Letter to Chuck Clay, March 19, 1998

State Senator Chuck C. Clay
49 Atlanta Street
Marietta, GA 30060

Dear Senator Clay:

I have been a Cobb County resident since 1979 and have taught in the Cobb County School System for the last 9 years. You and I met when Callie Cagle invited you to speak to our assembly of the Georgia Association of Student Councils several years ago, while I was faculty advisor for our student government. I am appealing to you for assistance because you are a member of the Legislature and you have the power to initiate an investigation of the State Bar.

What should have been a simple divorce after 23 years of marriage became a legal nightmare. I filed a petition for fee arbitration with the State Bar, but was denied arbitration because the attorney filed a lien on my home and immediately pursued foreclosure. I represented myself in an interlocutory motion and prevailed, only to be hit with a barrage of additional legal procedures, for which I hired another attorney. I was willing and resolved to defend against the foreclosure. However, the attorney surprisingly dismissed the case at the eleventh hour, leaving me no legal means to recover the $12,000 attorney's fee I'd incurred just to defend against the foreclosure. He also continued to deny me access to my divorce file. My grievance, filed with the State Bar, January 16, 1997, finally made it to the formal investigation, but I have just learned, and verified the information with Cathe Payne March 17, that it was recently dismissed due to "lack of probable cause." I am shocked, for the prima facie evidence alone exposed perjury by the attorney.

During the course of my investigation to defend against the foreclosure and pursue the current custody action, I have amassed a great deal of evidence and documentation to show that a cover-up exists in the Cobb County judicial system, and it is evident to me that it extends to the State Bar. I now have documented reasons to believe that fraud was perpetrated by both my ex-husband and my divorce attorney. The Superior Court judge in the original action has been disqualified, but even that was done behind closed doors after the assigned judge personally called me and said any ruling would be only after an oral hearing. I have requested permission to appeal the Disqualification Order, for it is contradictory to State Law. I have pursued due process and equal protection of the Georgia Laws with due diligence.

I do not appeal to you to correct the errors in my case. I am sure that is not within your power. Although my legal remedies have not yet been exhausted, I am certain beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my pursuit of those remedies will only yield an extension of the conspiracy to cover-up. However, I am committed to pursuing those remedies, for I continue to trust in the American system of justice, including civil practice and procedure. I believe that, in the final analysis, I shall obtain equal protection and due process as guaranteeed to me by the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I am not an attorney, but I am a good researcher and I have learned a great deal about the law, both while being represented by an attorney and while acting pro se. As an educator I have limited resources, but that makes me both a typical Georgia citizen and someone with little material wealth to lose.

I do appeal to you to initiate an investigation, with the goal of correcting the system for other citizens. I feel confident that as a representative for the citizens of Georgia, your goal is to seek out and eliminate corruption in our government, particularly our judicial system. I believe strongly that if you will allow me to share my experience and show you the wealth of documentation, you too, will be convinced of the conspiracy. I invite you to use your own sources to obtain information, but hope that you will keep in mind that the very charge of conspiracy includes people who would normally be considered "beyond reproach." If you would like a character reference to validate my credibility, please feel free to contact any of my current or former principals. I've included a reference sheet and a recent resume.

I have taken the liberty of sending copies of this letter to the members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, in hopes that they, too, will then be prepared to respond. I would like to schedule an appointment to meet with you and would appreciate a time as soon as possible. I shall look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

(signature of Marquitta Portman)
Marquitta Portman
cc:
members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees
Thurbert E. Baker, Attorney General, State of Georgia
Patrise M. Perkins-Hooker,Esq., Chair, Investigative Panel
Jacqueline Scott, Esq., State Bar of Georgia
Cathe Payne, Esq., State Bar of Georgia