Friday, 19th December 1913: Broyles Seeks Place On Court Of Appeals, The Atlanta Journal

Recorder Announces He Will Oppose Judge in Campaign Next Year

The executive prediction published in the late editions of the Journal Thursday afternoon that Judge Nash R. Broyles was to be a candidate for the state court of appeals against Judge L. S. Roan was confirmed Friday morning by Judge Broyles, who issued a formal announcement of his intention to make the race.

Judge Broyles, who has presided over Atlanta's police court for fifteen years, during which time he has achieved a national reputation as an able and fearless magistrate, states his announcement at this time is made in answer to letters from hundreds of friends throughout the state who have inquired as to his intentions.

Already there are seven prospective candidates for Judge Broyles' place as city recorder.

They are:

John Y. Smith, William M. Smith, Watt P. Kelly, Thomas H. Goodwin, Carl N. Guess, George E. Johnson and W. H. Preston.

Others are expected to announce before lists close for the city primary next summer.

All of those named are well known lawyers and Mr. Preston has been police court clerk and recorder protem for a number of years.

Judge Roan is filling the place on the appellate court bench held by Judge B. H. Hill until he resigned several weeks ago to accept appointment to the judgeship of the new criminal division of the Fulton superior court.

Judge Roan resigned as judge of the stone Mountain circuit to take the place on the court of appeals.

In the elections last year Judge Hill was chosen for a six-year term in the appellate court.

Under the law, however, a judge appointed to fill an unexpired term in this court holds office only until the next succeeding general state election, which occurs next October.

The state primary will occur next summer and the candidates must run in it.

JUDGE ROAN UNDECIDED.

Judge Roan stated Friday morning he had not decided whether he would be a candidate.

He said that at the time he accepted the appointment to succeed Judge Hill he had not made up his mind in this regard and he has not done so since then.

In the 1911 primary Judge Broyles ran a tie race for the court of appeals with Judge J. R. Pottle, of Blakely.

At the Macon convention he withdrew from the contest in the interest of harmony and Judge Pottle was unanimously chosen by the delegates.

Judge Broyles announcement follows.

"To My Fellow Citizens of Georgia:

I have lately had so many inquiries from friends in different parts of the state about my candidacy for the court of appeals that I think it due them that, without further delay, I should publicly declare my intentions."

"I shall positively be a candidate in the Democratic primary next summer for a place on the court of appeals.

Under the rules of the primary, I will have to designate and run for one particular judgeship.

In the last primary in 1912, when I opposed Judge Pottle, the strongest argument used against my candidacy was that Atlanta already had one of the three judgeships, and was, therefore, not entitled to another."

"Despite this heavy handicap, I tied with Judge Pottle, but, in the state convention at Macon, in the interest of harmony, I withdrew my name and allowed the South Georgia candidate to have a unanimous nomination. I do not propose to run again with this same handicap, and therefore, I shall be a candidate for the unexpired term of Judge Ben H. Hill, of Atlanta."

"This position is now held by Judge L. S. Roan, also of Atlanta, who was appointed temporarily to the place until the voters of Georgia could elect Judge Hill's successor. I do not intend to begin my campaign for several months yet, but make this announcement now in response to the inquiries of my friends in Atlanta."

"NASH R. BROYLES."

"Atlanta, Ga., December 19, 1913."

Judge Richard B. Russell, presiding judge of the court of appeals, will be a candidate of re-election in the primary next summer.

Judge Russell has been a member of the court since it was created five years ago.

As yet no opposition has developed to his re-election.