Probate CourtB Juvenile CourtB Court of Appeals supreme Court rrial Courts Different courts are set up to do different things. Georgia's 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 hoord in tho 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 tho JUVENILE court. Felony and divorce cases are heard in SUPERIOR court. Some general jurisdiction trial courts hear appeals from limited jurisdidion courts. Appellate Courts The COURT OF APPEALS OF GEORGIA and the SUPREME COURT OF GEORGIA review cases tried in the state's limited jurisdiction courts. The State Judicial Building in Atlanta houses courtrooms for both appellate courts. MUNICIPAL COURTS VlalGtiona of city ordlnanca tasuonce of crlmlnol worn1nts Preliminary hllGrings '!nlfllc ialatlons within city Pmlt& 350 courts In Georgia cities 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 ' Wills, administration of estates appointment of guardians, involuntGry hospitGlizatlons Marriage o.nd firearm licensing Traffic in some counties 159 courts, each county as a probate court Delinquent juveniles under age 17 Deprived, unruly juveniles under age 18 Juvenile tro.ffic cases 159 courts, each county has a juvenile court 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 appellate level - instead, judges review written records and briefs and hear oral arguments from attorneys. COURT OF APPEALS Appellate jur isdiction over lower courts in cases in which Supreme Cour t has no exclusi ve appellate j urisdiction 12 Judges, 4 panels of 3 j udges SUPREME COURT Reviews cases involving: Death Penalty Divorce Constit utiona lity of law Treaties Wills COURT OF LAST RESORT 7 j ustices Judge .d over coses pres1 e~kes rulings onom, n ev1 >0 ence boseo o d renders presente ' e cases. ~ero>tc1s in som Attor1te1f represents the interest ol o client in o cose. 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 . e court. ~~~ provides security for courthouse ond mointoins order in courtroom. Co11rt- ~e~f:~Z~ trials or in depositions. Call.d Clerk preserves ond mointains the records of the court. .,a,;~,,. ~ b1:,~1\ TlteJ11r1f Citizens are sometimes called upon to serve on juries on both criminal and civil trials. The juryS 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. Georgia's Court System Tltro11glt Its roles of!11te1JJretl11g lt1w, t1d#fl11lsten'/fg justice, t111d reg11/t1tl11g dls111tes, cjeorglt1's J11dlclt1/ Brt111clt serves tlte stt1te dt1lllf, ~ veryday our lives are affected by I-. 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. 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 "/OH /(How? T here are two levels of court in I Georgia: TRIAL COURTS and APPELLATE COURTS. Each I[; eorgia's 't and court'sjurisdiction - the power to hear and determine a case - is outlined in the state's constitution. Judicial Circuits 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 answer these questions: I live in the _ _ _ _ _ Circuit. Walker Cono1C11u90 WHtAeld Murr't:r{ Gordon Towns Rabun Union mounloin laoloh White Lunpkin \. ' \ Stephens n noithHll4P II Hall f:~11 GwinMtt Cl l - IIOH In '!J, Walton ~.11...,, ewton Oomul9 Jaspu Putnam Monroe Jones Baldwin Washington There are _ _ _ _ _ counties in my Circuit. How many Circuits have only one county?_ _ Talbot ChaHochoochee B;bb -Crawford Taylor Peach Which Circuit has the most counties?_ _ __ Macon Why are there Judicial Circuits? Originally judges would "ride the circuit" a wide area made up of many counties visiting each county seat to hear cases. Stewart County Courthouse' Schley Stewart Sumter _ _._.--"'"''"1oulh111e,lern Dooly Pulaski Wilcox Crisp Conl4PI Terrell Lu Randolph BEnHill Webster County Courthouse Worth ffAan "TTft Berrien 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 names derived from Native American culture. Lee County Courthouse Mitcht.11 loutll GNr9lo llw>tui- Grody Colquitt Cook ....... ,. Thomas Brooks Lanier Lowndes J'enkins c.ndl