The Honorable Jim Burton, Probate Judge for Wilkes County, was the guest speaker at the regular meeting of the Washington Kiwanis Club on Tuesday, August 26. Judge Burton's program described the functions and responsibliities of the Probate Court, which was originally called the "Office of the Ordinary." Judge Burton gave members a brief history of the Court tracing it back to Roman Times. He told members that his position requires him to be judge, jury, bureaucrat, and fact finder for the cases that come before him in what he described as the "Peoples Court." For counties with a population below 96,000, the position has no qualification requirements, except that you must attend training courses established by the Georgia Legislators after being elected. For counties with a population above 96,000, you must be at least 30 years old, an attorney, and have been in practice for at least 7 years. Burton said he issues marriage licenses, levies traffic violation fines, makes judgments for the opening or closing of rights-of-way, among other duties. Bill Steed (right) was the program host for the day.