while the other tribe is called

Maraamu. Rotu means "heavy rain" and Maraamu means a "southeasterly

wind."

The two tribes

have challenges for rewards and immunity in each episode. Immunity forces

the losing side to go to tribal council that evening and vote one of their

members off the island. After the tribes merge the immunity idol grants

immunity to the winner of the challenge.

Immunity challenges

on past shows have involved scavenger hunts and obstacle courses as well

as the drinking of cow's blood and the eating of bugs.

The rules have

changed a little with the fourth installment of the hit series. Contestants

will no longer be given any food, forcing them to hunt and gather for

all their food and water.

Survivor contestants

are also allowed to bring one luxury item with them. English has chosen

an American flag, which may win him favor with his other tribe members

as the flag will undoubtedly become a part of their shelter.

For more information

on English and the other survivors, visit www.cbs.com , www.surviiivor.com

or www.survivorfever.net .

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