Tenth annual report on the work of the Georgia courts [Feb. 1984]

Tenth Annual Report onthe Work ofthe Georgia Courts

Tenth Annual Contents

Report on the The Courts in Fiscal Year 1983 Supreme Court

3 8

Work ofthe

Court ofAppeals

9

Georgia

Superior Courts State Courts

10 14

Courts

Probate Courts

16

Juvenile Courts

20

Other Courts

24

Judicial Agencies

25

Judicial Council ofGeorgia/Administrative Office of the Courts

25

Advisory Council for Probation

27

BoardofCourtReporting

27

Council ofJuvenile CourtJudges

28

Georgia Justice Courts Training Council

28

Institute ofContinuing Judicial Education

29

Judicial Nominating Commission

30

Judicial Qualifications Commission

31

Superior Courts Sentence Review Panel

32

Appendices

Appendix 1: Judicial Personnel Changes

33

Appendix 2: Judicial Agencies Directory

34

(July 1, 1982-June30, 1983)
February 1984
Judicial Council ofGeorgia Administrative Office of the Courts Suite550 244 Washington Street, SW Atlanta, Georgia 30334
The Tenth Annual Report on the Work ofthe Georgia Courts is published by the Judicial Council ofGeorgia/Administrative Office of the Courts in compliancewithGa. Laws 1973, p. 288, and byOrderoftheSupremeCourtof GeorgiadatedJune 12, 1978.

EDITOR: Molly J. M. Perry

DESIGN: Visual Image Workshop

J-0284-A-01

Foreword

A chaicman ofthe Judicial
Council during FY'83, it is my pleasure to present our Tenth Annual Report on the Work ofthe Georgia Courts, prepared by the Administrative Office ofthe Courts as required by Georgia Laws 1973, p. 288, and by Order ofthe Supreme Court of Georgia.
During the year, both constitutional and statutory changes furthered efforts to achieve a working unifiedjudicial system. Legislative activity supplemented the provisions ofa revisedjudicial article to provide a new system ofmagistrate courts, uniformity among state courts, and the nonpartisan election ofjudges of the appellate, superior and state courts. Representatives ofall trial courts met under the aegis ofthe Supreme Court to initiate the development ofuniform rules. Legislation also provided for the first time that judges ofany court can sit on any other court on a temporary basis, if otherwise qualified and approved by the officials involved.
The General Assembly increased the number ofjudicial circuits in Georgia by creating the Appalachian Judicial Circuit from the existing Blue Ridge circuit effective immediately following the end of fiscal year 1983. Probate court judges and superior court clerks received minimum salary increases

also as a result oflegislative action. For the most part, the state's
judicial agencies continued to provide support to the courts at continuation levels. While all court support organizations encountered budgetary difficulties, two court administrative agencies, the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Judicial Administrative Districts, found it necessary to decrease scheduled services due to reduced funding.
A profile of trial court caseload was again obtained through the collection ofdata in the superior, state, probate andjuvenile courts, and is presented in this report. Because of fiscal constraints, the FY'83 caseload study methodology excluded the collection ofdispositional data in the state and probate courts. However, for the first time, aggregate superior court open caseload for FY 1983 and five-year trend data for all principal trial courts are included in this report.
We invite the reader to look closely at the FY'83 activities ofthe Georgiajudicial system as depicted in the following pages ofthis report. We welcome questions and comments on the work ofthe courts across the state as we attempt to assist in the implementation ofprograms to improve the administration ofjustice in Georgia.

Andrew J. Whalen, Jr. Chairman Judicial Council ofGeorgia

l

Judicial Council ofGeorgia
ChiefJustice Harold N. Hill, Jr. Chairman Supreme Court ofGeorgia Atlanta
Justice Thomas 0. Marshall Vice chairman Supreme Court ofGeorgia Atlanta
Judge Hal Bell Senior Judge Macon
Judge A.W. Birdsong. Jr. Court ofAppeals ofGeorgia Atlanta
Judge Tom Cauthorn State Court ofCobb County Marietta
Judge Virgil Costley, Jr. Juvenile Court ofNewton County Covington
Judge George W. Eisel, III Chief Magistrate, Hancock County Sparta
Judge James E. Findley Superior Courts Atlantic Judicial Circuit Reidsville
Judge William M. Fleming, Jr. Superior Courts Augusta Judicial Circuit Augusta
Judge W.J. Forehand Superior Courts Tifton Judicial Circuit Tifton
Judge George W. Harris Chief Magistrate. Peach County Fort Valley
Judge Francis Houston State Court of Pierce County Blackshear
Judge Harry Johnson. Jr. Probate Court of Floyd County Rome

Judge Othniel W. McGehee Juvenile Court ofBibb County Macon
Judge Walter C. McMillan. Jr. Superior Courts Middle Judicial Circuit Sandersville
ChiefJudge William L. McMurray. Jr. Court ofAppeals ofGeorgia Atlanta
Judge Richard Neville Superior Courts Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit Cumming
Judge James E. Palmour. III Superior Courts Northeastern Judicial Circuit Gainesville
Judge J. Ben Spear. Jr. Probate Court of Monroe County Forsyth
Judge A. Blenn Taylor. Jr. Superior Courts Brunswick Judicial Circuit Brunswick
Judge Curtis V Tillman Superior Court Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Decatur
Judge Andrew J. Whalen. ,Jr. Superior Courts Griffin Judicial Circuit Griffin
Judge Jere F. White Superior Courts Cherokee Judicial Circuit Cartersville
Judge Osgood 0. Williams Superior Court Atlanta Judicial Circuit Atlanta

2

The Courts in Fiscal Year 1983

E e n t s and efforts laking place within and outside ofthe Georgiajudicial system combined during the past year to produce several significant changes for the state'sjudiciary. Overall, strides toward uniformity were achieved through the public .endorsement ofa new Georgia Constitution, which included a revisedjudicial article, and legislative approval of partial means to implement it. The Supreme Court pursued its duty to oversee the judiciary's development of uniform rules and procedures. Notably, these and other changes occurred as all agencies ofthejudicial branch faced severe fiscal constraints.
Judicial Revision/Legislation
Effective immediately following the end ofFY'83, the revisedjudicial article provides for a unified court system composed ofseven classes of courts: the Supreme Court, the Court ofAppeals, the superior courts and the limitedjurisdiction state, juvenile, probate and magistrate courts. The effect ofthis change is to establish the state andjuvenile courts as constitutional. rather than statutory courts, and to consolidate existing small claims courts, justice ofthe peace courts and the County Court ofEchols County as magistrate courts.
The new article provides for specific improvements to be instituted by law or court rule. Such changes legislated during the Georgia General Assembly's 1983 session established uniformity among state courts (Ga. Laws 1983, p. 1419) and created the magistrate courts with uniform jurisdiction and power, rules of procedure and magistrate qualification and selection (Ga. Laws 1983, p. 884). Under the transition provisions ofthe revised article, the former county courts ofBaldwin and Putnam counties became state courts.
The newjudicial article also charges the Supreme Court and the state's trial courts to develop uniform court rules and record-keeping rules

to resolve problems ofefficiency and increasing expense in the courts. The process ofdrafting the particular rules and procedures began in May, 1983, when the five trial court drafting committees met with the Chief Justice ofthe Supreme Court to consider rules outlining the functional operation ofall courts ofone class (horizontal uniformity) and those governing the interrelationships between different classes ofcourts (vertical uniformity).
Actions by the 1983 Session of the Georgia General Assembly also prescribed supplementary rules for procuringjudicial assistance and provided for the nonpartisan election ofjudges. Act#442 (Ga. Laws 1983, p. 961) allows a judge ofany court to take the bench in any other court on a temporary basis, provided that the transferringjudge is otherwise qualified and has the approval ofthe presidingjudge. This change is expected to greatly increase the system's flexibility in the efficient utilization of existingjudicial manpower. Act #497 (Ga. Laws 1983, p. 1190) provides thatjustices ofthe Supreme Court andjudges ofthe Court ofAppeals, superior courts and state courts be elected on a nonpartisan basis.
Several other court-related issues affecting court structure, salaries and funding were also addressed by the legislature. The number of judicial circuits was increased to 45 as the Appalachian Judicial Circuit was created from the existing Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit by splitting Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties from Cherokee and Forsyth counties. An initial superior courtjudge and district attorney for the Appalachian circuit were authorized to assume office on July 1, 1983, while the two superior courtjudges and district attorney already serving Blue Ridge remained with that circuit.
A new state court was created for Chattooga County following voter approval ofa referendum on the issue in May, 1983. A second judgeship for the State Court ofGwinnett County

3

Georgia Court System: July 1, 1983

Supreme Court 7 justices. Jurisdiction: appellate jurisdiction over cases of constitutional issue, title to land, validity of and construction of wills, habeas corpus, extraordinary remedies, convictions of capital felonies, equity, divorce, alimony. Certified questions and certiorari from Court of Appeals.
Court of Appeals 9 judges, 3 divisions. Jurisdiction: appellate jurisdiction over lower courts in cases in which the Supreme Court has no exclusive appellate jurisdiction.

Superior Court
123 judges. 45 circuits. 159 courts.
L----+------t Jurisdiction: exclusive jurisdiction over
divorce, title to land, equity, felonies; misde-
meanors, felony preliminaries. Jury trials.

State Court 77 judges (30 full-time, 47 parttime), 2 magistrates. 62 courts. Jurisdiction: civil law actions except cases within superior court's exclusive jurisdiction; misdemeanors, felony preliminaries. Jury trials.

I
Juvenile Court 50 judges (11 full-time, 39 parttime; 2 state court judges serve as part-time juvenile court judges.) 159 courts. (Superior court judges serve in the 95 counties without independent juvenile courts.) Jurisdiction: deprived, unruly, delinquent juveniles. No jury trials.

I
Civil Court 3 judges. 2 courts. Jurisdiction: civil law cases up to specific limit; warrants, misdemeanor and felony preliminaries. Jury trials.

Municipal Court 2 judges. 2 courts. Jurisdiction: civil law and landlord/tenant up to specific limit; misdemeanor guilty pleas and preliminary hearings, warrants. Jury trials in most civil cases.

Probate Court 159 judges. 159 courts. Jurisdiction: exclusive jurisdiction in probate of wills, administration of estates, appointment of guardians, mentally ill, involuntary hospitalization, marriage licenses; in some counties, traffic and/or truancy cases. Hold courts of inquiry. No jury trials.

Magistrate Courts 159 chief magistrates, 331 magistrates (43 serve other courts). 159 courts. Jurisdiction: civil claims of $2,500 or less, dispossessories, distress warrants, county ordinances; search and arrest warrants, felony and misdemeanor preliminaries. No jury trials.

County Recorder's Court 10 judges (2 protem). 4 courts. Jurisdiction: county ordinances, criminal warrants and preliminaries.

Municipal Courts Approximately 361 active courts. Jurisdiction: ordinance violations, traffic, criminal preliminaries. No jury trials.

4

was authorized with a four-year term beginning January 1, 1985. The legislature also created two small claims courts-for Pickens and Wilcox counties-which became magistrate courts as a result ofthe implementation ofthe new constitution.
Other legislative action increased the minimum salaries of probate courtjudges and superior court clerks and changed penalties and procedures in DUI cases. Both probate and clerk minimum salaries were raised approximately 16 percent, although increases were higher in the upper range ofboth salary schedules, where new population brackets were added. One provision of the new DUI law grants authority to courts ofincorporated municipalities to impose the fine and imprisonment penalties prescribed under

Five-Year Comparison for Judicial Budget (1980-1984)

Fiscal Year 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984

Total State Appropriation $2,850,152,707 3,217,056, 705 3,522,966,448 3,685,528,666 4,018,000,000

Increase $135,941,598
366,903,998 232,943,295 162,562,218 332,471,334

Judicial Appropriation $17,875,192
20,554,407 24,305,842 26,590,315 29,997,367

Increase $2,136,711
2,579,215 3,751,435 2,284,473 3,407,052

Percent of State Budget
0.62% 0.64% 0.69% 0.72% 0.75%

state law, regardless oflimits set forth in municipal charters, to standardize the punishment of DUI offenders.
Judicial Activities/ Recommendations
During the past year, both systemoriented activities and those particular to individual components ofthe statejudicial system contributed to the improved operation of the courts. The State-Federal Judicial Council held its first formal meeting in June, 1983, and adopted a guideline for resolving state and federal court calendar conflicts. The Council, a voluntary association ofGeorgia state and federal trial and appellate court judges and attorneys headed by the ChiefJustice ofthe Georgia Supreme Court, wasformedinJune, 1982, to facilitate a cooperative relationship between the two court systems.
To assistjudicial and court personnel in managing particular matters, the Judicial Council ofGeorgia issued recommendations on suggested procedures for handling in forma pauperis petitions and the expungement offirst offender records. Theformerrecommendation was developed in response to a l982law authorizing superior and state courts to investigate, on their own motion, the right ofa party to a civil action to proceed in forma pauperis. Procedures outlined by the Council regarding first offender expungement were prepared to effectively satisfy current law pertaining to confidentiality. Legislation to further clarify the requirements ofboth matters was later considered by the Council.
FY'83 was also a year ofnew personnel. ChiefJustice Harold N. Hill, Jr. replaced retiring Robert H. Jordan as head ofthe Georgia Supreme Court. A new chiefjudge of the Court ofAppeals, Arnold Shulman, was elected for a two-year term beginning January 1, 1983. An administrative assistant for the fourth judicial district was selected by the superior

5

--
~

courtjudges ofDekalb County to fill that position for the first time since the district was created in 1976.
Other "firsts" for the courts included the Supreme Court's monthly news reports on criminal decisions and the Atlanta Judicial Circuit's One Trial/One Dayjury service program. It was also the first year ofoperation ofthe Executive Probate Judges Council ofGeorgia, which is responsible for working with the Institute ofContinuing Judicial Education to coordinate continuing education programs for probatejudgesand with probate courts to improve operations and provide assistance upon request.

by the ChiefJustice to the legislature in January, the Georgia General Assembly appropriated $29,997,367 for the operation ofthe judicial branch. This appropriation amounted to an increp.se of$3.4 million, or almost 13 percent more than the final FY'83 appropriation which was amended twice during the 1983 legislative session, first through a budget reduction of $151,225 and then in supplemental appropriations adding back $130,400.

Judicial Branch Appropriations

Following thejudiciary's coordinated budget request for FY'84 presented

Judicial Branch Budget Units: FY '83 Funds Available and Expenditures

FUNDS AVAILABLE General Appropriations Supplemental Appropriations Governor's Emergency Funds Total State Funds Federal Funds Other Funds
Total Funds Available EXPENDITURES
Personal Services Regular Operating Travel Publications and Printing Equipment Purchases Computer Charges Real Estate Rentals Telecommunications Per Diem, Fees, and Contracts Total Expenditures

Supreme Court

Court of Appeals

Superior Courts

$2,425,119 (11,825) 0
2,413,294 0
192,257 2,605,551

$2,702,951 (31 ,000) 0
2,671,951 0
42,730 2,714,681

$19,730,053 60,000 15,000
19,805,053 130,729
1 '148,116 21,083,898

1,936,051 212,023 22,313 24,585 76,655 0 151,599 38,828 142,613
$2,604,667

2,348,465 87,454 21,805 8,235
104,265 0
91,128 35,742 16,272 $2,713,366

19,166,038 470,243 352,765 82,432 13,849 3,421 43,025 13,174 132,348
$20,277,295

6

State Appropriations for the Judicial Branch Fiscal Years 1982, 1983 and 1984
Court or Agency Supreme Court Court of Appeals Superior Courts (Total)
Superior Courts & DA's Prosecuting Attorneys' Council Sentence Review Panel Administrative Office of the Courts (Total) AOCCentral Case Counting Institute of Continuing Judicial Education Appellate Court Reports Board of Court Reporting Council of Juvenile Court Judges Judicial Administrative Districts Judicial Qualifications Commission Justice Courts Training Council Judicial Branch Total

FY1982 Amended Appropriation
$ 2,208,582
2,499,016
17,972,417 17,474,048
424,371 73,998
744,023 541,743
-0202,280
211,000
14,123
97,592
496,629
49,760
12,700
$24,305,842

FY1983 Amended Appropriation
$ 2,413,294
2,671,951
19,790,053 19,261,330
446,539 82,184
781,731 494,178
60,000 227,553
216,000
15,486
104,384
537,658
45,788
13,970
$26,590,315

Percent Change FY 1982-83
9.3 6.9 10.1 10.2 5.2 11.1 5.1 -8.8
12.5 2.4 9.7
7.0 8.3 -8.0 10.0
9.4

FY 1984 General Appropriation
$ 2,780,434
3,068,416
22,531 ,919 21,945,199
485,674 101,046
713,282 414,357
68,925 230,000
193,100
16,675
109,761
518,249
50,471
15,060
$29,997,367

Percent Change FY 1983-84
15.2
14.8
13.9 13.9
8.8 23.0
-8.8 -16.2 14.9
1.1
-10.6
7.7
5.2
-3.6
10.2
7.8
12.8

Administrative Office of
the Courts
$813,731 (32,000) 0 781,731 0 1,306 783,037
350,031 56,769 9,314 32,594 2,000 0 51,157 14,127
266,960 $782,952

Appellate Court
Reports
$190,000 26,000 0
216,000 0 0
216,000
0 50 0 198,317 0 0 0 0 0 $198,367

Board of Court
Reporting
$15,486 0 0
15,486 0
23,230 38,716
20,291 2,968 353 252 184 0 5,473 2,235 6,960
$38,716

Council of Juvenile Court Judges
$104,384 0 0
104,384 321,091
0 425,475
94,049 13,703
5,161 2,530
933 0
8,919 3,241 296,939 $425,475

Judicial Administrative
Districts
$569,658 (32,000) 0 537,658 0 0 537,658
428,083 24,991 28,095 6,835 3,761 0 9,949 19,441 16,503
$537,658

Judicial Qualifications Commission
$45,788 0
3,000 48,788
0 0 48,788
12,929 2,194 2,578 3,372 0 0 2,353 1,310
23,728 $48,464

Justice Courts Training Council
$13,970 0 0
13,970 0
32,634 46,604
0 5,121
0 26,018
0 0 0 85 15,380 $46,604

Total
$26,611,140 (20,825) 18,000
26,608,315 451,820
1,440,273 28,500,408
24,355,937 875,516 442,384 385,170 201,647 3,421 363,603 128,183 917,703
$27,673,564

7

Supreme Court Caseload: 1983 and 1982

Filed

1983 1982

Direct Appeals

701

671

Petitions for Certiorari

686

467

Habeas Corpus Applications 140

195

Applications for Discretionary Appeal

168

178

Applications for Interlocutory Appeal

49

55

Certified Questions

10

8

TOTAL

1,754 1,574

U Supreme Court ntil July 1, 1983, when certainjurisdictional changes resulting from the new constitution took effect. the Supreme Court exercised appellate jurisdiction in cases involving 1) the construction ofthe constitution ofGeorgia or the U.S., or of treaties; 2) cases in which the constitutionality ofa law or constitutional provision is drawn into question; 3) title to land; 4) equity; 5) the validity ofor construction ofwills; 6) the conviction ofa capital felony; 7) habeas corpus; 8) extraordinary remedies; 9) divorce and alimony; and 10) questions certified by the Court of Appeals. A major portion ofthe court's workload involves consideration ofpetitions for certiorari.
As the state's highest appellate court. the Supreme Court exercises no originaljurisdiction. Cases heard

Disposed
Opinions Written
Decided Without Opinion (Rule 59)
Certiorari Granted Denied
Habeas Corpus Applications
Granted Denied
Interlocutory Appeals
Granted Denied
Discretionary Appeals
Granted Denied
Lack of Jurisdiction; Transferred to Court of Appeals Without Opinion
Other

1983
423
142 482
85 397
99 8
91
33 13 20
137 41 96
6 47

1982
433
101 446
64 382
164 39 125
42 23 19
158 49
109
9 43

include appeals from superior courts, state courts, juvenile courts and courts ofsimilarjurisdiction. The court also considers decisions from the Court ofAppeals on certiorari. It is authorized to make orders necessary to preserve its jurisdiction, such as granting supersedeas and directing trial courts.
The Supreme Court is composed ofsevenjustices elected to staggered, six-year terms. Effective with the new constitution, the justices will be elected in nonpartisan elections. Vacancies on the court may be filled by appointment ofthe governor or by special election.
A chiefjustice and a presiding justice are elected by all sevenjustices. The chiefjustice serves as the administrative head ofthe court and presides at oral arguments and court conferences. The presidingjustice acts in the place of the chiefjustice when necessary and performs other duties as well.
Three agencies are charged with assisting the Supreme Court in its efforts to improve the administration ofjustice in the state. These agencies include the Judicial Council of Georgia/Administrative Office of the Courts, the Office ofBar Admissions (Board ofBar Examiners and Board to Determine Fitness ofBar Applicants) and the State Bar ofGeorgia.
In hearing cases en bane, the Supreme Court almost always holds court in Atlanta. On occasion, it may hold sessions in other locations around the state. Thecourthasthree terms ofcourt each year, beginning in September, January and April. The court hears no oral arguments in August or December.
A comparison ofthe Supreme
Courts caseload for administrative
courtyears 1983and 1982 (Septem-
ber 1-August 31) is presented at left.

TOTAL

1,369

1,396

8

W CourtofAppeals ere exclusivejurisdiction is not conferred upon the Supreme Court, the Court ofAppeals is authorized to correct errors in cases on appeal from the same trial courts which may appeal to the Supreme Court. Examples ofsuch cases include claims for damages, criminal cases other than capital felonies and cases involving worker's compensation and insurance claims.
The Court ofAppeals is composed ofninejudges and is divided into three panels ofthreejudges each. Under the court's rules, the judges elect a chiefjudge who then appointsjudges to preside over each ofthe three divisions. Any decision rendered by a division is final unless a singlejudge dissents, whereupon the case is considered by all nine judges. When there is an equal divi-

Court of Appeals Caseload: 1982

1982

Cases Docketed Affirmed Reversed Withdrawn Dismissed Transferred to Supreme Court

2,163 1,010
260 138 113
98

Supersedeas Bonds

14

Granted

4

Denied

10

Interlocutory Appeals

258

Granted

70

Denied

188

Discretionary Appeals

219

Granted

63

Denied

156

Certified Questions

3

Cases Pending

527

Opinions Written

1,733

sionofjudgeshearingacase en bane, the case is transferred to the Supreme Court
Judges ofthe Court ofAppeals are elected to staggered, six-year terms ofoffice in statewide, nonpartisan elections. Like the Supreme Court, the Court ofAppeals holds three terms ofcourt per year, beginning in September, January and April.
A summary ofthe courts case-
load for calendaryear 1982 is given
below.

9

Georgia Judicial Administrative Districts

A SuperiorCourts s Georgia's courts ofgeneraljurisdiction, the superior courts have exclusivejurisdiction over felony cases and cases involving divorce, equity and questions ofland title. With the exception ofcertain probate andjuvenile matters, the superior courts exercise concurrent jurisdiction over other cases with the limitedjurisdictioncourts located in the same county and/or circuit. The superior courts are authorized to correct errors made by lower courts by issuing writs ofcertiorari, and for some lower courts, the right to direct review by the superior courts applies.
While each ofthe state's 159 counties has a superior court, these courts are actually organized byjudicial circuits, or groups ofcounties. Circuits vary in size and population
JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF GEORGIA
Georgia Judicial Districts
CIRCUIT BOUNDARY

and in the number ofjudges. From one to eight counties form the circuits, with the single-county circuits generally located in or near the severallarge metropolitan areas ofthe state. The number ofsuperior court judges per circuit ranges from one judge in each offour circuits to eleven judges in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. As ofJuly 1. 1983, 123 superior courtjudges were servingin the state's 45 circuits.
For the purposes ofadministration, thejudicial circuits are organized into 10judicialadministrative districts whose boundaries correspond roughly to those ofGeorgia's U.S. congressional districts. The superior courtjudgesofeach district elect one among their number to serve as administrativejudge. The administrativejudges are authorized by statute to utilize caseload and other information for management purposes, as well as to assign superior courtjudges, with their approval, to other counties or circuits as needed.
Effective with the new Georgia Constitution on July 1. 1983, all superior courtjudges will be elected in nonpartisan elections by the voters ofeach circuit to terms offour years. Certain vacancies and new judgeships may be filled by gubernatorial appointment.
Caseload data for the superior courts is presented atright. The graphs compare total, civil, criminal and perjudge filings and dispositions for fiscal years 1979-1983. The table on pages 12and 13presents FY'83 total superior court caseload by circuitand case type.

lO

5-yr. trend: total filings/dispositions
160,112
5-yr. trend: civil filings/dispositions

150,000

5-yr.trend: criminal filings/dispositions
60,488

58,515

60,739

56,344

r-----t----+-----t------+-- 50,000

5-yrtrend: average per judge, total filings/dispositions
1,540
I

1,439

FY'79

FY'80

FY'81

*These FY'80 figures include estimated data for Cobb County.

Filings Dispositions

1,453
I
FY'82

2,000 1,800
I
1,583 1,600 1,400
1,447
I
FY'83
II

FY 1983Superior Court Caseload (Docket entries)

Circuit

Total Criminal Filed Disposed

Felony Filed Disposed

Misdemeanor Filed Disposed

Traffic Filed Disposed

Alapaha Alcovy Atlanta
Atlantic Augusta Blue Ridge
Brunswick Chattahoochee Cherokee

3,307 1 ,319 5,570
862 1 ,053 1 ,846
1,327 2,016 1,455

2,819 1 ,201 5,437
64 7 1 '171 1 ,675
1,108 1,767 1 ,334

575 475 5,567
545 943 779
843 1,314
662

459 444 5,437
360 980 664
628 1,220
591

1 ,395 798 3
138 82
456
131 392 649

1,117 712 0
108 153 461
127 379 516

1,337 46 0
179 28
611
353 310 144

1,243 45 0
179 38
550
353 168 227

Clay1on Cobb Conasauga
Cordele Coweta Dougherty
Douglas Dublin Eastern
Flint Griffin Gwinnett
Houston Lookout Mountain Macon
Middle Mountain Northeastern

1 '182 1,510 1 '138
1,094 854 743
873 1'187 1,767
954 1,507
695
326 2,499 1,553
564 709 1,541

993 1,463
987
1 '111 827 648
825 1 ,093 2,002
842 1,485
836
308 2,322 1,653
590 564 1,517

1 '144 1,328
646
409 645 743
244 361 1,731
429 669 668
288 796 1,265
556 367 620

964 1,304
582
415 631 626
260 323 1,906
376 751 809
270 656 1,379
586 345 659

27 139 289
679 172
0
422 764
36
487 581
14
38 1,389
258
8 234 409

22 119 233
690 161
7
378 737
96
437 496
15
38 1,397
251
4 147 384

11

7

43

40

203

172

6

6

37

35

0

15

207

187

62

33

0

0

38

29

257

238

13

12

0

0

314

269

30

23

0

0

108

72

512

474

Northern

1,170

803

482

267

669

511

19

25

Ocmulgee

1,996

1,761

1,155

1,017

825

731

16

13

Oconee

960

954

444

450

511

498

5

6

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ogeechee

447

427

442

421

5

6

0

0

Pataula

1,188

1,043

499

466

529

410

160

167

Piedmont

1,257

1,271

290

318

489

472

478

481

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rockdale

524

451

233

193

219

207

72

51

Rome

1 ,890

1 ,971

485

522

1,295

1 ,365

110

84

South Georgia

914

1,037

801

885

97

136

16

16

Southern Southwestern Stone Mountain

1,253 629
2,343

1,180 593
2,486

1,123 465
2,341

1,032 439
2,484

130

148

152

144

2

2

0

0

12

10

0

0

Tallapoosa

1 ,001

829

364

307

452

360

185

162

Tifton

768

626

452

399

300

224

16

3

Toombs

2,410

2,348

333

303

1'1 07

1 ,067

970

978

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Waycross

60

674

476

486

164

169

20

19

Western

599

665

545

599

39

45

15

21

TOTAL AVERAGE PER JUDGE ..

59,460 487

56,344 462

35,542 291

34,213 280

16,975 139

15,680 129

6,943 57

6,451 53

The Douglas and Rockdale JUdicial circuits became effective 1/1/83. Based on 122 superior court judges.

12

Total Civil

Filed Disposed

1,209 2,408 12,353

841 1,884 11,584

2,221 5,033 2,404

2,400 4,056 2,067

3,162 5,424 2,703

2,759 3,886 3,345

3,169 7,708 2,864

3,379 6,805 2,792

1,842 3,957 2,265

1,856 4,064 1,777

2,302 1,815 4,182

2,722 1,464 3,251

2,174 2,722 3,850

1,769 2,590 3,682

1,351 3,223 3,995

1'119 3,005 4,054

2,526 1,733 2,409

1,931 1,868 2,507

1,857 3,790 1,587

1,633 2,759 1,247

2,118 1,360 1,946

2,233 1,035 1,556

1,060 2,683 1,770

554 3,446 1,538

3,505 2,082 8,320

2,727 1,779 7,612

2,898 2,115 1,121

2,187 1,449
938

2,669 1,810

2,290 1,707

133,695 120,147

1,096

985

General Civil

Filed Disposed

487 647 4,743

333 525 3,967

604

707

990

705

753

557

1,000

812

1,351

698

846

993

663

696

1,162

885

839

871

530 1,199
505

593 1,015
354

1,126 714
1,264

1,384 658 855

970

730

740

637

665

586

299

225

1,021

952

766

767

852

631

481

547

781

858

681

605

1,377

956

600

503

640

679

632

549

652

495

475

252

961

1,383

586

584

1,084 804
2,146

858 720 1,733

1,078

850

564

499

325

285

831

828

620

543

40,054 328

34,863 286

Domestic Relations

Filed Disposed

504 939 5,971

395 762 5,601

1,354 3,309 1,292

1,366 2,724 1,223

1,948 3,317 1,035

1,744 2,752 1,224

2,212 5,349 1,493

2,427 4,932 1,426

894 1,980 1,321

841 2,358
941

683 660 2,414

701 560 2,136

779 1,394 2,189

707 1,417 2,135

818 1,600 2,726

737 1,554 2,879

1,150 970
1,129

972 956 1,117

792 1,409
589

678 1,114
501

1,210 491 786

1,253 343 668

376

255

928

1,389

781

657

1,651 987
5,276

1,439 861
5,123

1,088

861

1,029

744

529

436

1,582 868

1,283 866

69,802 572

65,058 533

Independent Motions

Filed Disposed

218 822 1,639

113 597 2,016

263

327

734

627

359

287

214

203

756

436

822

1,128

294

256

1 '197

988

532

495

418

422

778

691

439

482

493

637

441

246

504

260

425

332

588

536

996

961

234

157

602

499

503

408

524

328

282

365

499

532

384

350

1,004

689

398

243

268

301

237

143

508

393

209

47

794

674

403

297

770

430

291

198

898

756

732

476

522

206

267

217

256

179

322

298

23,839 195

20,226 166

Total Caseload

Filed Disposed

4,516 3,727 17,923

3,660 3,085 17,021

3,083 6,086 4,250

3,047 5,227 3,742

4,489 7,440 4,158

3,867 5,653 4,679

4,351 9,218 4,002

4,372 8,268 3,779

2,936 4,811 3,008

2,967 4,891 2,425

3,175 3,002 5,949

3,547 2,557 5,253

3,128 4,229 4,545

2,611 4,075 4,518

1,677 5,722 5,548

1,427 5,327 5,707

3,090 2,442 3,950

2,521 2,432 4,024

3,027 5,786 2,547

2,436 4,520 2,201

2,565 2,548 3,203

2,660 2,078 2,827

1,584 4,573 2,684

1,005 5,417 2,575

4,758 2,711 10,663

3,907 2,372 10,098

3,899 2,883 3,531

3,016 2,075 3,286

3,329 2,409

2,964 2,372

193,155 1,583

176,491 1,447

Total Open
4,244 3,606 13,661
1,611 7,231 4,092
4,515 8,346 4,716
2,872 8,033 3,388
1,171 4,505 2,985
3,966 2.836 6,262
2,867 2,786 2,193
1,275 3,490 2,828
3,827 1,486 1,518
2,753 4,452 1,596
1,418 2,357 2,231
2,474 4,112 1,640
4,023 1,716 11,148
3,705 3,916 1,966
2,471 1,408
163,696 1,342

13

State Courts 5-yr. trend: total filings

FY'79
1 463, 114*

S State Courts tate courts were first established as a general class oflimited jurisdiction courts in 1970, when the legislature designated certain other existing, county-funded courts as state courts. Through fiscal year 1983, state courts generally exercised countywidejurisdiction in civil and criminal cases in which the superior courts did not retain exclusivejurisdiction. Some variation injurisdiction existed since state courts had originally been created by separate statutes.
Effective July 1, 1983, a new statute adopted by the 1983 General Assembly to implement thejudicial article ofthe revised Georgia Constitution provides for uniform jurisdiction for state courts. Under the new judicial article, these courts became constitutional courts. State courts

FY'81

FY'82

458~03*
453,641

FY'83
500,000 494,433
450,000

*Filings estimated for the State Court of DeKalb County. Data unavailable for FY'BO.
Filings - -

will continue to exercise criminal jurisdiction over trials ofnonfelony criminal cases, but have been granted civiljurisdiction over the trial ofall general civil actions regardless ofthe amount claimed, unless exclusivejurisdiction is vested in the superior courts.
Uniform state courtjurisdiction also includes hearing applications for and issuing search and arrest warrants, holding courts ofinquiry and punishing contempts by fine ($500 or less) and/or imprisonment (20 days or less). Additionally, state courts have been granted appellate jurisdiction to review decisions of lower courts as may be provided bylaw.
At the end ofFY'83, 59 state courts were operating in 60 counties. (The state's only multi-county state court serves both Cherokee and Forsyth counties.) Ofthe 77 judges presiding, 29were full-time state court judges, while 48 served part-time. Part-timejudges are authorized to practice law in courts other than their own.
Under the new uniformity statute, all state courtjudges will be elected to four-year terms. While state courtjudges were previously elected in partisan elections, another 1983 act requires nonpartisan elections for state courtjudges after July 1. 1983.
During the past year, statutory and constitutional changes occurred which affected several state courts. The legislature created the State Court ofChattooga County, served by a full-time judge and part-time solicitor, which became operational after the end of the fiscal year. The General Assembly provided a secondjudgeship for the State Court ofGwinnett County, although it will not take effect until January 1, 1985. A provision ofthe newjudicial article classified the existing county courts located in Baldwin and Putnam counties, which exercised countywidejurisdiction over criminal cases, as state courts effective July 1,

14

1983. Abolished by the legislature in 1982, the State Court ofPolk County ceased operations on December 31, 1982, and its pending cases were transferred to that county's superior court.
Presented at left is a comparison oftotal state courtfilings forfiscal years 1979-1983. FY'83 filings by filing type are listed in the following table.

FY 1983 State Court Caseload (Docket entries)

Total

Total

Total

Criminal Civil Cases Filed

Appling Baldwin Bibb

645 4,034 5,873

52 0
1,043

697 4,034 6,916

Hall Houston Jackson

Total Criminal
7,945 7,294 7,982

Total Civil

Total Cases Filed

1,219 1,474
230

9,164 8,768 8,212

Bryan Bulloch Burke

2,351

51

2,402

Jefferson

2,305

90

2,395

Jenkins

2,474

171

2,645

Johnson

1,777

91

1,868

893

126

1,019

385

45

430

Candler Carroll Chatham

1,927 5,672 4,289

14 947 5,309

1,941 6,619 9,598

Liberty Long Lowndes

8,928 674
12,937

103

9,031

16

690

263 13,200

Cherokee/ Forsy1h
Clarke Clay1on
Clinch Cobb Coffee
Colquitt Coweta Decatur
DeKalb Dougherty Early
Effingham Elbert Emanuel
Evans Fulton Glynn
Grady Gwinnett Habersham

7,339 1,344 18,719
904 39,148
2,145
2,640 6,600 2,238
11,107 9,072 1.396
1,727 1,346 4,288
482 48,264
9,012
1,778 4,249 1,679

1,313 371
5,048
43 14,009
94
40 385
93
33,911 4,812 45
85 30 150
20 80,268
3,265
37 4,875
146

8,652 1,715 23,767
947 53,157
2,239
2,680 6,985 2,331
45,018 13,884
1,441
1,812 1,376 4,438
502 128,532
12,277
1,815 9,124 1,825

Macon Miller Mitchell
Muscogee Pierce Putnam
Richmond Screven Spalding
Stephens Sumter Tattnall
Thomas Tift Toombs
Treutlen Troup Walker
Ware Washington Wayne
Worth

613 931 1,851
7,010 612 908
23,116 1,379 2,310
966 2,509 1,661
3,330 6,343 1,768
1,861 7,130 2,882
3,913 1,132
876
2,823

49

662

30

961

12

1,863

378

7,388

53

665

0

908

588 23,704

42

1,421

194

2,504

92

1,058

221

2,730

66

1,727

63

3,393

567

6,910

138

1,906

34

1,895

364

7,494

111

2,993

213

4,126

38

1,170

70

946

87

2,910

TOTAL

330,640 163,793 494,433

county courts which became state courts on 7/1/83.

15

Probate Courts 5-yr. trend: total criminal filings
Filings--

G Probate Courts eorgia's probate courts exercise jurisdiction in the probate of wills, the administration ofestates, the appointment ofguardians and the involuntary hospitalization of incapacitated adults and other dependent individuals. Probate judges are also authorized to perform certain administrative functions, such as issuing marriage licenses, pistol permits and delayed birth certificates.
Other duties for which probate judges may be responsible, depending on the particular county, include holding habeas corpus hearings or courts ofinquiry, supervising local elections or hearing cases under the Compulsory School Attendance Act. Probate courts may also hear traffic cases and try violations ofstate game and fish laws.

FY'79

FY'80

FY'81

FY'82

FY'83

197,312

200,000

~

175,000

~~171,230

""' ~281 148,019

440

150,000

There are 159 probatejudges in Georgia, each serving a single county. Each probatejudge is elected on a partisan basis in general elections by the voters ofthe county to a term offour years. In most counties, a vacancy in office is filled through special election ordered by an official serving as interim judge. In other counties, designated or appointed persons fill the vacancy until the next succeeding general election.
Georgia law requires probate judges to fulfill an annual training requirement by attending seminars conducted by the Institute ofContinuing Judicial Education in conjunction with the Executive Probate Judges Council. The Council was created in 1982 as a state agency with the purpose ofadvising the Institute on matters concerning continuing education for probate judges.
At its 1983 session, the Georgia General Assembly approved increases in both probate court costs and minimum salaries for probate judges. Cost increases varied between 10 percent and 50 percent, with the larger increases generally provided for the lower costs. Salary increases ranged from almost 10 percent to 20 percent. Monthly salary supplements for probatejudges with election or traffic duties were also raised by $50.
A comparison oftotal criminal
filings for those probate courts exer-
cisingcriminaljurisdiction is pre-
sented at left for fiscal years
1979-1983. The table on pages 17-19
lists the FY'83 total criminal filings
by county as well as the civil caseload
of121 probate courts for which data
was submitted.

16

FY 1983 Probate Court Caseload (Docket entries filed)

County

Total Criminal

Total Civil

Admin istration

No Administration
Necessary

Probate

Guardianship

Year's Support

Habeas Corpus

Hospitalization

Total Cases Filed

Appling Atkinson Bacon

57

15

421

34

8

10

23

0

14

2

5

1

1

57

3

0

0

9

455

Baker Baldwin Banks

453

547

28

2,060

40

13

9

75

0

22

99

1

0

335

547

2

3

0

0

2,100

Barrow Bartow Ben Hill

780

115

13

5,000

263

24

419

70

9

9

38

15

114

7

42

9

4

3

39

895

20

8

0

82

5,263

9

0

0

3

489

Berrien

704

Bibb

710

93

57

416

46

41

0

57

Bleckley

925

36

4

23

5

3

0

0

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brantley

1,486

21

0

0

14

2

5

0

0

Brooks

1,493

Bryan

52

6

3

23

6

2

0

12

710 961 1,507
52

Bulloch Burke Butts

91

14

2,934

71

16

9

54

3

38

10

4

0

9

5

0

0

91

0

3,005

Calhoun Camden Candler

521

4,012

59

2

8

28

14

0

6

59

Carroll

Catoosa

7,097

Charlton

462

34

14

2

11

4

0

2

496

Chatham

1,797

108

Chattahoochee

345

5

0

Chattooga

2,029

93

15

116

1 ,086

2

1

61

293

94

25

2

0

0

7

9

0

75

1,797

0

350

0

2,122

Cherokee Clarke Clay

167

24

12

96

20

9

0

6

167

343

50

18

136

42

6

0

91

343

427

14

0

13

0

0

0

0

441

Clayton

572

76

37

208

91

58

0

102

572

Clinch

39

2

2

26

8

0

0

39

Cobb

1,658

192

62

705

355

117

7

220

1.658

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coffee

123

26

17

57

18

5

0

0

123

Colquitt

253

30

19

114

22

16

0

52

253

Columbia

2,672

Cook

2,666

67

14

6

24

6

3

0

14

2,733

Coweta

295

37

7

140

36

27

0

48

295

Crawford

1,660

------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------

Crisp

3,274

94

7

11

66

3

7

0

0

3,368

Dade

2,931

21

4

2

12

2

0

0

1

2,952

Dawson

868

28

4

2

13

2

0

6

896

Decatur DeKalb Dodge

100

18

3,788

697

584

61

7

7

35

210

1,443

3

31

13

3

681

330

10

5

0

24

5

422

0

5

100 3,788
645.

Dooly

1,932

Dougherty

Douglas

6,119

311

23

19

196

34

29

0

10

6,430

Early Echols Effingham

128

12

0

60

13

9

0

34

128

Elbert Emanuel Evans

112

35

32

6

9

53

13

2

0

0

112

2

15

7

2

0

0

32

FY 1983 Probate Court Caseload (Docket entries filed)

County
Fannin Fayette Floyd

Total Criminal
744 1,949 5,307

Total Civil
75 87 480

Administration
30 8
40

No Administration
Necessary
9 8 24

Probate
20 52 199

Guardianship
8 11 45

Year's Support
8 8 8

Habeas Corpus
0 0 0

Hospitalization
0 0 164

Total Cases Filed
819 2,036 5,787

Forsyth Franklin Fulton

3,826

3,026

343

323

1,456

752

128

0

24

3,026

Gilmer

2,329

Glascock

143

13

0

1

9

1

2

0

0

156

Glynn

275

6

16

144

37

15

0

57

275

Gordon Grady Greene

4,305

115

18

109

21

2,605

48

2

7

63

13

42

2

27

23

4

0

0

4,420

10

2

0

21

109

6

0

10

2,653

Gwinnett Habersham Hall

593

67

17

273

121

52

0

63

593

124

12

6

65

10

4

0

27

124

324

29

12

204

43

15

0

21

324

Hancock Haralson Harris

1,141

19

2,602

116

18

1,887

76

7

0

9

3

39

5

51

2

1

0

6

1,160

8

9

0

39

2,718

7

5

0

1,963

Hart Heard Henry

367

105

13

848

52

30

5,861

203

25

9

64

0

15

10

105

6

3

0

10

472

2

0

4

900

51

11

0

6,064

Houston Irwin Jackson

312

40

24

158

78

12

0

0

312

197

119

18

30

50

15

6

0

0

316

110

14

10

67

14

5

0

0

110

Jasper Jeff Davis Jefferson

782

31

5

727

35

2

4

17

21

4

0

0

813

5

i

0

0

762

Jenkins Johnson Jones

48

7

95

17

2,048

106

10

4

23

2

50

7

40

3

1

0

10

48

5

~l

0

18

95

14

5

0

30

2,154

Lamar Lanier Laurens

1,404

54

8

548

36

2

4,836

87

5

9

33

1

13

8

30

2

2

0

0

1,458

9

0

1

10

584

10

8

0

26

4,923

Lee Liberty Lincoln

2,000

35

8

466

25

5

4

16

0

16

5

0

0

2

2

0

2

2,035

0

491

Long Lowndes Lumpkin

11

3

0

5

0

3

0

0

11

279

68

17

135

44

15

0

0

279

992

Macon Madison Marion

75

12

962

92

10

1,033

20

2

1

36

6

41

4

10

10

1

2

13

75

16

3

0

16

1,054

2

2

0

0

1,053

McDuffie

2,774

Mcintosh

2,183

43

12

Meriwether

2,361

18

4

5

0

3

2,226

Miller

58

4

5

31

6

4

0

8

58

Mitchell

96

29

2

57

6

2

0

0

96

Monroe

12,170

Montgomery

451

39

6

Morgan

2,824

70

14

Murray

2,265

163

27

4

19

4

36

11

60

4

3

0

9

2

2

26

24

0

3

490

3

2,894

15

2,428

Muscogee

Newton

3,708

199

15

18

Oconee

1,330

9

87

30

7

50

3,907

FY 1983 Probate Court Caseload (Docket entries filed)

County
Oglethorpe Paulding Peach

Total Criminal
698 1,053 1,428

Total Civil
58 148 101

Ad ministration
13 19 16

No Administration
Necessary
9 4 5

Pickens Pierce Pike

1,272

93

12

10

60

5

2

1,148

36

8

2

Polk Pulaski Putnam

733

257

10

7

424

47

9

7

81

8

5

Quitman

397

16

2

1

Rabun

317

64

5

8

Randolph

754

39

4

2

Richmond

Rockdale

3,969

Schley

92

15

4

Screven

69

12

3

Seminole

2,728

76

20

15

Spalding

429

46

41

Stephens

142

25

4

Stewart

168

19

2

1

Sumter

99

16

3

Talbot Taliaferro Tattnall

1,415 868

Taylor Telfair Terrell

549

47

2

0

720

697

41

6

7

Thomas Tift Toombs

422

20

6

153

30

8

151

6

17

Towns Treutlen Troup

330

41

5

4

20

6

1

252

18

16

Turner Twiggs Union

2,264

69

9

4

613

389

Upson Walker Walton

3,402

188

12

16

247

16

11

2,824

159

24

16

Ware

485

37

20

Warren

260

36

3

0

Washington

103

9

6

Wayne Webster Wheeler

301

39

8

5

720

19

2

White

501

Whitfield

3,991

391

42

19

Wilcox

480

24

0

2

Wilkes

709

Wilkinson

473

60

7

9

Worth

102

12

8

*Data not submitted.

Probate
28 50 41 26 27 17 96 26 30 10 39 32
10 36 26 166 54 13 80
16
21 105 72 59 26
9 116
39
86 140 71 109 25 52
16 14
143 18
24 43

Guardianship
4 19 7 3 6 3 16 5 6 0
11
0 10 5 47 9 2 0
4
4 19 14 13
5 2 17 9
21 57 15 20
3 8
6
26 3
6 16

Year's Support
2 12 4
5 6 0 16 0 2 0 1 0
0 5 3 26 2 1 0
0
2
4
10
1 7 8
8 23
9 11
2 3
4
15
0 5

Habeas Corpus
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 3 0 0 0
0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 261 0 0
0 0
0 0
1 0

Hospitalization 2
44 28 37 14
6 112
0 30
3 0 0
0 3 7 100 48 0 0
25
0 271
25 46
0 1 78 0
45 0
24 27
3 25
0 0
146 0
13 18

Total Cases Filed
756 1,201 1,529 1,365
60 1,184
990 471
81 413 381 793
107 69
2,804 429 142 187 99
596
738 422 153 151 371
20 252 2,333
3,590 247
2,983 485 296 103
340 739
4,382 504
533 102

19

Juvenile Courts
5-yr. trend: total filings/dispositions

t Juvenile Courts he juvenile court's exclusive

six-year terms by the superior court

original jurisdiction extends to cases judges of their county or circuit. At

involving delinquent children alleged the end offiscal year 1983, there

to have committed noncapital

were 11 full-time juvenile court

offenses and unruly children under judges and 39 part- timejudges

the age of 17, deprived children

serving in the state's 62 counties

under the age of 18 and juvenile

having separatejuvenile courts.

traffic offenders under the age of 16.

Through the end ofFY'83, sepa-

In addition, thejuvenile court has ratejuvenile courts were those

jurisdiction in custody proceedings created in counties with a population

referred from the superior court and ofat least 50,000 (except Richmond

in cases involving the termination of County). In the 95 counties with a

parental rights and enlistment in the population ofless than 50,000 where

military services and consent to

juvenile courts had not been estab-

marriage for minors. Appeals from lished, superior courtjudges or

thejuvenile court in all cases offinal their designated referees heard

judgmentare to the Court ofAppeals juvenile cases.

and the Supreme Court.

During the year, the part-time

With the exception ofthejuve- juvenile courtjudgeships in Bartow

nile courtjudge in Floyd County who and Gwinnett counties were made

is an elected official, juvenile court full-time. (A judge's part-time status

judges are generally appointed for permits him or her to practice law in

addition to the office's official duties.)

FY'81

FY'82

FY'83

Ofthe 50judges serving the separate juvenile courts, two served as both

thejuvenile and state courtjudge.

Statewide totaljuvenile court

filings and dispositions are com-

pared stleft for fiscal years 1979-

1983. Juvenile court caseload for

FY'83 is presented by county in the

1 - - - - - - + - - - - - + - - - _ _ : . , _ , __ _~~-30,000

table on pages 21-23.

30,451

Filings Dispositions

20

FV 1983 Juvenile Court Caseload (Number of children)

County

Delinquent Filed Disposed

Unruly Filed Disposed

Traffic Filed Disposed

Deprived

Special Proceedings

Total

Filed Disposed Filed Disposed Filed Disposed

Appling Atkinson Bacon

55

51

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

56

53

11

12

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

12

13

12

12

0

0

0

0

2

3

15

16

Baker Baldwin Banks

2

2

0

0

0

0

1

2

0

0

3

4

64

63

4

4

0

0

24

24

0

0

92

91

13

12

0

0

0

0

7

7

0

0

20

19

Barrow Bartow Ben Hill

65

55

10

8

4

3

36

31

0

0

115

97

283

268

107

96

4

3

140

118

19

15

553

500

44

52

0

0

0

0

15

21

0

0

59

73

Berrien Bibb Bleckley

58

58

5

5

0

0

3

3

0

0

66

66

689

689

126

120

3

3

120

117

118

96 1,056 1,025

6

6

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

6

Brantley Brooks Bryan

11

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

11

0

14

11

0

0

6

5

2

3

23

20

37

37

16

16

3

3

5

5

0

0

61

61

Bulloch Burke Butts

57

54

8

6

2

3

16

14

5

4

88

81

43

23

0

0

0

0

14

11

0

0

57

34

12

9

0

0

0

0

3

1

12

9

27

19

Calhoun Camden Candler

10

10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

10

10

105

61

36

23

10

5

12

10

3

1

166

100

7

7

2

2

0

0

3

3

0

0

12

12

Carroll Catoosa Charlton

93

90

14

13

5

5

50

36

10

88

77

14

7

14

11

26

18

6

10

7

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

172

146

6

148

119

0

10

7

Chatham

1,268 1'121

254

248

72

63

203

192

91

87 1,888 1,711

Chattahoochee

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

2

Chattooga

37

36

13

11

0

0

25

25

0

76

72

Cherokee Clarke Clay

169

116

75

31

15

10

98

61

6

1

363

219

222

219

33

33

0

1

10

11

89

88

354

352

7

14

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

7

14

Clayton Clinch Cobb

696

540

306

260

52

8

9

1

1

0

1,077 1,095

543

539

64

36

196

173

135

109 1,385 1'118

0

0

0

0

0

9

10

61

207

188

96

105 1,987 1,988

Coffee

48

54

0

0

8

7

4

3

17

17

77

81

Colquitt

105

95

18

19

0

0

55

50

6

2

184

166

Columbia

85

95

39

37

2

0

0

0

21

21

147

153

Cook Coweta Crawford

60

2

7

7

0

0

7

7

0

0

74

66

168

170

34

35

13

13

55

58

33

31

303

307

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

3

Crisp Dade Dawson

56

55

22

19

2

2

19

14

2

2

101

92

19

12

2

2

0

0

12

6

9

9

42

29

11

6

2

0

0

0

0

2

15

8

Decatur DeKalb Dodge

43

45

2

2

1

1

4

4

3

3

53

55

1,868 1,631

747

573

70

53

450

403

13

12 3,148 2,672

22

22

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

24

24

Dooly

11

11

1

0

0

2

2

0

0

14

14

Dougherty

589

573

4

1

5

7

107

105

0

0

705

686

Douglas

220

184

42

32

122

117

56

41

15

13

455

387

Early

56

39

4

4

0

0

1

0

0

0

61

43

Echols

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Effingham

25

24

12

10

0

0

5

4

3

3

45

41

Elbert Emanuel Evans

45

34

3

0

5

0

17

12

6

2

76

48

23

23

4

4

0

0

43

43

0

0

70

70

15

15

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

8

20

23

21

FY 1983 Juvenile Court Caseload (Number of children)

County

Delinquent Filed Disposed

Unruly Filed Disposed

Traffic Filed Disposed

Deprived

Special Proceedings

Total

Filed Disposed Filed Disposed Filed Disposed

Fannin Fayette Floyd
Forsyth Franklin Fulton

12

13

4

4

1

1

12

12

6

89

89

10

11

3

3

13

8

5

303

284

157

158

30

30

89

61

34

110

66

24

20

5

6

33

16

1

10

7

0

0

1

1

4

3

0

3,106 3,125

522

530

148

136

546

573

101

6

35

36

5

120

116

24

613

557

1

173

109

0

15

11

93 4,423 4,457

Gilmer

34

29

11

7

2

2

7

1

0

0

54

39

Glascock

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

2

0

Glynn

338

346

110

112

15

14

25

23

9

7

497

502

Gordon Grady Greene

167

159

77

77

11

11

55

54

23

18

333

319

37

29

2

1

0

0

5

3

0

0

44

33

5

11

0

0

0

0

5

4

0

0

10

15

Gwinnett

284

377

95

144

22

21

112

119

115

134

628

795

Habersham

17

12

5

0

0

0

10

0

0

32

13

Hall

230

240

130

131

12

12

47

42

24

24

443

449

Hancock Haralson Harris

0

1

0

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

3

33

34

2

2

0

0

17

16

0

0

52

52

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

3

Hart Heard Henry

22

21

1

1

1

1

15

12

0

0

39

35

9

8

0

0

0

0

10

10

20

19

94

96

3

3

2

2

16

18

14

15

129

134

Houston Irwin Jackson

121

93

12

12

1

1

21

27

0

0

155

133

23

23

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

23

23

30

15

2

2

24

16

0

0

57

34

Jasper Jeff Davis Jefferson

6

5

0

0

0

0

7

6

0

0

13

11

32

34

5

4

1

1

3

1

9

6

50

46

24

24

3

3

0

0

4

4

0

0

31

31

Jenkins Johnson Jones

5

4

1

1

0

0

5

4

0

0

11

9

7

7

2

2

0

0

8

8

0

0

17

17

4

14

0

2

0

0

11

39

0

0

15

55

Lamar Lanier Laurens

8

6

1

1

0

0

3

3

8

7

20

17

37

36

3

3

3

3

0

0

0

0

43

42

88

88

8

8

0

0

20

20

0

0

116

116

Lee Liberty Lincoln

16

14

11

11

14

13

1

1

10

10

52

49

152

142

79

78

1

1

40

32

1

0

273

253

5

5

0

0

0

0

2

2

2

2

9

9

Long Lowndes Lumpkin

17

9

1

6

1

2

1

0

182

173

6

5

1

1

78

76

0

23

17

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

21

17

0

267

255

26

18

Macon Madison Marion

46

48

2

3

0

0

19

22

0

1

67

74

20

15

1

6

2

3

2

0

0

30

20

3

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

4

McDuffie

55

52

1

0

0

2

2

10

10

68

65

Mcintosh

24

24

7

7

0

0

3

2

0

0

34

33

Meriwether

34

34

4

3

2

2

4

4

45

44

Miller Mitchell Monroe

31

31

2

2

0

0

4

4

0

0

37

37

35

38

1

1

0

0

5

2

0

0

41

41

7

7

0

0

0

0

0

10

6

18

13

Montgomery

2

2

0

0

0

0

17

17

0

0

19

19

Morgan

16

16

4

4

0

0

11

11

0

0

31

31

Murray

55

27

87

30

37

0

0

0

180

58

Muscogee

1,242 1,214

491

490

105

103

215

203

212

187 2,265 2,197

Newton

226

214

62

61

10

11

148

129

26

17

472

432

22

Oconee

5

6

6

6

0

0

13

14

FY 1983 Juvenile Court Caseload (Number of children)

County

Delinquent Filed Disposed

Unruly Filed Disposed

Traffic Filed Disposed

Deprived

Special Proceedings

Filed Disposed Filed Disposed

Total Filed Disposed

Oglethorpe

7

5

2

0

Paulding

30

30

2

2

Peach

30

32

9

9

3

0

0

0

11

8

20

18

1

0

54

51

0

0

0

0

40

42

Pickens Pierce Pike

36

32

21

23

5

4

5

5

0

0

67

64

12

12

0

1

1

1

2

5

0

0

15

19

11

11

2

2

0

0

2

2

0

0

15

15

Polk Pulaski Putnam

55

68

2

3

2

3

15

13

2

2

76

89

16

15

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

3

19

18

8

8

8

2

0

0

3

0

0

19

11

Quitman Rabun Randolph

6

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

5

14

3

0

0

1

0

6

1

0

0

21

4

26

22

0

0

0

0

9

7

0

0

35

29

Richmond

790

785

324

317

38

36

14

15

11

11

1,177

1,164

Rockdale

182

189

64

64

2

2

40

40

26

27

314

322

Schley

14

18

5

7

0

0

5

6

3

3

27

34

Screven

24

22

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

25

23

Seminole

6

6

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

6

Spalding

251

252

100

102

0

0

58

56

6

5

415

415

Stephens Stewart Sumter

17

12

3

3

0

0

10

1

0

31

16

31

32

4

5

1

1

1

2

0

0

37

40

91

93

32

32

3

2

6

8

0

0

132

135

Talbot Taliaferro Tattnall

1

2

2

2

0

1

0

0

0

0

3

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

44

39

3

3

0

0

0

49

43

Taylor Telfair Terrell

3

6

1

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

5

9

15

15

6

6

0

0

4

4

0

0

25

25

17

17

2

2

0

0

21

21

Thomas Tift Toombs

159

160

51

46

6

5

14

10

29

23

259

244

188

163

61

39

0

11

10

0

0

261

212

41

41

4

4

9

9

0

0

55

55

Towns Treutlen Troup

5

0

0

0

1

3

0

0

0

4

6

7

7

4

4

0

0

18

18

0

0

29

29

378

398

6

6

0

0

89

74

0

0

473

478

Turner Twiggs Union
Upson Walker Walton

5

4

1

0

0

5

4

0

0

11

9

6

16

4

7

0

0

7

23

0

0

17

46

4

4

3

3

4

13

10

50

51

5

5

0

0

17

15

0

0

72

71

127

122

38

31

11

10

30

33

0

4

206

200

285

272

113

113

48

46

148

132

58

32

652

595

Ware* Warren Washington
Wayne Webster Wheeler
White Whitfield Wilcox
Wilkes Wilkinson Worth
TOTAL

7 37
48 0 12
13 280
8
8 2 45
19,677

8 40
55
12
16 265
8
8 2 34
18,771

0 2
8 0 2
0 201
7
0 0 0
5,566

0 2
10 0 2
0 203
7
0 0 0
5,193

0 0
0 0 0
3 18
0
0 0 0
1,026

0

0

0

8

9

0

0

0

40

43

0

13

20

0

0

69

85

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

11

11

0

0

25

25

1

6

2

0

0

22

19

22

123

130

68

65

690

685

0

15

15

0

0

30

30

0

2

2

0

0

10

10

0

0

0

0

0

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

45

34

933 4,516 4,150 1,565 1,404 32,350 30,451

*Data unavailable.
23

I Other Courts ncluded in the 'other courts' category through the end ofFY'83 were justice ofthe peace courts, small claims courts, certain special courts exercisingjurisdiction countywide and courts serving incorporated municipalities. Along with the four major trial courts, these local limited jurisdiction courts operate to form the Georgiajudicial system. While the geographic and subject matter jurisdictions ofthese different courts vary, changes resulting from the provisions ofthe newjudicial article reclassified many of them to provide for uniformity beginning with the 1984 fiscal year.
Prior to revision, the constitution authorizedjustices ofthe peace to hear civil actions arising in their respective militia districts
which involved contracts or damages to personal property for which the amount claimed did not exceed $200, except where the limit had
been raised by local constitutional amendment. Extending throughout the county, their criminaljurisdiction authorizedjustices ofthe peace to issue search and arrest warrants and to hold criminal commitment hearings. Additional powers included hearing dispossessory actions, performing marriages, administering oaths, taking affidavits and levying fines for contempt.
Established by statute, small claims courts retainedjurisdiction similar to that ofjustice courts, although they usually had higher civil jurisdictional limits, and not all small claims courts were vested with criminaljurisdiction. Rather than creating a separate small claims court, some counties (Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton) have a small claims division within their state courts.
Several other courts originally created by statute retained limited civil and criminaljurisdiction throughout their particular counties. These special courts include the civil courts ofBibb and Richmond counties; the municipal courts of Columbus and Savannah; the

county courts ofBaldwin, Echols and bail when granting bail is not exclu-

Putnam counties; and the magis-

sively reserved to another court.

trate's courts located in Douglas,

Additionally, the magistrate court

Rockdale and Clarke counties. Spe- may issue subpoenas for witnesses

cial courts authorized to exercise

and administer oaths ofoffice for

criminaljurisdiction only included which authority is not assigned to

the magistrate's courts ofBaldwin another official. Since the magistrate

and Glynn counties and the county court cannot conductjury trials,

recorder's courts in Chatham,

county ordinance violation cases

DeKalb, Gwinnett and Muscogee

must be transferred to the state or

counties.

superior courts when a written

At the local level, Georgia has demand for jury trial is made

more than 400 courts which try local before trial.

traffic offenses and cases involving

Following the transition period

violations ofmunicipal ordinances in which the initial chiefmagistrate

and exercise the criminaljurisdic- is appointed by majority vote ofa

tion ofjustices ofthe peace. Under a county's superior courtjudges, each

new law enacted in 1983, such

chief magistrate will be elected on a

courts may also exercise concurrent partisan basis in general elections.

jurisdiction over cases involving pos- Other magistrate positions, as deter-

session ofone ounce or less ofmari- mined by the superior courtjudges,

juana. These courts, which serve

will be filled by appointment by the

incorporated municipalities, include chiefmagistrate. All magistrates

city courts, mayor's courts, munici- and chiefmagistrates will serve

pal courts and recorder's courts.

four-year terms.

Among the courts affected by the

In regard to local courts, the judi-

newjudicial article and recent acts cial article identifies all types of

providing for its implementation are municipal courts, ofwhatever name

justice of the peace courts, small

(mayor's, city or recorder's courts), as

claims courts, magistrate courts,

municipal courts. One exception

some special courts and municipal is the City Court ofAtlanta, which

courts. On July 1, 1983, the former retained its name. These courts will

three types ofcourts, along with the continue with the samejurisdiction

County Court ofEchols County,

as they exercised at the end offiscal

became the newly denominated

year 1983.

magistrate courts with uniform,

countywidejurisdiction. (The new

judicial article classified the county

courts ofBaldwin and Putnam coun-

ties as state courts.)

Magistrates' jurisdiction autho-

rizes them to 1) hear applications for

and issue search and arrest war-

rants, 2) preside in actions related to

bonds for good behavior and bonds to

keep the peace, 3) hold criminal com-

mitment hearings, 4) try county ordi-

nance violations, 5) try civil claims

up to $2,500 where jurisdiction is

not vested exclusively in the superior

court, and 6) preside over disposses-

sory actions and issue distress war-

rants. Magistrates are granted power

to fine (up to $200) and punish (up to

10 days) for contempt and may set

24

Judicial Agencies

Judicial Council of
S ~::f!::trative Office ofthe Courts
ince its creation by statute in 1973, the Judicial Council ofGeorgia has sought to establish both general policies and specific guides to action for the improved operation of the state'sjudicial system. The Council directs its staff. the Administrative Office of the Courts {AOC), to perform various legislatively prescribed duties in assisting court officials with issues pertaining to court administration and in providing services requested byjudges and other court personnel. Additionally, the Judicial Council executes certain administrative responsibilities in regard to otherjudicial branch agencies.
In planning its activities at the beginning ofFY'83, the Judicial Council adopted 14 goals and 31 related objectives. Most of the goals reflected the Council's statutory duties and its intention to have the AOC continue at its FY'82 operating level. However, shortly past midyear, it became clear that funding cutbacks would not permit a stabilization of AOC operations. The Council itselffound it necessary to temporarily redirect its efforts away from its normal functions toward solving the problems presented by the funding crisis.
As the direct result ofan emergency Council meeting called in February, 1983, steps were taken to deal with the reality ofthe appropriation cut-back. An amendment to a Supreme Court housekeeping measure pending in the House ofRepresentatives provided essentially for the repeal oflegislation originally constituting the Judicial Council and authorized the Supreme Court to create a newjudicial council. Through a petition dated February 28, 1983, the Council requested the Supreme Court to assume supervisory responsibility for the budgetary and administrative functions of the AOC, contingent upon the repeal of the original legislation. The petition also asked that the membership ofthe Council be reconstituted. In

response to the petition, the Supreme Court on August 5, 1983, ordered the reconstitution ofthe Council but refrained from specifically granting itselfsupervisory control. However, plans to physically relocate the AOC in closer proximity to the Supreme Court were formed and were carried out after the end of the fiscal year.
As part of its general duty to formulate and submit recommendations for the improvement of the judicial system, the Judicial Council acted on requests from seven circuits for additional judicial manpower. The Council endorsed only one request-from the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit-in making its annual recommendation regarding the need for additional superior courtjudgeships to the General Assembly and to the Governor during the 1983legislative session. Rather than enacting the Blue Ridge judgeship measure recommended by the Council, the legislature instead approved the formation ofa new Appalachian Judicial Circuit by splitting three counties from the Blue Ridge circuit.
In considering proposals for improvements in the traffic court area, the Council reacted to anumber ofsuggestions made by its traffic court committee to register support for traffic legislation under consideration by the Department of Public Safety's Hazardous Driving Study Committee.
In other action during the year, the Council assisted judges and court personnel by suggesting guidelines for handling in forma pauperis filings in civil matters and the expungement offirst offender records. The Council also performed specific administrative duties as required by various statutes. It approved the curricula for the Georgia Justice Courts Training Council's certification/recertification program and affirmed an appeal ofa Board ofCourt Reporting decision issued in FY'82 to suspend the certification ofa court reporter.

25

Administrative Office ofthe Courts
As staffto the Judicial Council, the AOC serves as the primary source of management information on the Georgia court system. In gathering and disseminating such information, the AOC performs fiscal, communications, research and court administration services to members ofthe judiciary and the general public.
To facilitate the delivery ofservices, the AOC is organized as two divisions-administration I operations and research/court services. These two divisions operate under the authority ofthe director, who is appointed by the Judicial Council to oversee the agency's activities and who serves as the primary contact for staffservices to the judicial system at the state level.
The administration/operations division is responsible for providing systemwide fiscal and communications services, as well as managing the internal operations of the AOC. Fiscal services include preparation of the unifiedjudicial budget and serving as budget officer and accountant for seven state-leveljudicial agencies.
A major function of the AOC is to promote communication among all the participants in the court system. A primary vehicle for this communication is the Georgia Courts Journal which, during the past year, was published monthly and distributed to more than 2,600judges, clerks, court reporters and members ofgovernmental and educational organizations. The Courts Journal informs its readership ofchanges injudicial procedure and personnel, recent legislation, activities ofjudicial organizations and other matters relating tojudicial process and court administration.
Other communications publications completed and distributed during fiscal year 1983 included the Judicial Legislative Log(which was discontinued after two issues due to budgetary constraints), the 1982 Georgia Courts Directoryand the

Ninth Annual Report on the Work of
the Georgia Courts.
The AOC also monitors and issues information pertaining to the courts in working to establish an effective communicational exchange with the press and the public. Seven issues ofthe public relations digestcompilations ofarticles appearing in the Georgia press about the courtswere prepared and distributed to members ofthe Judicial Council. The digests served as a way to gauge public opinion and to identify matters to be addressed by the Judicial Council. The AOC also issued 62 news releases and four radio spots during the year to announce changes injudicial personnel, court improvements and otherjudicialactivities of interest to the general public.
The research/court services division is generally responsible for compiling and evaluating caseload and other statistical data on the work of the courts to propose recommendations for court improvements. The AOC supervises the manual collection oftrial court caseload data each year to identify excessive caseload burdens and to provide the legislature and the governor with a written recommendation for additional superior courtjudicial manpower. During the past year, the AOC analyzed fiscal year 1982 caseload data and published the Tenth Annual Report
Regarding the Need for Additional
Superior Court Judgeships. It also utilized trend data gathered through several annual caseload studies to complete the Caseload Summary Report 1971-1981 and the superior courts' Open Caseload Report
1977-1981.
The AOC performs certain statutorily-prescribed activities and conducts studies in requested areas. In conjunction with the State Records Committee, the AOC approved 12 statewide and 15local records retention schedules to assist officials in managing court records. (In all, the AOC drafted 27 statewide retention applications.) Impact stud-

ies for the division of the Blue Ridge and Southernjudicial circuits were prepared pursuant to requests by the legislature and the Judicial Council, respectively. A survey ofjudicial and court personnel salaries was conducted and the results published in the Salary Survey ofGeorgia's Trial Court Personnel, 1982. The AOC also researched procedures for selected areas ofproposed legislation, including the nonpartisan election of judges, transfer ofjudges, superior courtjudges' retirement and sixmember juries.

26

1: I Advisory Council for Probation

Board ofCourt Reporting

Advisory Council for Proba- n line with its responsibility to

pended 39 certificates for failure to

tion is composed oflO superior court regulate the state's court reporting submit the renewal fee and applica-

judges representing each of the 10

profession and guarantee a mini-

tion by the Aprill deadline. Seven

judicial administrative districts.

mum proficiency level by reporting reporters subsequently renewed

Originally created and funded in

practitioners, the Board ofCourt

their licenses by returning an appli-

1980 to recommend improvements Reporting certifies both official and cation for renewal form and remit-

in statewide probation, the Advisory freelance court reporters. The Board ting the renewal and delinquent fees.

Council operated with no legislative also investigates complaints filed

Late in the year, the Judicial

appropriation in fiscal year 1983.

against court reporters and adminis- Council took specific action on the

The Advisory Council severely lim- ters disciplinary action when war- subject ofcourt reporting fees. The

ited the extent ofits activities during ranted. The Judicial Council of

Council adopted the Board's earlier

the past year, directing its research Georgia governs court reporting fees recommendation to revise the

efforts toward studying reduction in through the regulation and adjust- method ofcharging for partial pages

jail and prison populations by

ment of an established fee schedule. oftranscript. which set aside the

reducing crime.

By means ofa biannual certifica- necessity to update per-line charges

The Council's research has been tion examination, the Board tests whenever the page rate changed. The

conducted on a local basis in con-

reporting skills in three methods of per-line breakdown was eliminated,

junction with a private corporation takedown, including machine and thereby instituting the full page rate

composed of the Council's chairman manual shorthand and Stenomask. for pages with 13 or more lines and no

and localjudicial and prosecution Persons who pass the initial exami- charge for l2lines or less.

officials. Programs and procedures nation need only submit an annual

The Council also rendered an

facilitating the confinement and con- renewal fee to remain certified. Dur- opinion concerning the fee schedule

viction ofprobated felons who are

ingFY'83, the Board tested 214per- for official court reporters. Its deci-

using drugs or committing other

sons. Ofthe 90 persons certified, 82 sion bound all reporters acting in an

crimes were utilized by law enforce- successfully completed the 'B' test, 'official' capacity, or those appointed

ment officials in conformity with the and eight passed the 'A' test. Report- by the court they serve and whose

Council's designed use ofurinalysis, ers must pass the 'B' test, which

attendance at proceedings is manda-

lie detection and special conditions of involves dictation, transcription and tory, to the fee structures established

probation. Observed results ofthe a written exam, to become certified. by the Judicial Council.

programs included a reduction

The 'A' test is given by the Board to

In other action, the Judicial

in the use ofillegal drugs by

provide certified reporters an

Council approved a number of

probated felons.

opportunity to upgrade their

changes in the grievance procedure

Additional efforts initiated dur- professional status.

used by the Board. These changes 1)

ing the year included a criminal alco-

OnJune30, 1983, there were allowed the Board to file complaints

holic program and a pilot program to 643 certified court reporters in Geor- on its own motion, 2) provided for

provide pre/post sentencing support gia, along with 51 reporters working notification to the person who is the

for the Albany-Dougherty County

under temporary permits. Also at subject ofthe complaint when the

Recorder's Court. The criminal alco- that time, 11 reporters were practic- complaint is forwarded to the Board,

holic program was instituted to

ing underjudicial temporary permits 3) permitted a committee or staff

reduce alcohol-related accidents and issued by a judge which allowed the member to investigate written

crimes, on the supposition that a

holder to work for the judge or in his motions and make recommenda-

reduction in alcoholism and behav- circuit. A total of 69 new temporary tions to the Board, 4) established the

ioral problems for crime and violence permits were issued during the year. standard by which a complaining

prone drinkers will reduce the need Twenty-five permits were revoked for party must prove an allegation as a

for prison space. The sentencing sup- failure to attend the test (20) or for preponderance ofevidence, and 5)

port program was developed to assist failure to pass the examination in allowed the Board to dismiss a com-

the recorder's court in dealing with two testing periods (five).

plaint ifit is determined to be frivo-

problems generally characteristic

The Board received four formal lous or outside thejurisdiction

ofmunicipal courts, namely

complaints against certified report- ofthe Board.

fine enforcement methods, little

ers in FY'83. Three complaints were

available jail space and no

dismissed for lack ofjurisdiction over

probation department.

the subject matter ofthe complaint,

while one complaint was withdrawn

after a date for hearing had been set.

On May 1, 1983, the Board sus-

27

T CouncilofJuvenile Court Judges
Council ofJuvenile Court Judges is composed ofalljudges of the courts exercisingjurisdiction overjuveniles. Its purpose is to promote more effective administration and operation ofthe state'sjuvenile courts. Ongoing activities ofthe Council include: establishing general policies for the conduct ofcourts exercisingjurisdiction overjuveniles, operating a statewidejuvenile information system, promoting continuing education for judges and court staff. implementing legislation passed by the General Assembly affecting the juvenile courts and providing assistance and funds for the improvement ofservices to juvenile offenders.
The Council addresses a broad range ofjuvenilejustice related issues through its standing committees and professional staff. The Education and Certification committee planned programs for two seminars that provided specialized training for juvenile court referees andjudges exercisingjuvenile courtjurisdiction. To meet the requirements of mandatory training legislation. judges could attend either the 1982 fall seminar at Unicoi Conference Center or the 1983 spring seminar held in Savannah.
Plans were made for expansion ofthe computerizedjuvenile information system which is now in place in 90 counties. Statistical reports profiling thejuvenile court's clientele and caseflow were produced for 60 counties during FY 1983. The Council has applied for grant funds to finance additional computer hardware and to purchase technical assistance from the National Council ofJuvenile and Family CourtJudges in order to develop a true statewide data base with information storage and retrieval capabilities.
The Council continued operation ofits Purchase ofServices for Juvenile Offenders program with a $300,000 grant award from the Georgia Department ofCommunity Affairs. This program makes funds

Georgia Justice

available on a reimbursement basis

E Courts Training Council 1978 through the end of

to local courts for the development of FY'83, the Georgia Justice Courts

a variety ofcommunity-based serv- Training Council was responsible for

ices that provide alternatives to insti- conductinga certification program

tutional treatment for status

for justices ofthe peace and small

offenders and delinquents. Sixty-

claims courtjudges exercisingjus-

nine counties have access to these tice ofthe peacejurisdiction. Due to

funds to finance court-ordered coun- recent legislation, however, on July 1,

seling and tutoring programs, tem- 1983, the Council became the newly

porary housing, symbolic restitution created Magistrate Courts Training

projects, community worksjobs and Council whose responsibility is to

related services.

provide training for magistrates as

Other Council activities and

required by the 1983 magistrate

functions for FY 1983 included:

courtact(Ga. Lawsl983, p. 884).

involvement in the direction and

Sponsored by the Council and

administration ofa training project executed by the Institute ofContinu-

to provide continuing education for ing Judicial Education, the FY'83

direct service personnel ofthejuve- certification program entailed a two-

nile courts; yearly revision ofthe

part training schedule. One 40-hour

Juvenile CourtBenchbookand the certification course was conducted

JuvenileCourtManualused by

for newly elected or appointed

judges throughout the state; publica- judges, and three 20-hourrecertifica-

tion ofa directory ofthe Council

tion seminars were held for justices

membership; assistance to the Floyd ofthe peace to fulfill the annual con-

County and Houston Countyjuve- tinuing education requirement and

nile courts in restructuring their

maintain their certified status.

intake and probation operations;

Exempt from the training require-

work on draft legislation for a new ment were judges who had practiced

termination ofparental rights stat- law for a minimum offour years.

ute; promotion ofa National Council

At the 40-hour course, attendees

project to provide for regularjudicial received basic instruction on theoret-

review ofchildren placed by the

ical topics and practical application

courts in foster care arrangements; oflegal procedures. Actions falling

and drafting uniform rules ofcourt to under both criminal and civiljuris-

insure uniform procedures and

diction were covered, as well as

forms in the state'sjuvenile courts as selected topics such asjudicial

required by the new constitution.

immunity and discipline, communi-

cation skills and the role ofjustices of

the peace and small claims court

judges as magistrates. The 20-hour

sessions provided more specialized

training in most ofthe same

areas presented at the certifi-

cation seminar.

To defray speaker and materials

costs, the Council chargedjudges

attending the recertification courses

a $60 tuition fee. New judges paid a

fee of$ll5 for their training and

related expenses. All new judges

received a full set ofthe Georgia Code

Unannotated (1981), the 1982 Code

Supplement, conversion table to the

new Official Code ofGeorgia Annota-

ted and an index. Participants ofthe

28

20-hour seminars were provided supplements, conversion tables, and in some cases, a full set of the 1981 Unannotated Code. All attendees also received a materials package as requested by seminar instructors, who included attorneys, law professors, judges and court administrators.
The Council approved certification for 307 justices ofthe peace and 71 small claims courtjudges who completed training during the year. Fifteenjudges failed to complete the requirements for certification. Thirty-fourjudges were certified after having successfully completed the 40-hour course. The Council recertified 344judges who met the requirements ofthe 20-hour program.
In regard to its training policy,

the Council made two changes affecting the conditions ofparticipants' certification. Effective in FY'83, each participant must have achieved a passinggradeof70% on the written examination, which was assigned in sections to be completed outside of class following the end ofeach seminar day. Participants failing to attain the passing grade were provided an opportunity to complete a make-up exam at home and/or the chance to return to the following seminar to retake the test.

Georgia Justice Courts Training Council FY 1983 Seminars
Date

Location #Hours Attendees #Certified

September13-15, 1982

Athens

20

83

79

January 10-12, 1983

Macon

20

115

113

March 7-9, 1983

Macon

20

156

152

May9-13, 1983

Macon

40

39

34

o

Institute ofContinuingJudiciaiEducation

uring the past fiscal year,

the Institute ofContinuingJudicial

Education intensified its focus on the

implementation and improvement of

in-state training for judges and court

officials. Primary efforts were

directed at maintaining an adequate

financial base for state-based pro-

grams. Both immediate activities

and long-range plans were coordi-

nated to enable the Institute and its

Board ofTrustees to forecast antici-

pated demands on resources for judi-

cial education.

The Institute conducted 19 train-

ing programs for 10 different groups

ofprofessionals involving more than

1700 participants in FY'83. Three

traditional programs-forjudicial

secretaries, court administrators

and independentjuvenile court pro-

bation officers-not originally

budgeted for the year were later

included in the Institute's 1983 train-

ing schedule when funds became

available. These funds were provided

as a result ofthe University ofGeor-

gia law school assuming total salary

and fringe benefit costs for the Insti-

tute's executive director during the

last nine months ofthe fiscal year.

Additional funds were contributed

through the

reallocation ofbudgeted travel

reimbursements absorbed by

local governments.

In addition to traditional state-

based activities, the Institute for the

first time jointly sponsored a training

program for non-judicial personnel

with the Department ofOffender

Rehabilitation's Division ofProba-

tion. Thirty-four individuals were

furnished some financial assistance

to participate in approved out-of-

state educational programs.

The Institute's Board ofTrustees

adopted standards governing the

design and execution ofstate-based

education programs and approved a

statement ofgoals regarding antici-

pated accomplishments ofjudicial

education in Georgia. Policy

guidelines governing access to

nationally-based training funds

were also revised.

29

Programs Sponsored by the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education July 1, 1982- June 30, 1983

Program

Location

Date

Attendance

Summer Seminar for Superior Court Judges

Savannah

July 26-28, 1982

94

Justice of the Peace Annual 20-Hour Recertification Program

Athens September 13-15, 1982

83

Independent Juvenile Probation Officers

Jekyll Island September15-17, 1982

96

20th Annual Seminar for Georgia Superior Court Judges

Athens

October 27-29, 1982

101

Fall Seminar for Georgia Probate Court Judges

Augusta

November 9-11, 1982

105

Fall Seminar for Clerks of Superior Court

Augusta November 9-11 , 1982

107

21st Annual Workshop for Georgia Juvenile Court Judges

Helen

November17-19, 1982

79

Justice of the Peace Annual 20-Hour Recertification Program

Macon

January 10-12, 1983

115

Justice of the Peace Annual 20-Hour Recertification Program

Macon

March 7-9, 1983

156

1983 Judicial Orientation

Atlanta

March 22-23, 1983

43

1983 Annual Seminar for State Court Judges

Atlanta

March 24-25, 1983

23

20th Institute for Clerks of Superior Court

Athens

April11-13, 1983

178

27th Institute for Georgia Probate Court Judges

Athens

April20-22, 1983

171

Spring Seminar for Juvenile Court Judges

Savannah

April27-29, 1983

74

Spring Seminar for Independent Juvenile Court Probation Staff

Helen

May 4-6, 1983

73

Justice of the Peace 40-Hour Basic Certification Program

Macon

May 9-13, 1983

39

Annual Seminar for Judicial Secretaries

Atlanta

May 19-20, 1983

55

Seminar on the Community Service Sentencing Option

Atlanta

May26, 1983

125

Annual Seminar for Court Administrators

Atlanta

May 26-27, 1983

15

t

JudicialNominating Commission
Judicial Nominating Com-

mission solicits nominations and

evaluates the qualifications ofnomi-

nees for judicial positions to assist

the governor in appointing well-

qualified individuals tojudicial

office. The nominating process is

most often undertaken to fill judicial

vacancies, although nominations

may also be taken to fill newly

created judgeships.

Prior to consideration for

appointment, candidates for judicial

office must fulfill specific qualifica-

tions. While the qualifications for dif-

ferent judicial positions vary, most

candidates must meet a residency

and age requirement. Judges ofthe

appellate and superior courts must

exhibit active membership in the

State Bar ofGeorgia for seven years,

and state courtjudges must be

admitted to practice law for at least

five years. Qualifications for these

and otherjudicial positions are speci-

fied either in the state constitution or

in various statutes which created the

particular courts.

The Judicial Nominating Com-

mission held four meetings in fiscal

year 1983 to consider nominations

for five superior court vacancies and

one state court vacancy. Since its cre-

ation by executive order in 1973, the

Commission has acted on a total of

113 judgeships, including 1) nine

Supreme Court vacancies, 2) nine

Court of Appeals vacancies, 3) 75

superior courtjudicial positions, 4)

19 state courtjudicial positions, and

5) two municipal courtjudgeships.

30

1: JudicialQualifications Commission Judicial Qualifications

The Commission made five

is improperfor ajudge to serve

Commission conducts investigations reports and recommendations to the

as executor. administrator.

and hearings concerning complaints Supreme Court during the year, one

trustee, guardian orotherfidu-

ofmisconduct by Georgiajudges and for informational purposes only

ciaryin which capacityhe may

is responsible for issuing formal and where the Commission declined to

have been servingat the time of

informal opinions in response to

recommend discipline. Oftwo rec-

his appointment to the bench.

inquiries regarding appropriate judi- ommendations for removal, one was

The seven members ofthe Judi-

cial conduct. The Commission's

rejected by the court, and onejudge cial Qualifications Commission

activities are governed by rules

was removed. In regard to two rec- include twojudges ofcourts of

adopted by the Supreme Court,

ommendations for suspension, the record, three members of the State

which is authorized to review

Supreme Court suspended onejudge Bar ofGeorgiaand two citizen mem-

all proceedings.

for 60 days, while the other matter bers. As determined by the rules of

Following the investigation ofa was pending before the court at the the Commmission, no member other

complaint and a subsequent hearing end ofthe year.

than a judge may hold public orjudi-

or evaluation, the Commission may

During FY'83 the Commission cial office, and no member is permit-

recommend to the Supreme Court issued three formal opinions and 10 ted to hold office in any political

the removal, discipline or retirement informal opinions. Synopses of the party or organization.

ofa particularjudge. The reasons for formal opinions are presented below.

which a judge may be disciplined or

Opinion 49: Where a newly

removed or retired from office

appointedjudge sold all ofthe

include 1) willful misconduct in

tangible and intangible assets of

office; 2) willful and persistent failure

his Jaw office and practice to a

to perform duties; 3) habitual intem-

former associate, paymentfor

perance; 4) conduct prejudicial to the

which was to be made partly in

administration ofjustice which

cash and the balance overa

brings the judicial office into disre-

period ofseveral years. these

pute; or 5) disability seriously inter-

facts would not necessarily

fering with the performance of

cause ajudge to be disqualified

duties, which is, or is likely to

topreside in cases in which the

become ofa permanent character.

associate was involved;

During fiscal year 1983, the

although there might be cir-

Commission held 11 regular meet-

cumstances which might cause

ings and four formal hearings. Of the

the outcome ofthe litigation to

22 cases pending from FY'82 and 85

have direct effect on timely pay-

new cases received during the year,

ment ofthe indebtedness, in

89 cases were concluded. Fifty-five

which event it would be in order

complaints were dismissed as dis-

for thejudge to recuse himselfif

closing no basis for disciplinary

he entertained anyreasonable

action, while two complaints were

doubt as to his ability topreside

withdrawn by the complainant. The

impartially or ifhe believed that

Commission closed two cases due to

his impartialitymightreasona-

the failure of the complainant to fur-

bly be questioned by others.

nish sufficient information. Three

Opinion 50: Acceptance by a

cases were resolved through agree-

judge ofan invitation to a bench

ment with thejudge involved, and

and bar conference retreat put

four were closed by calling thejudge's

on by the Atlanta BarAssocia-

attention to specific canons ofthe

tion whose room, board and

Code ofJudicial Conduct. While four

registration charges would be

other complaints were pending, one

financed by the Association

judge was defeated in a bid for reelec-

mainlyfrom registration fees

tion, and three judges resigned from

paid byattendinglawyers

office. The Commission closed one

would not constitute a violation

case because thejudge involved had

ofthe Code ofJudicial Conduct.

been suspended in a similar matter.

Opinion 51: Under Canon 5D it

31

Superior Courts
E Sentence Review Panel
fiscal year 1982 to FY'83, the Superior Courts Sentence Review Panel realized a 23 percent increase in the number ofsentences reviewed. The panel reviewed a total of2,447 actual cases resulting from the 3,096 applications for review received by the panel's clerk during the year.
Cases subject to review by the panel are those sentences or consecutive sentences totaling five or more years set by a superior courtjudge without a jury. Exceptions to the panel'sjurisdiction include sentences set in misdemeanor cases, cases in which the death penalty has been imposed and murder cases where a life sentence has been imposed.
In reviewing applications, the panel seeks to determine whether an excessive sentence has been

imposed by the trialjudge. Consideration is given to the nature ofthe crime for which the defendant was convicted and to the defendant's prior criminal record. The panel may reduce sentences only. It may neither increase nor suspend any sentence, nor reduce sentences to probation.
The cumulative reduction rate for cases reviewed since the panel's inception (July 1. 1974) decreased in FY'83 to 6.45 percent. The reduction rate for the past year-3.60 percent-was the lowest in the history of the Sentence Review Panel.

Superior Courts Sentence Review Panel Summary of Cases Reviewed

Fiscal Year 1983 Caseload

PANEL33 PANEL34 PANEL35 PANEL36 TOTAL

Cases affirmed Cases reduced

519

31

446

12

738

27

656

18

2,359

88

Five-year Comparison of Cases Reviewed

FY 1979 FY 1980 FY 1981 FY1982 FY1983

Cases Cases %of cases affirmed reduced reduced

1,134

101

8.18

1,228

90

6.83

1,542

145

8.60

1,846

136

6.86

2,359

88

3.60

32

Appendix I
Judicial Personnel Changes: FY'83

Appointments Supreme Court ofGeorgia
Justice Richard Bell for term 1111182 to 11 1183.
Superior Courts Clayton Judicial Circuit
Judge Stephen E. Boswell for term 9113182 to 111183. GwinnettJudicial Circuit Judge James A. Henderson for term 5127I 83to 12131184. Judge K. Dawson Jackson for term 12111 82 to 12131184. South Georgia Judicial Circuit Judge Willard H. Chason for term 121291 82 to 111185. Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Judge James H. Weeks for term 11115182 to 111185.
State Courts Clayton County
Judge Harold G. Benefield for term 31 181 83 to 111185. Juvenile Courts Alapaha Judicial Circuit Judge Benjamin Gratz, Jr. for one-year term beginning7/ll82.

Chattooga County Judge William Jerry Westbrook for term 2110183 to 2110189.
Douglas County Judge Stephen J. Messinger for term 1111 83to 111185.
Terrell County Judge Robert B. Phillips for term 211183 to 211189.
Small Claims Courts Butts County
JudgeJohnMooreforterm lll/83to 1111 85. Habersham County Judge William Ray Oliver for term 8124182 to 111183. Henry County Judge James P. Brown for term 8119182 to 12131182. Irwin County Judge David Barfield for term 7I 1182 to 121 31183. Jasper County Judge Wilson H. Bush for term 8119182 to 12131184.

Analysis of Statewide Judicial Manpower (July 1, 1982 to June 30, 1983)

Judges Leaving the Bench

uo

Supreme Court

7

1

1

Court of Appeals

9

0

0

Superior Courts

123' 5

4

6

15

2

4

2

9

State Courts

77

4

2

7

5

6

(Full &.Part-Time)

Juvenile Courts

50

2

3

5

2

2

(Full & Part-Time)

Probate Courts

159 3

3

2

3

'As of June 30, 1983. 'Total number of judges leaving the bench does not match total number of new judges in some instances because
of new appointments or vacancies which existed at the end of the fiscal year. 'Although 123 superior court judgeships had been allocated by the end of the year, 122 had been filled.

Jefferson County Judge Quillian L. Bryant, Jr.. for term 81 19182 to 712184.
Miller County Judge Frankie M. Phillips for term 7/7182 to 6117186.
Screven County Judge Donna Derolffor term beginning 7I 1182.
Talbot County Judge Emmett S. Livingston for term 31 21183to l/1187.
Walker County Judge Jerry Day for term beginning 7I 1I 82.
Elections
Superior Courts Atlantic Judicial Circuit
Judge David L. Cavender for term l/l/83 to 111187. Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit Judge Rufe E. McCombs for term 1/1183 to 111187. Cobb Judicial Circuit Judge P. Harris Hines for term 111183 to 11 1187. Conasauga Judicial Circuit Judge William T. Boyett for term l/1 183 to 111187. Douglas Judicial Circuit Judge Robert J. James for term 11 l/83 to 111187. Flint Judicial Circuit Judge William H. Craig for term 111183to 111187. Macon Judicial Circuit Judge Bryant Culpepper for term l/l/83 to 111187. Rockdale Judicial Circuit Judge Clarence R. Vaughn, Jr. for term 11 l/83 to l/l/87. Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Judge Dan Coursey for term 1I 1183 to l/1 I 87. Waycross Judicial Circuit Judge Joseph B. Newton for term 111183 to 111187.
State Courts Cobb County Judge Robert E. McDuff for term 111183 to 1/1187. JudgeKenNixforterm 111183to 111187. Magistrate's Division Judge Chris Landise for term 111183 to 11 1187. JudgeMaryStaleyforterm 111183to 1111 87.
Gwinnett County Judge RichardT. Winegarden for term 51 17183 to 111187.
Houston County Judge L.A. McConnell for term 111183 to 111187.
Muscogee County Judge Robert G. Johnston for term 212183 to 111185.

33

Appendix2
Judicial Agencies Directory

Tattnall County Judge Albert R. Rahn, III for term l/l/83 to l/l/87.
Probate Courts Clayton County
Judge Eugene E. Lawson for term 5/3/83 to 1/l/85. Colquitt County Judge Aileen H. Gay for term ll/23/82 to l/l/85. Hall County Judge Jack C. Hulsey for term 2/1/83 to 1/ l/85.
Special Courts Civil Court ofBibb County
JudgeBurlDavisforterm 1/l/83to l/l/87.

Advisory Council for Probation
Judge Asa D. Kelley, Jr. Chairman Superior Court Dougherty Judicial Circuit Albany
Judge George E. Oliver Vice chairman Superior Court Eastern Judicial Circuit Savannah
Judge Joe C. Crumbley Superior Court Clayton Judicial Circuit Jonesboro
Judge Joseph B. Duke Superior Courts Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Milledgeville
Judge William F. Grant Superior Courts Northern Judicial Circuit Elberton
Judge Walker P. Johnson, Jr. Superior Courts Macon Judicial Circuit Macon
Judge A. R. Kenyon Superior Courts Northeastern Judicial Circuit Gainesville
Judge Robert J. Noland Superior Courts Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit Douglasville
Judge Clarence L. Peeler, Jr. Superior Court Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Decatur
Judge Osgood 0. Williams Superior Court Atlanta Judicial Circuit Atlanta

Board ofCourt Reporting
Pat Moran Chairperson Court Reporter Atlanta
Robert M. Brinson Attorney Rome
Lounell B. Day Court Reporter Tifton
Kirk M. McAlpin Attorney Atlanta

Judge Ben J. Miller Superior Courts Griffin Judicial Circuit Thomaston
Philip G. Vincent Court Reporter Moultrie
Janet G. Wilkinson Court Reporter Milledgeville
Robert L. Doss, Jr. Secretary Administrative Office ofthe Courts Atlanta
Council ofJuvenile Court Judges
Judge Martha K. Glaze President Clayton County Jonesboro
Judge Edward D. Wheeler Immediate past president DeKalb County Decatur
Judge Othniel W McGehee President-elect Bibb County Macon
Judge Virgil Costley, Jr. Vice president Newton County Covington
Judge Marvin W Sorrells Secretary Walton County Monroe
Judge David J. Turner, Jr. Treasurer Meriwether County Manchester
Georgia Justice Courts Training Council
Judge NickJ. Lazaros Chairman Justice ofthe Peace, Houston County Warner Robins
Judge George W Eisel, III Vice chairman Small Claims Court, Hancock County Sparta
Judge Leonard Danley Justice ofthe Peace, Douglas County Winston

34

Judge Eleanor R Dotson Just icc of the Peace. Charlton Count~ Folkston
Judge .J. Davis Roberts ,Justice of the Peace. Clayton Countv Jonesboro
Robert L. Doss. ,Jr. Ex officio senetan Administrat in Otlke oftlw Courts Atlanta
Institute ofContinuing Judicial Education
,Judge Willis B. Hunt. ,Jr. Chairman Superior Court Houston Judicial Circuit Perrv
Dean J. RaJ ph Beaird Vice chairman University ofGeorgia School ofLaw Athens
Judge Floyd E. Propst Secretary-Treasurer Probate Court of Fulton County Atlanta
,Judge A.W Birdsong. Jr. Court of Appeals of Georgia Atlanta
Dean Karl P. Warden Mercer Unin>rsitv School of Law Macon
A.G. Cleveland. ,Jr. Attorney Atlanta
Kirk M. McAlpin. ,Jr. Attorney Atlanta
Judge C. Cloud Morgan Superior Courts Macon .Judicial Circuit Macon
Dean Thomas Morgan Emory University School of Law Atlanta
Judge Rex R Ruff J mTnile Court of Cobb County Marietta
Judge H. Jack Short State Court of Colquitt County Moultrie
Judge Andrew J. Whalen, Jr. Supnior Courts Gri!Tin Judicial Circuit Griffin

Judicial Administrative District Personnel
District 1
Senior ,Judge Dunbar Harrison Administrative Judge Eastern Judicial Circuit Savannah
Daniel E. Deloach. Jr. Administrative Assistant Savannah
Circuits: Atlantic. Brunswick. Eastern. Ogcechee. Way'Cross
District2
.Judge Asa LJ. Kcllcv. Jr.' Administrative Judge Doughcrtv Judicial Circuit Albanv
Judge \VJ. Forehand' Administrative Judge Tifton Judicial Circuit Tifton
Roger E. Douglas Administrative Assistant Valdosta
Circuits: Alapaha. Dougherty. Pataula. South Georgia. Southern. Tifton
District a
Senior ,Judge Hal Bell Administrative Judge Macon ,Judicial Circuit Macon
David L. Ratley Administrative Assistant Macon
Circuits: Chattahoochee. Houston. Macon. Southwestern
District4
Judge Richard Bell' Administrative .Judge Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Decatur
Judge Curtis V Tillman' Administrative Judge Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Decatur
Richard F. Jugar Administrative Assistant Decatur
Circuits: Rockdale. Stone Mountain

DistrictS
Judge Osgood 0. Williams Administratin~ ,Judge Atlanta,Judicial Circuit Atlanta
Ronald E. Owens Aclministrat i\e Assistant Atlanta
John T Shope. Administrative Assistant Atlanta
Circuit: Atlanta
DistrictS
Judge Andrew J. Whalen. Jr. Administrative Judge Griffin Judicial Circuit Griffin
Fred R. Roney Administrative Assistant Griffin
Circuits: Clayton. Coweta. Flint. Griffin
District 7
Judge Robert L. Royal Adniinist rative Judge Rome Judicial Circuit Rorne
William L. Martin. III Administrative Assistant Cartersville
Circuits: Cherokee. Cobb. Douglas. Lookout Mountain. Rome. Tallapoosa
DistrictS
Judge Walter C. McMillan. Jr. Administrative Judge Sandersville
JackL. Bean Administrative Assistant Lyons
Circuits: Cordele. Dublin. Middle. Ocmulgec. Oconee
District9
Judge Homer M. Stark' Aclministrat ive Judge Gwinnett Judicial Circuit Lawrcnce\ille
Judge James E. Palrnour. III' Administrative Judge Northeastern Judicial Circuit Gainesville
Benjamin R. Forrester Administrative Assistant Gainesville
Circuits: Hluc Ridge. Conasauga. Gwinnctt. Mountain. Northeastern

35

District 10
Judge William M. Fleming. Jr. Administrative Judge Augusta Judicial Circuit Augusta
L. Tom Gunnels Administrative Assistant Augusta
Circuits: Alcovy. Augusta. Northern. Piedmont. Toombs. Western
1Judge Forehand was elected to replace Judge Kelley effective 9/15/82.
'Judge Tillman replaced Judge Bell upon Bell's appointment to the Supreme Court on 11/1/82.
1 Mr. Shope replaced Mr. Owens on 9/1/82.
"Judge Palmour was elected to replace Judge Stark effective 8/25/82.
Judicial Council ofGeorgia
Judge Andrew J. Whalen. Jr. Chairman Superior Courts Griffin Judicial Circuit Griffin
Judge Robert R. Cook Vice chairman Probate Court of Chatham County Savannah
Judge Jere F. White Secretary-Treasurer Superior Courts Cherokee Judicial Circuit Cartersville
Judge Berry E. Brocki Justice of the Peace. Fulton County Fairburn
Judge Tom Cauthorn" State Court of Cobb County Marietta
Woodson Daniel Clerk, Pulaski County Hawkinsville
JudgeJoelJ. Fryer Superior Court Atlanta Judicial Circuit Atlanta
Judge Joseph J. Gaines Superior Courts Western Judicial Circuit Athens
Judge P. Harris Hines6 State Court of Cobb County Marietta
Judge Ben A. Hodges' Superior Courts Waycross Judicial Circuit Waycross

Judge George A. Horkan. Jr. Superior Courts Southern Judicial Circuit Moultrie
Judge Francis Houston State Court of Pierce County Blackshear
Judge Willis B. Hunt. Jr. Superior Court Houston Judicial Circuit Perry
Judge Harry Johnson. Jr. Probate Court of Floyd County Rome
Judge NickJ. Lazaros' Justice of the Peace, Houston County Warner Robins
Judge Juanita D. Marsh City Court ofCollege Park College Park
Justice Thomas 0. Marshall Supreme Court of Georgia Atlanta
Judge Jon Payne Probate Court ofChattooga County Summerville
Judge Grady C. Pittard. Jr. State Court ofClarke County Athens
Judge J. Kelley Quillian Court ofAppeals ofGeorgia Atlanta
Bob Reinhardt Past president State Bar ofGeorgia Tifton
J. Douglas Stewart Immediate past president State Bar ofGeorgia Gainesville
Judge Coy H. Temples Superior Courts Conasauga Judicial Circuit Dalton
Judge Hugh P. Thompson Superior Court Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Eatonton
Judge Curtis V. Tillman Superior Court Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Decatur
Judge Edward D. Wheeler Juvenile Court ofDeKalb County Decatur

Judicial Nominating Commission
A.G. Cleveland, Jr. Chairman Atlanta
Mrs. Odone B. Hill Hawkinsville
Ralph 0. Walton Hamilton
Henry Wisebram Barnesville
Frank Love, Jr. President State Bar ofGeorgia Atlanta
Richard Y. Bradley President-elect State Bar ofGeorgia Columbus
J. Douglas Stewart Immediate past president State Bar ofGeorgia Gainesville
Bob Reinhardt" Past president State Bar ofGeorgia Tifton
Richard A. Childs6 Immediate past president Younger Lawyers Section State Bar ofGeorgia Columbus
Duross Fitzpatrick" President-elect State Bar ofGeorgia Cochran
RichardT. DeMayo" Immediate past president Younger Lawyers Section State Bar ofGeorgia Atlanta
6 Mr. Reinhardt and Mr. Childs left the Commission in June, 1983, upon the election of new officers of the State Bar. Mr. Bradley became president, Mr. Love became immediate past president and Mr. Stewart became past president.
"Mr. Fitzpatrick and Mr. DeMayo joined the CommissioninJune, 1983.

'Judge Lazaros replaced Judge Brock on the Council in January, 1983.
"Judge Cauthorn replaced Judge Hines in January, 1983.
'Judge Hodges died on May 17, 1983.

36

Judicial Qualifications Commission
H. Holcombe Perry. Jr. Chairman Albany
Howard Ector Vice chairman Atlanta
HowardS. Baxter Atlanta
Judge Walter C. McMillan, Jr. Superior Courts MiddleJudicial Circuit Sandersville
JudgeJ. Taylor Ph illips State CourtofBibb County Macon
Mrs. Laura Dor ey Raines Atlanta
WiUEdSmith Eastman
Superior Courts Sentence Review Panel
Administrative Board
Judge Luther A lverson Chairman Atlanta Judicial Circuit Atlanta
Judge James Barrow Western Judicial Circuit A t h en s
Judge Paul W. Painter Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Rossville
Panel33/ 1
Judge Clarence D. Blount Chairman Waycross Judicial Circuit Waycross
Judge Marvin Hartley. Jr. Middle Judicial Circuit Lyons
Judge J er e F. White Cherokee Judicial Circuit Cartersville
Panel 33/2
Judge Leonard Farkas Chairman Dougherty Judicial Circuit A lbany
Judge Albert Pickett Augusta Judicial Circuit Augusta
Judge William A. Prior. Jr. Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Madison

Supernumerary for both panels
Judge Thmmy Day Wilcox Macon Judicial Circuit Macon
Panel34/1
Judge Dewey Smith Chairman Coweta Judicial Circuit Carrollton
Judge Whitfield R. Forrester Cordele Judicial Circuit Cordele
Judge A. Blenn Taylor, Jr. Brunswick Judicial Circuit Brunswick
Panel34/2
JudgeBenJ. Miller Chairman Griffin Judicial Circuit Griffin
Judge Clarence Cooper Atlanta Judicial Circuit Atlanta
Judge John D. Crosby Tifton Judicial Circuit Tifton
Supernumerary for both panels
Judge George H. Bryant Northern Judicial Circuit Hartwell
Panel35/ J
Judge James E. Palmour. Ill Chairman Northeastern Judicial Circuit Gainesville
Judge Hilton Fuller Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Decatur
Judge Hugh Lawson Oconee Judicial Circuit Hawkinsville
Panel35/2
Judge Charles C. Pittard Chairman GwinnettJudicial Circuit Lawrenceville
Judge Grant Brantley Cobb Judicial Circuit Marietta
Judge Dubignion Douglas Dublin Judicial Circuit Dublin
Supernumerary for both panels
Judge Philip F. Etheridge Atlanta Judicial Circuit Atlanta

Panel36/1
Judge Perry Brannen. Jr. Chairman Eastern Judicial Circuit Savannah
Judge William F. L ee. Jr. Coweta Judicial Circuit
ewnan
Judge Phillip R. West Oconee Judicial Circuit Eastman
Panel36/2
Judge Robert L. Stevens Chairman Toombs Judicial Circuit Thomson
Judge Thad W. Gibson Southwestern Judicial Circuit Americus
Judge Jack N. Gunter Mountain Judicial Circuit Clarkesville
Supernumerary for both panels
Judge Asa D . K elley. Jr. Dougherty Judicial Circuit Albany