Welcome to Georgia's Court System Through its roles of interpreting law, administering justice, and regulating disputes, Georgia's Judicial Branch serves the state daily. E veryday our lives are affected by the business that is conducted throughout the judicial branch. The decisions that are made, both at the trial court and appellate levels, impact the citizens of Georgia. Y et few citizens are familiar with the basic functions and responsibilities of the state's courts, the judges who preside in them, and the various professionals who work to ensure the business of the judiciary is fairly and efficiently carried out. Did You Know? T here are two levels of court in Georgia: TRIAL COURTS and APPELLATE COURTS. Each court's jurisdiction -- the power to hear and determine a case -- is outlined in the state's constitution. G eorgia's courts hear both criminal and civil cases. Criminal proceedings are brought against those who are believed to have broken the law; while civil matters involve disputes between individuals or corporations. Find out more about your court system inside!! What Do Municipal Courts Magistrate Courts Probate Courts Juvenile Courts State Courts Superior Courts The } Courts Trial Courts Do? MUNICIPAL COURTS Violations of city ordinances Issuance of criminal warrants Prelimary hearings Traffic violations in city limits 400 courts in Georgia cities. MAGISTRATE COURTS Small claims ($15,000 or less) Minor criminal offenses County ordinance violations Preliminary hearings Arrest & search warrants Check fraud 159 courts, each county has a magistrate court PROBATE COURTS Wills, administration of estates appointment of guardians, involuntary hospitalizations Marriage and firearm licensing Traffic in some counties 159 courts, each county has a probate court Trial Courts Different courts are set up to do different things. Georgias courts hear cases based on the subject matter jurisdiction they are given, this may be broad or limited. MUNICIPAL courts, or city courts, hear cases that involve violations of city ordinances. A small claims case would be heard in the MAGISTRATE court. A person looking to obtain a marriage license would go to the PROBATE court. In many counties, traffic cases are heard by the STATE court. Cases involving children, those under the age of 18, are dealt with in the JUVENILE court. Felony and divorce cases are heard in SUPERIOR court. Some general jurisdiction trial courts hear appeals from limited jurisdiction courts. JUVENILE COURTS Delinquent juveniles under age 17 Deprived, unruly juveniles under age 18 Juvenile traffic cases 159 courts, each county has a juvenile court STATE COURTS Misdemeanor violations traffic & civil actions Felony preliminary hearings Review limited jurisdiction court decisions 71 counties have state courts. SUPERIOR COURTS Felonies Divorce proceedings Title to land, equity Juveniles who commit serious felonies Correct errors from county courts 159 courts, each county has a superior court. Why Georgia's courts of review are set up to correct legal errors or errors of law made at the trial level. No trials are held at the Appeal? appellate level -- instead, judges review written records and briefs and hear oral arguments from attorneys. Court of Appeals Supreme Court } Appellate Courts The COURT OF APPEALS OF GEORGIA and the SUPREME COURT OF GEORGIA review cases tried in the states limited jurisdiction courts. The State Judicial Building in Atlanta houses courtrooms for both appellate courts. Appellate Courts COURT OF APPEALS Appellate jurisdiction over lower courts in cases in which Supreme Court has no exclusive appellate jurisdiction 12 judges, 4 panels of 3 judges SUPREME COURT Reviews cases involving: Death Penalty Divorce Constitutionality of law Treaties Wills COURT OF LAST RESORT 7 justices Georgia's Court System Just like the United States government, Georgia has three branches of government -- Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. "The Third Branch," as the judiciary is often called, is an equal participant in the checks-and-balances system of government. Each branch of government has its particular function. The Legislative Branch makes laws. Judicial Circuits Dade Catoosa Fannin Lookout Conasauga Mountain Whitfield Murray Appalachian Walker Gilmer Towns Union Enotah White Lumpkin Hambersham Rabun Mountain Stephens The Executive Branch makes sure the laws are being followed. The Judicial Branch interprets the laws. Judicial Branch For purposes of administration in the Superior and Juvenile courts, the state of Georgia is divided into 49 Judicial Circuits. Each circuit is made up of at least one county. Some circuits are made up of many counties. About Your Circuit Use the state map at right to answers these questions: I live in the __________ Circuit. There are __________ counties in my Circuit. How many Circuits have only one county? Which Circuit has the most counties?_______ Chattooga Gordon Pickens Dawson Northeastern Banks Franklin Hart Rome Cherokee Blue Ridge Bell- Floyd Bartow Cherokee Forsyth Forsyth Fulton Hall Jackson Piedmont Northern Madison Elbert Wilkes County Courthouse Executive Branch Legislative Branch Tallapoosa Cobb Gwinnett Barrow Clarke Oglethorpe Lincoln County Courthouse Clayton RRoockcdalkedale Montgomery Polk Haralson Paulding Cobb Paulding Carroll DDoouuglgaslaAstlanta Gwinnett Stone Mtn. DeKalb Walton Alcovy Clayton Newton Fayette Henry Western Oconee Morgan Greene Wilkes Lincoln Toombs Taliaferro Warren McDuffie Columbia Coweta Flint Ocmulgee Jasper Hancock Richmond Heard Coweta Spalding Griffin Butts Putnam Glascock Augusta Pike Lamar Monroe Baldwin Jefferson Burke Meriwether Jones Troup Towaliga Washington Warren County Courthouse Courthouses Upson Bibb Wilkinson Harris Talbot Crawford Macon Chattachoochee Muscogee Taylor Peach Twiggs Dublin Chattahoochee Marion Macon HHoouustsotnon Bleckley Laurens Johnson Middle Emanuel Jenkins Screven Ogeechee Treutlen Candler Bulloch Effingham Each of Georgias 159 counties has a courthouse located in the city that serves as its county seat. While many counties have built new facilities in Stewart Schley Sumter Webster Southwestern Dooly Pulaski Wilcox Crisp Cordele Dodge Wheeler Oconee Telfair Toombs Evans Tattnall Bryan Atlantic Eastern Chatham Liberty recent years, some of the courthouses around the state were built in the 1800s and are still being used. Why are there Judicial Circuits? Originally judges would "ride the circuit" -- a wide area made up of many counties -- visiting each county seat hearing cases. How are Circuits Named? Circuit names come from many sources: many are named for a county within the circuit while others are named for rivers or other landmarks. Many have Randolph County Courthouse Quitman Terrell Lee Randolph Clay Calhoun Dougherty Dougherty Early Pataula Baker Miller Mitchell Turner Tifton Worth Ben Hill Irwin Jeff Davis Appling Brunswick Coffee Bacon Wayne Tift Colquitt Berrien Atkinson Cook Alapaha Pierce Waycross Ware Brantley Lanier Seminole South Georgia Decatur Grady Southern Thomas Brooks Lowndes Clinch Charlton Long McIntosh Glynn Camden Echols About Your Courthouse The courthouse for my county is located in: ________________. It was built in this year: __________. Its architectural style is: __________. names derived from Native American place names. Early County Courthouse Need help answering these questions? Take a look at the Carl Vinson Institute's Georgia County courthouses webpage: www.cviog.uga.edu/projects/gainfo/courthouses Who Are There are approximately 1,300 judges that serve the state of Georgia. From municipal court judges to Supreme Court justices, Georgias judges come from all walks of life. Many of the men and women who serve on the bench are native Georgians. Others have moved here from different states or from other countries. The judges of the State Court of DeKalb County (below) illustrate how diverse Georgias judges are. Georgia's Judges? Judge Janis C. Gordon Ran a Marathon in Antarctica Speaks English & French Judge J. Antonio DelCampo Born in Lima, Peru Enjoys Traveling & Playing Guitar Judge Johnny Panos Speaks English & Greek Born in Atlanta, GA Judge Barbara J. Mobley Enjoys Photography Attended Savannah State University Judicial Selection A person can become a judge in one of two ways: APPOINTMENT or ELECTION. APPOINTMENT -- The Governor may appoint a qualified candidate to fill a vacancy on the appellate courts, superior court, or state court. To remain on the bench, an appointed judge must run for the office in future elections. ELECTION -- A sitting judge must run for re-election at the end of each term of office. Challengers may run against the incumbent for the seat. If a judge is retiring at the end of a term, the seat is considered "open," and a new judge will be elected from the announced candidates. Judicial Elections Most judges in Georgia run for office in elections which are nonpartison, meaning candidates are not affiliated with any political party. Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court of Appeals are elected to six-year terms. Judges of the Superior, State, Probate, and Magistrate courts serve four-year terms. Judge Wayne Purdom Author of Four Law Books Can read Ancient Greek Chief Judge Edward E. Carriere, Jr. Grew up in New Orleans, LA Served in the Army Judge Alvin T. Wong Born in Hong Kong Speaks English & Chinese Who Are Your Judges? Superior Court: State Court: Juvenile Court: Probate Court: Magistrate Court: Municipal Court: What Do Judges Do? Newly appointed gubernatorial appointees are sworn-in by the Governor. The judges role in a TRIAL COURT is to review and determine relevance of evidence as it is presented. During a BENCH TRIAL, the judge hears evidence then determines guilt and sentencing. APPELLATE JUDGES must review materials from cases that have been tried in the trial courts and determine if procedural errors have occurred and if a new trial is warranted. Who's at the Courthouse? The complex nature of the state's judicial system requires the expertise of many professionals whose roles are essential for the judiciary to function efficiently and properly. Here are a few of those professionals you are likely to encounter at your county courthouse. Judge presides over cases and makes rulings based on evidence presented; renders verdicts in some cases. Court Administrator manages the business and daily operations of the court Attorney represents the interest of a client in a case. PROSECUTORS (District Attorney or Solicitor) Acts on behalf of the state in prosecuting those believed to have broken the law. PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY Advocates for a person who brings a case to civil court. DEFENSE ATTORNEY Advocates for persons accused of committing a crime or respondent in a civil case. Indigent defendants, those with limited financial resources, may be eligible for a PUBLIC DEFENDER. Court Clerk preserves and maintains the records of the court Sheriff's Deputy provides security for courthouse and maintains order in courtroom. The Jury Citizens are sometimes called upon to serve on juries on both criminal and civil trials. The jury's responsibility is to listen to testimony and arguments made by each side in a case. The jury must determine guilt (criminal trial) or liability (civil trial) and pass sentence, if appropriate. Administrative Office of the Courts 244 Washington Street, SW, Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30334 Court Reporter records testimony at trials or in depositions. Georgia's Court System 2008 David L. Ratley, Director