Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton, follwed by Presiding Justice David Nahmias and Justice Robert Benham along with the other justices are greeted by Georgia lawmakers before Melton delivered the State of the Judiciary. (Photo: John Disney/ALM)

Straight Talk About a Judicial 'Dirty Secret': Chief Justice Calls for Mental Health Measures

"Our own dirty secret is that the job of dealing with society's problems, in addition to our own, sometimes takes its toll. We are often not healthy ourselves," Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton said to judges, legislators and state officials gathered at the Capitol.

February 26, 2020 at 03:43 PM

7 minute read

Katheryn Tucker

A "dirty secret" inside the legal profession came up at the Capitol Wednesday.

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton put the spotlight on mental health concerns—even inside his own ranks—in the annual State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Georgia General Assembly in the House Chamber.

Melton applauded the lawmakers and Gov. Brian Kemp for creating a behavioral health commission to identify conditions that lead people into the criminal justice system to a disproportionate extent—sometimes repeatedly.