Chastain Opens Up as New Probate Judge

January marks a major change in Gilmer County’s Probate Court. After 12 years, a new Judge has taken office.

Probate Judge Scott Chastain has completed his first week in office. As FYN sat down to talk about his first week, he spoke about the challenges he’s faced in catching up to the level of work required. He lauded his staff as one of the greatest strengths of the office with specific emphasis on their experience and familiarity being key in helping to ease his transition.

However, Chastain says he’s been working for the position since the day he qualified.  Through training and classes, “I have found out that we {Probate Judges} are a family… I am finding out that to be remarkably true.”

His assigned mentor, Judge David Lindsey of Pickens County, as well as Gilmer’s former Probate Judge Anita Mullins, offered help since March of last year for Chastain to attend Court Sessions and certain Probate sessions to provide what he calls the “foundation” for his job now.

Though that’s not all as Judge Chastain spoke as well about his time as a Pastor and how his faith has “molded me for these situations.” Though he stated a position like his cannot offer advice on proceedings and cases, “sometimes it’s just listening… to care and then to act compassionately,” a sentiment many will recall was also spoken of by Judge Mullins as she announced her retirement last year.

But there is more than just compassion needed in Probate offices. Judges face daily issues that test and stress burdens upon those in the court. While the Judge continues his education both formally and informally as he studies the handbooks, bench books, and Code Books available. It is motivation, he offered, that is his key to a good start to his time in office.

“Currently, I feel the urgency of trying to get things going.” says Chastain who feels his self-motivation will aid him in expediting his growth in position as well as daily cases and work. “I don’t want folks out in the community waiting for Scott to get motivated enough to go through their file. I want to go through it, make a decision, get it signed, and get it back with the petitioner or attorney.”

Chastain spoke of a desire to establish a system for himself to streamline his process to get to a specific situation, be decisive, and move forward while also stressing the importance of his mentor’s advice that he will continue learning things no matter how long he holds office.

One such decision, he has already made. Stating he will not be performing marriages, Chastain said it is something that Judge Mullins stopped 3 years ago, and he sees no need to start it back up again.

The rhythm he is hoping to achieve will not come easy, however. Chastain admits to already having spent a few late nights at the office in spite of a specific piece of advice that former Judge Mullins gave to him, “Don’t let the job consume you.”

Though he feels he needs to catch up and get the work done that the county needs, he still sees his family as a priority.

“For now, I feel like it’s important for me to get off to a good start and spend some time down here to get that done… I’ve actually had the luxury of spending time with my kids before getting here.” Chastain still looks to his own future as he mentioned hopes for more family and grand-kids as a possibility someday,  but wants to be available to the people of the county when they need him as well.

As he continues his transition into office, Judge Scott Chastain stated, “The honor to be elected by the people is overwhelming… It was very emotional for me to know that the people of Gilmer County had enough confidence in me to vote for me. Second, the Swearing In, to have the amount of people that showed up that day that wanted to be there and witness that was overwhelming.” Not only mentioning other Judges and family who attended the event, Chastain said it was also the people of the community in attendance that meant so much to him.

A smiled crept across the Judges face when asked about donning his black robes for the first time, saying, “It was somewhat weird… When you put that robe on, it is a tremendous responsibility. It is a respected position, a serious position. I guess trying to get used to that has really not sunk all the way in just yet.”