Julia Pierce | July 4, 2026

In previous publications, I provided evidence that Heather Stuart may have made herself the Magistrate AND Probate Judge of Marion County without the authorization of the General Assembly as required by law. I also presented evidence that Heather Stuart provided false information about how Janice Daniel came to be Magistrate Judge and questioned whether her appointment is legal as she has never been elected.

Now, I am presenting evidence that calls into question whether Heather Stuart has falsified, altered, and back dated documentation that may call into question whether several public officers are/were legally public officers, to include herself, and whether she involved willingly, ignorantly, or unknowingly other officers – judges, commissioners, and a surveyor – in those falsifications, alterations, and de facto (after the fact) documents.

How Did I Find Out?

On April 20, 2026 and April 27, 2026, I made a visit to the records room of the Magistrate/Probate Court to look at oaths of office, loyalty oaths, and surety bonds for our elected officials.

I would like to preface that I had already made several requests for oaths of office through the county manager’s office, which was routed to Heather Stuart, Magistrate/Probate Judge, who told me that I would have to come to the court and search them for myself. I saw some things that caused me to question if Heather had “created” these documents because she knew I had been asking for them for many other officials.

I found several anomalies that I want to present to you for your review and see what you think.

Anomalies

When I went through the records, I found some things that caught my immediate attention.

• Joy Smith, Superior Court Clerk had three exact copies of her 2024 surety bond
• Joy Smith, Superior Court Clerk’s 2024 surety bond was signed by Governor Nathan Deal, who was the governor in 2016. Brian Kemp was the governor in 2024.
• Joy Smith, Superior Court Clerk’s 2020 Dedimus Postatem was signed by Governor Kemp AFTER Heather Stuart signed it. The governor is supposed to sign it, giving Heather the commission to administer the oath to Joy Smith.
• Joy Smith, Superior Court Clerk’s 2020 Dedimus Postatem shows that the Bond of the Probate Judge, Heather Stuart is supposed to send in her own surety bond, which is what Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem says. Joy is not a Probate Judge and her own bond is not required to have been signed by a Superior Court Judge. The dedimus postatem did not give a superior court judge the commission for the oath to be given to Joy Smith.
• Joy Smith, Superior Court Clerk’s Dedimus Postatem looks like it was copied from Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem
• Heather Stuart was commissioned by Brian Kemp to administer her own oath, when a Superior Court judge is supposed to be commissioned by Brian Kemp to administer the oath to a Probate Judge.
• Bemon “Gil” McBride III signed that he administered the oath to Heather Stuart as Probate Judge of Marion County, though he was not commissioned by Governor Kemp to do so.
• Bemon “Gil” McBride III signed the dedimus on December 31, 2020 before the commission for Heather’s oath to be administered on January 1, 2021.
• Heather Stuart’s Loyalty Oath for 2024 appears to be doctored.
• George Neal, Commissioner’s Dedimus Postatem looks like it was copied from Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem.
• George Neal, Commissioner’s Dedimus Postatem was signed December 4, 2021 almost 11 months AFTER Governor Brian Kemp gave the commission to Heather Stuart to administer the oath on January 1, 2021.
• Marshall Fontaine, Commissioner’s Dedimus Postatem looks like it was copied from Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem.
• Marshall Fontaine, Commissioner’s oath was given on December 31, 2020, BEFORE Governor Brian Kemp commissioned Heather Stuart to do so on January 1, 2020.
• Norman Royal, Commissioner’s Dedimus Postatem looks like it was copied from Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem.
• Norman Royal, Commissioner’s oath was given on December 31, 2020, BEFORE Governor Brian Kemp commissioned Heather Stuart to do so on January 1, 2020.
• Benjamin Singleton, County Surveyor’s Dedimus Postatem looks like it was copied from Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem.
• Benjamin Singleton, County Surveyor’s’s oath was given on December 31, 2020, BEFORE Governor Brian Kemp commissioned Heather Stuart to do so on January 1, 2020.
• Janice Daniel, Magistrate Judge’s Loyalty Oath for 2025 has been copied from her 2021 Loyalty Oath
• Janice Daniel, Magistrate Judge’s Oath of Office for 2025 has been copied from her 2025 Loyalty Oath

Three Exact Copies of the Same Surety Bond Signed by a Governor Not Currently in Office

I found that Joy Smith, Superior Court Clerk, had a surety bond by Western Surety Company for 2016 and 2024 that said that Nathan Deal was the governor at the time these documents were signed.

Now, I’m not sure if anyone else is aware of who was the governor of Georgia in 2016 and 2024, but I am certain that Nathan Deal was the governor in 2016 and in 2018, Brian Kemp was elected to serve as governor of Georgia beginning January 1, 2019, and was re-elected in November of 2022 to serve from January 1, 2023 until December 31, 2026.

Therefore, how can Joy Smith’s surety bond have been legally signed during a time that the governor listed on the surety bond was not in office?

Also, what is concerning is that in the record log where Joy Smith’s documents for 2024 were found, I saw that there were three identical surety documents that were filed and bates stamped by the court clerk as 35, 36, and 37.

Why were there three copies of the exact same document?

I found it further concerning that the document says that it was signed on June 14, 2024, by all involved, yet the date that Heather Stuart signed the document was December 17, 2024, some six months later.

This presents the question as to why the governor is listed incorrectly and, if the date that the document said it was signed is listed as one date, why has Heather Stuart signed that she was there with all of those who signed 6 months earlier if she signed six months later?

This document was stamped as filed with the court on December 17, 2024, so it stands to reason that Heather Stuart did in fact sign this document in December; not June.

Dedimus Postatem Signed by Governor After the Oath was Administered to Joy Smith

A dedimus postatem is a document that is signed by the current governor that gives a specific judge the commission to administer the oath to the incoming elected official that is indicated on the dedimus postatem. In this case, Heather Stuart, the Probate Judge of Marion County, would have been given the commission by Governor Brian Kemp to administer the oath to Joy Smith for her election from 2021 to 2024, since he was the current governor. She would not have authority before that date to administer the oath.

This document indicates that Heather Stuart administered the oath on December 30, 2020 BEFORE Governor Kemp gave her the commission on January 1, 2021.

How could Brian Kemp give her permission AFTER she administered the oath to Joy Smith?

If she did not have the valid approval before, is the oath that was given to Joy Smith even legal?

Joy Smith’s Dedimus Postatem Looks like a Copy of Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem

At the bottom of this document, which is required by Georgia State law for an elected public officer to have, there are directions for what happens with this document after it is signed. Notice that it says, “The Bond for Judge of Probate Court only, should be approved by the Judge of Superior Court and returned with this dedimus as provided in Official Code of Georgia Annotated 15-9-8.”

The Georgia Annotated Code for 15-9-8 says,

The several judges of the superior courts in their respective circuits shall have the power and it shall be their duty to qualify the judges of the probate courts of the several counties in their circuits, to approve the official bonds of the judges of the probate courts, and to cause the bonds to be returned to the Secretary of State with the dedimus, to be filed with the office of the Secretary of State. In all cases a certified copy of the bond shall be sufficient original evidence on which to bring an action and recover.

Why does Joy need to have Heather Stuart’s Bond sent in with Joy’s dedimus to the Secretary of State, when the language of this code indicates that it is due to the superior court judge qualifying a probate judge?

Notice how the date on Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem is the same as the date on Joy Smith’s dedimus postatem, which is January 1, 2021. You will see this on several other dedimi below for several other officers.

How was Heather Stuart was Commissioned to Administer Her Own Oath of Office?

As we see on the directions of the dedimus postatem provided above, a superior court judge is supposed to administer the oath to the probate judge.

Notice that the language at the top of the document below says “To the Honorable Judge of the Probate Court of Marion County …” and was given the commission to administer the oath of office to Heather I. Stuart. Do we have another Probate Judge in Marion County that we don’t know about? I think not.

How did Heather Stuart as the Probate Judge of Marion County administer the oath to Heather I Stuart who was elected as the Judge of Probate/Magistrate Court?

Why did Governor Kemp give Heather Stuart as the ONLY Probate Judge of Marion County the commission to administer the oath to herself?

Is a probate judge a legally sitting probate judge if she administered the oath to herself when the law requires a superior court judge to administer the oath?

But wait, it looks like one did. Or did he?

Bemon “Gil” McBride III Administers the Oath to Heather Stuart Though He was Not Commissioned?

We have covered above that Governor Kemp gave Heather Stuart permission to administer the oath to herself. So, why does her dedimus have Bemon Gilmore “Gil” McBride III’s signature on it?

Why does the Dedimus not indicate that the honor was given to the Judge of the Superior Court of Marion County, Georgia since that is what the law calls for?

And why did he sign it on December 31, 2020, when Governor Kemp signed the document on January 1, 2021?

If he signed this when he wasn’t given authority to do so and he signed it before the date he should have been given authority, was Heather Stuart a legally sitting judge? Were her rulings legal? Can any verdicts, orders, or rulings be overturned?

Is Heather Stuart’s Loyalty Oath for 2024 Doctored?

Heather Stuart’s Loyalty Oath for 2024 has some questionable marks on it.

Look at the lines drawn: (1) under Marion in the top red box, (2) under “Heather I Stuart” in the middle, and (3) “Marion” in the third red box.

Look also how it appears that before this document was filled in or signed there is a piece of a character that was not “whited out” before it was made in the second red box at the end of “Marion.”

Pay attention also to how the “STATE OF GEORGIA” is capitalized, but all the other fields have only the first letter capitalized? Why use two different styles and types to fill in the same form?

And lastly, look at how Chief Judge Arthur Smith, Superior Court Judge of Marion County signed this document?

Did Judge Smith know he was signing this document or did Heather Stuart manufacture this document for herself from a document that Chief Judge Arthur Smith signed for someone else?

George Neal’s Dedimus Postatem Appears to be Copied from Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem

As questioned above, for Joy Smith’s Dedimus Postatem, why does Heather Stuart have to send in her bond with George Neal’s Dedimus Postatem?

Did she copy his dedimus postatem from hers?

George Neal’s Dedimus Postatem was Signed 11 Months after Heather Stuart was Commissioned to Administer the Oath

A public officer is supposed to be administered the oath before he or she takes office. Governor Kemp commissioned Heather Stuart to administer the oath to George Neal on January 1, 2021, but she did not administer the oath to George Neal until 11 months after he took office on December 4, 2021.

O.C.G.A. § 45-3-8 states,

No officer or deputy required by law to take and file the oaths prescribed in Code Section 45-3-1 shall enter upon the duties of his office without first taking and filing the same in the proper office.

Does this mean that George Neal was not a legally sitting commissioner from 2021 through 2024? Does that mean that any legislation, purchases, or appointments that he approved are void?

Why did she wait 11 months to give him the oath if he was legitimately sworn in?

Marshall Fontaine’s Dedimus Postatem Appears to be Copied from Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem

As questioned above, for Joy Smith and George Neal’s Dedimus Postatem, why does Heather Stuart have to send in her bond with Marshall Fontaine’s Dedimus Postatem?

Did she copy his dedimus postatem from hers?

Marshall Fontaine’s oath was given on December 31, 2020, BEFORE Governor Brian Kemp commissioned Heather Stuart to do so on January 1, 2020

How did Heather Stuart legally administer the oath of office to Marshall Fontaine if she wasn’t given commission to do so until the day after?

Is this another indicator that she is fabricating documentation to make certain officials appear legal after the fact, because she knew I was digging into whether our public officers had their oaths of office?

Norman Royal’s Dedimus Postatem Appears to be Copied from Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem

As questioned above, for Joy Smith’s, George Neal’s, and Marshall Fontaine’s Dedimus Postatem, why does Heather Stuart have to send in her bond with Norman Royal’s Dedimus Postatem?

Did she copy his dedimus postatem from hers?

Norman Royal’s oath was given on December 31, 2020, BEFORE Governor Brian Kemp commissioned Heather Stuart to do so on January 1, 2020

How did Heather Stuart legally administer the oath of office to Norman Royal if she wasn’t given commission to do so until the day after?

Is this another indicator that she is fabricating documentation to make certain officials appear legal after the fact, because she knew I was digging into whether our public officers had their oaths of office?

Benjamin Singleton’s Dedimus Postatem Appears to be Copied from Heather Stuart’s Dedimus Postatem

As questioned above, for Joy Smith’s, George Neal’s, Marshall Fontaine’s, and Norman Royal’s Dedimus Postatem, why does Heather Stuart have to send in her bond with Benjamin Singleton’s Dedimus Postatem?

Did she copy his dedimus postatem from hers?

Benjamin Singleton’s oath was given on December 31, 2020, BEFORE Governor Brian Kemp commissioned Heather Stuart to do so on January 1, 2020

How did Heather Stuart legally administer the oath of office to Benjamin Singleton if she wasn’t given commission to do so until the day after?

Is this another indicator that she is fabricating documentation to make certain officials appear legal after the fact, because she knew I was digging into whether our public officers had their oaths of office?

Janice Daniel, Magistrate Judge’s Loyalty Oath for 2025 has been copied from her 2021 Loyalty Oath

Notice how the documents from 2021 and 2025 are similar in the following ways:

1. They both were signed the same month (January) and day (4th) of each term of Janice Daniel’s office as a magistrate judge in 2021 and 2025.
2. The “0” in “2021” and “2025” is the same. It is raised above the loop in the “2” and almost makes the year look like 281 and 285, instead of 2021 and 2025.
3. The “5” in “2025” in the second document is written over the “1” from “2021” from the first document.
4. Heather Stuart’s signature is exactly the same in both documents and in the same position – even crossing through the title below her name.
5. Janice Daniel’s signature is exactly the same and in the same position in both documents. Pay attention how the “aniel” in her last name starts immediately above, ends at, and is parallel to “Signature.”

Janice Daniel, Magistrate Judge’s Oath of Office for 2025 has been copied from her 2021 Oath of Office

Notice how the documents from 2021 and 2025 are similar in the following ways:

1. They both were signed the same month (January) and day (4th) of each term of Janice Daniel’s office as a magistrate judge.
2. The date is written the exact same way in both documents. Pay attention to the “J” in “Jan” and pay attention to what looks like a capital “A” in “Jan” in both documents.
3. The “5” in “2025” in the second document is written over the “1” from “2021” from the first document.
4. Heather Stuart’s signature is exactly the same in both documents and in the same position – even crossing through the word “Judge” above her name in the exact places.
5. Janice Daniel’s signature is exactly the same and in the same position in both documents. Pay attention how the “niel” in her last name starts immediately above and parallel to “Signature,” and how it ends above the “u” in “Signature” in both documents.
6. The Oath of Office of Magistrate title on both documents is blotted out in the exact same positions on both documents. Pay attention to how the word “Magistrate” is missing the entire top part of the word except for the “ATE” in the title.

Summary

Three commissioners – Fontaine, Royal, and Neal – have documents that may be fabricated, bringing the legality of their tenure during their previous terms into question.

A superior court clerk has documents that bring the legality of her tenure into question for this current term.

Heather Stuart’s own tenure during her previous elected term may be questionable as she cannot legally deliver her own oath.

A superior court judge, Bemon Gilmore McBride III, may have been compromised due to his signature ending up on a document that does not give him authority to sign.

Another superior court judge, Arthur Smith, the chief Superior Court Judge, may have been compromised because his signature ended up on a document that looks falsified and altered.

A county surveyor’s, Ben Singleton’s, previous tenure may be in question.

And last but not least, Heather Stuart’s own Magistrate Judge’s, Janice Daniel’s, previous and current tenure may be in question because of what looks like falsified documents as well.

Questions that Need Answers

• Has Heather Stuart copied her own Dedimus Postatem to fabricate documentation that is required by law for all these officials?
• Has Heather Stuart fabricated these documents after the fact because she knew I was asking for legal documentation that proves that these public officers were legally sitting?
• Has Heather Stuart caused two Superior Court Judges – Arthur Smith and Gil McBride – to sign documents that appear doctored?
• Did Arthur Smith and Gil McBride sign those documents or were they copied and doctored by Heather Stuart?
• Has Heather Stuart caused a Magistrate Judge to sign documents that appear to be doctored?
• Are/were these officers sitting illegally because of the documentation that they are legally required to have before they can take office and draw a paycheck?
• Are any of their legislation, appointments, purchases, judgments legal if their paperwork is compromised?
• Do all these public officers and judges know that she may be compromising them civilly and criminally?

What do you see? What do you think?

If you have a story, feedback, or questions, please feel free to contact me at Plumblyne Productions by email at plumblyneproductions@gmail.com or call me at 229-329-2179. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and follow to stay up to date.