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 FOREWORD 
T his 20th Annual Report on the Work of the Georgia Courts is pr esented to inform th e Governor, th e Legislature and th e publi c of judicial branch activities. In th ese pa ges you will find caseload data for all appellat e and major trial courts, as well as a narrative of activities from th e agencies and commissions serving th e third branch. 
The dedi cation, ability, ingenuity and wisdom of its peopl e playa vital rol e in th e daily op eration of th e judicial branch. We look with pride to the judges of this state who serve with hon esty and integrity to ensure justice for all. We appreciate staff members who are determined that th e courts operate efficiently and effectively. I commend each of you and call upon you to continue your efforts to achieve excellence . I also take thi s opportunity to express thanks to th e Governor, th e executive and legislative branches for their continued support. 
We in th e judi cial branch carry on our duties and activities for a stronger future for justice. I invite readers to review th e following pages to learn in detail about th e ongoing work of Georgia's court system . 
Chief Justice Har old G. Clarke 
 
 ---------- .JlIdieial Counc-il of Ct'o."gia --------- 
.hllH' 199;~ 
 
Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke Chair Supreme Court Atlanta 
Presiding Justice Willis B. Hunt, Jr. Vice Chair Supreme Court Atlanta 
Judge Dorothy T. Beasley Court of Appeals Atlanta 
Judge James N. Butterworth President-elect Council of State Court Judges Cornelia 
Judge Richard M. Cowart President Council of State Court Judges Valdosta 
Chief Judge William W. Daniel Fifth District Administrative Judge Atlanta 
Judge I. Burl Davis President Council of Magistrate Court Judges Macon 
Judge G. Mallon Faircloth Eighth District Administrative Judge Cordele 
Chief Judge Hilton Fuller Fourth District Administrative Judge Decatur 
Chief Judge William F. Grant Tenth District Administrative Judge Elberton 
Judge Loring A. Gray, Jr. Second District Administrative Judge Albany 
Judge William H. Ison Sixth District Administrative Judge Jonesboro 
 
Chief Judge Walker P. Johnson, Jr. Third District Administrative Judge Macon 
Judge William W. Lavigno, III President-elect Council of Juvenile Court Judges Conyers 
Chief Judge Faye Sanders Martin First District Administrative Judge Statesboro 
Judge Steven J. Messinger 
President Council of Juvenile Court Judges Douglasville 
Chief Judge Bobby C. Milam Ninth District Administrative Judge Blue Ridge 
Judge LaVerne C. Ogletree First Vice President Council of Probate Court Judges Greensboro 
Judge Dan F. Pierce First Vice President Council of Magistrate Court Judges Monroe 
Chief Judge Marion T. Pope, Jr. 
Court of Appeals Atlanta 
Chief Judge Tom Pope Seventh District Administrative Judge Calhoun 
Chief Judge Hugh P. Thompson President-elect Council of Superior Court Judges Milledgeville 
Chief Judge Robert G. Walther President Council of Superior Court Judges Rome 
Judge John Wheaton President Council of Probate Court Judges Leesburg 
 
2 
 
 - - - - - Fiscal Year 199i3 - - - - - - - - - - - 
Highlights of judicial branch activities for fiscal year 1993 are presented in this section. Narratives of agency and council activities appear in the second section of this 20th Annual Report. 
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) The Supreme Court appointed the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution 
and established ADR rules. The commission is charged with implementing the recommendations of its predecessor, the Joint Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution. 
The commission will: administer a statewide ADR program; oversee the development and quality of all court-annexed or court-referred ADR progranls; certify court programs; develop guidelines for programs; and develop criteria for training mediators, arbitrators and neutrals. The commission is comprised of judges, lawyers, legislators and citizens. 
In May, a training workshop for mediators was held in the ninth judicial administrative district. Permanent funding for ADR programs will be obtained through a filing fee surcharge of up to $5.00 in participating counties. OCGA 1523-1 through 15-23-13, authorizing the filing fee, became law on July 1, 1993. 
Court futures The Georgia Court Futures Vanguard, a group of 100 judges, court officials, 
lawmakers and lay citizens, released (J. Justice in the Next Millennium." Tlus report, the result of an 18-month exploration into the future of Georgia's court system, offers means to meet the expanding needs of our courts into the 21st century including: alternative dispute resolution; sentencing alternatives; court automation; improved communication among the three branches of govemment; improved funding; and development of a mission statement for the state judicial system. 
Courts automation The Georgia Courts Automation Commission (GCAC) used a $500,000 discre- 
tionary grant from the Bureau of Justice Statistics to purchase a statewide license for an automated case-management software system. The SUSTAIN system 'will provide automated transmission of case disposition information from local courts to the state's central computer. GCAC also introduced a menu -driven, single point of inquiry system to make state databases containing offender history and vital records information quickly accessible to local courts. The Govemor's Officeof Highway Safety provided another $75,500 in grant funding to GCAC to expand the automated traffic citation reporting system into 16 additional courts. The traffic software, developed by DOAS Computer Services Division, was initially implemented in 14 test sites and will reduce processing time and paperwork. 
3 
 
 Fee and fine accounting system software developed by the Georgia Magistrate Courts Training Council and DOAS was tested in the Crisp County Magistrate Court. 
Gender equality At the recommendation of the Georgia Commission on Gender Bias in the 
Judicial System, the Supreme Court created the Georgia Commission on Gender Equality. Charges to the commission include: developing educational material and/ or programs on gender equality; developing and participating in programs about gender equality; serving as a resource for the media; advocating legislation and seeking funding; developing a mechanism for handling complaints received about biased behavior; and working with the Judicial Nominating Commission. 
In fiscal year 1993, the commission met three times. A subcommittee reviewed the commission's creating order and recommended the following: that the Supreme Court add a new member jointly representing Georgia National Organization for Women and the Georgia League of Women Voters; that the Supreme Court clarify the commission's role and authority in processing complaints; and that the Supreme Court make all future appointments to the commission. It was determined that promulgation of a model sexual harassment policy would be the commission's first major project. A committee was appointed to draft an executive summary of the Commission on Gender Bias' original report and arrangements were made to purchase copies of the Georgia State University Law Review containing the report (June 1992). The commission addressed the problem of funding by requesting a grant from the Governor's emergency fund. 
Racial and ethnic fairness The Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Court System, created by the 
Supreme Court, is charged with: 1) determining how the public and the courts perceive the treatment of minorities and ethnic groups, examining courtroom treatment and determining the extent to which minorities and ethnic groups use the court system voluntarily; 2) studying the courts' administrative policies and reviewing selection and employment processes for judicial and nonjudicial positions; 3) investigating the impact of bias in both criminal and civil justice processes; and 4) reviewing other appropriate areas. 
Statewide public hearings to gather testimony and information from professionals and the public will be the first step of the commission's investigation. These 
 
Five- Year Compur! son of Stute .J lid ir-ial Ihl(l~tt (19YO-199-l) 
 
Fiscal Year 
 
Total State Appropriation 
 
Percent Change 
 
Judicial Appropriation 
 
Percent Change 
 
Percent of State Budget 
 
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 
 
$7,643,807,302 $7,461,512,616 $7,552,871,790 $8,252,216,454 $8,972,192,764 
 
19.4% -2.4% 1.2% 9.3% 8.7% 
 
$52,212,242 $56,234,292 $56,004,791 $60,828,071 $64,783,177 
 
9.5% 7.7% -0.4% 8.6% 6.5% 
 
0.68% 0.75% 0.74% 0.74% 0.72% 
 
4 
 
 hearings will begin in October 1993. The commission's hoped-for outcome will be recommendations to the Supreme Court. 
Commission members, who were named in May 1993, include representatives of Georgia's minority and ethnic groups selected from the executive and legislative branches, the classes of appellate and trial courts, the legal profession, the academic community, court administration, civic leaders and interested citizens. The term of the commission expires in January 1996. 
Resources The total state budget rose by 8.7 percent for fiscal year 1993; appropriations 
to the judicial branch increased by 6.5 percent. The percentage of the state budget allocated to the judicial branch fell from 0.74 percent to 0.72 percent. The judicial branch budget includes funds for 14 superior court judgeships and related positions that cannot be filled until final settlement of the Brooks case, a voting rights lawsuit. No new judgeships were approved by the General Assembly in 1993. For more information about the judicial branch budget, please see the charts on pages 4-6 . 
 
Statt .\ppropl"ialion:-o for tlu- .Judicial Branch: Fi:-oc'al \ear:-o 199:2. 199:~ and 1994 
 
Budget Unit/Agency 
 
FY 1992 Amended Appropriation 
 
FY 1993 Amended Appropriation 
 
Percent Change FY 92-93 
 
1994 General Appropriation 
 
Percent Change FY 93-94 
 
Supreme Court 
 
$4,453,544 
 
$4,893,172 
 
9.9% 
 
$5,131,909 
 
4.9% 
 
Court of Appeals Superior Courts (Total) Operations Council of Superior Court Judges Judicial Administrative Districts Prosecuting Attorneys' Council Sentence Review Panel 
 
5,458,995 41,659,778 38,724,169 
120,027 1,045,755 1,616,148 
153,679 
 
5,593,669 45,649,233 42,124,772 
114,499 1,464,647 1,791,715 
153,600 
 
2.5% 9.6% 8.8% -4.6% 40.1% 10.9% -0.1% 
 
5,778,182 48,888,332 45,641,307 
126,609 1,122,075 1,840,926 
157,415 
 
3.3% 7.1% 8.3% 10.6% -23.4% 2.7% 2.5% 
 
Council of Juvenile Court Judges 
 
817,431 
 
847,005 
 
3.6% 
 
911,803 
 
7.7% 
 
Institute of Continuing Judicial Education (Total) Operations Magistrate Courts Training Council 
 
592,000 456,000 136,000 
 
634,322 498,322 136,000 
 
7.1% 9.3% 0.0% 
 
639,950 502,250 137,700 
 
0.9% 0.8% 1.3% 
 
Judicial Council (Total) Operations Board of Court Reporting Case Counting Council of Magistrate Court Judges Council of Probate Court Judges Council of State Court Judges Council of State Court Clerks Appellate Resource Center Computerized Information Network 
 
1,896,572 819,594 39,377 76,500 26,000 20,000 12,000 0 240,000 663,101 
 
2,061,454 986,713 40,241 76,500 26,000 20,000 12,000 0 240,000 660,000 
 
8.7% 20.4% 
2.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% -0.5% 
 
2,286,773 1,166,784 
41,689 76,500 26,000 20,000 12,000 33,800 250,000 660,000 
 
10.9% 18.2% 3.6% 
0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 4.2% 0.0% 
 
Judicial Qualifications Commission 
 
123,179 
 
139,258 
 
13.1 % 
 
146,228 
 
5.0% 
 
Indigent Defense Council 
 
1,003,292 
 
1,009,958 
 
0.7% 
 
1,000,000 
 
-1.0% 
 
Judicial Branch Totals 
 
$56,004,791 
 
$60,828,071 
 
8.6% 
 
$64,783,177 
 
6.5% 
 
5 
 
 State Judicial Branch Budget Units: Funds Available and Expenditures Fiscal Year 1993 
 
Funds Available General Supplemental Total State Funds Federal Funds Other Funds 
Total Funds Available 
 
Supreme Court 
 
Court of Appeals 
 
Superior Courts 
 
Council of Juvenile 
Court Judges 
 
Institute of Continuing 
Judicial Education 
 
Judicial Judicial Qualifications Council Commission 
 
Indigent Defense Council 
 
Totals 
 
$4,818,172 75,000 
4,893,172 25,855 
508,865 
 
$5,743,669 (150,000) 5,593,669 0 53,896 
 
$45,423,943 225,290 
45,649,233 1,516,072 879,183 
 
$847,005 0 
847,005 897,123 
4,174 
 
$634,322 $2,061,454 
 
0 
 
0 
 
634,322 2,061,454 
 
37,710 174,559 
 
192,132 
 
97,862 
 
$139,258 0 
139,258 0 0 
 
$1,009,958 0 
1,009,958 96,775 
1,635,045 
 
$60,677,781 150,290 
60,828,071 2,748,094 3,371,157 
 
$5,427,892 $5,647,565 $48,044,488 $1,748,302 $864,164 $2,333,875 $139,258 $2,741,778 $66,947,322 
 
Expenditures 
 
Personal Services 
 
$3,897,826 
 
Regular Operating Expenses 463,710 
 
Travel 
 
23,513 
 
Equipment Purchases 
 
113,340 
 
Computer Charges 
 
174,611 
 
Real Estate Rentals 
 
296,649 
 
Telecommunications 
 
38,652 
 
Per Diem, Fees & Contracts 252,476 
 
$4,965,063 139,388 26,129 147,608 142,295 184,525 26,291 13,352 
 
$44,470,650 869,098 560,580 81,712 128,663 147,643 41,266 
1,299,397 
 
$498,216 1,059,866 
31,020 15,732 57,926 42,861 13,282 24,944 
 
$0 164,633 
0 0 38,127 0 52 661,293 
 
$884,024 136,687 16,894 22,062 
1,165,037 35,448 11,463 59,372 
 
$89,627 15,252 2,069 1,848 205 5,352 1,950 22,955 
 
$607,620 $55,413,026 
 
1,573,832 4,422,466 
 
20,913 
 
681,118 
 
8,556 
 
390,858 
 
43,682 1,750,546 
 
33,466 
 
745,944 
 
15,207 
 
148,163 
 
8,706 2,342,495 
 
Total Expenditures 
 
$5,260,777 $5,644,651 $47,599,009 $1,743,847 $864,105 $2,330,987 $139,258 $2,311,982 $65,894,616 
 
6 
 
 ------------ Georgia Court System: June 30,199:3 ------------ 
 
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, election contest.  Certified questions and certiorari from Court of Appeals. 
 
Capital felonies. Constitutional issues. Title to land. Wills, equity, and divorce. 
 
COURT OF APPEALS 9 judges (3 divisions) jurisdiction:  Appellate jurisdiction over lower courts 
in cases in which Supreme Court has no exclusive appellate jurisdiction. 
I I 
SUPERIOR COURT 46 circuits, 145 judges (159 authorized) jurisdiction tgenerel):  Civil law actions, misdemeanors, and 
other cases.  Exclusive jurisdiction over cases of 
divorce, title to land, equity.  Exclusive felony jurisdiction. jury trials. 
 
STATE COURT (62 courts) 87 judges (88 authorized): 43 full-time, 44 part-time. jurisdiction (limited);  Civil law actions except 
cases within the exclusive jurisdiction of superior court.  Misdemeanors, traffic, felony preliminaries. jury trials. 
 
JUVENILE COURT (159 courts) 51 judges: 17 full-time, 34 part-time (2 state court judges serve as part-time juvenile court judges), 42 associate judges. Superior court judges serve in counties without separate juvenile court judges. jurisdiction (limited);  Deprived, unruly, 
delinquent juveniles.  Juvenile traffic. No jury trials. 
 
II 
PROBATE COURT (159 courts) 159 judges jurisdiction (limited);  Exclusive jurisdiction in 
probate of wills, administration of estates,appointment of guardians, mentally ill, involuntary hospitalizations, marriage licenses.  Traffic in some counties.  Truancy in some counties.  Hold courts of inquiry.  Search warrants and arrest warrants in certain cases. 
 
MUNICIPAL COURTS (381 courts active) jurisdiction (limited):  Ordinance violations, 
traffic, criminal preliminaries. No jury trials. 
 
I 
COUNTY RECORDER'S COURT 
(4 courts) 8 judges jurisdiction (limited):  County ordinances, 
criminal warrants and prel im inaries. No jury trials. 
 
CIVIL COURT (2 courts) 3 judges jurisdiction (limited):  Warrants. Misdemeanor 
and felony preliminaries. 
 Civil tort and contract cases 
under $7,500 for Bibb County; under $25,000 for Richmond County. jury trials. 
 
Counties with population over 100,000 where probate judge is attorney practicing at least seven years. jury trials. 
MAGISTRATE COURT (159 courts) 159 chief magistrates and 304 magistrates; 29 also serve juvenile, probate or civil courts. jurisdiction (limited);  Search and arrest warrants, 
felony and misdemeanor preliminaries, misdemeanor bad check violations.  Civil claims of $5,000 or less, dispossessories, distress warrants, county ordinances. No jury trials. 
MUNICIPAL COURT (1 court in Columbus) 1 judge jurisdiction (limited):  Civil law and landlord- 
tenant cases (civil) under $7,500.  Misdemeanor guilty pleas and preliminary hearings.  Warrants. jury trials in civil cases. 
 
7 
 
 ---------- About Filing and Disposition Figun's ---------- 
Filing and disposition figures included in this report cannot and should not be considered a complete measurement of judicial workload borne by any given judge in any given court. 
While more detailed case types and disposition methods may represent more accurately the amount of judicial time required of judges in processing their caseloads, statistics alone cannot describe the relative contributions by various members of the judiciary in the performance of their official duties, nor are they indicative of the effort a judge has put forth or the hours spent in performing the duties of office. 
For example, a judge might spend a week or more presiding over a felony case in which the death penalty is sought. In that same week another judge might hear dozens of uncontested divorces, traffic cases, or minor civil cases without a jury. In the first example, the judge will dispose of only one case, while the second judge disposes of dozens of cases. Both judges, however, may have expended the same amount of time and effort, and both have performed duties of the office and provided required judicial services for citizens of Georgia. 
Therefore, this report should not be used to evaluate or compare judicial performance. 
8 
 
 Slip rr-nu- <: 011 1"1 -- 
The Supreme Court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction in the following matters: cases involving the construction of a treaty or of the Georgia or U.S. Constitution; the constitutionality of a law, ordinance or constitutional provision; and election 
contests. The state constitution gives the Supreme Court jurisdiction of all cases 
involving title to land, equity, wills, habeas corpus, extraordinary remedies (man- 
damus, prohibition, quo warranto, etc.), divorce and alimony and allcases in which 
a sentence of death was imposed or could be imposed. These jurisdictions apply unless otherwise provided by law. 
The Supreme Court reviews by certiorari cases from the Court of Appeals and answers questions of law from any state or federal appellate court. Terms of court begin in January, April and September. Oral arguments are heard each month, except in August and December. The constitution provides that all cases shall be decided no later than the term following the term to which the case is docketed. Cases are assigned in rotation to the justices. 
The seven justices are elected to staggered, six-year terms in statewide, nonpartisan elections. A candidate for judgeship must have been admitted to practice law for at least seven years prior to assuming office. A vacancy on the court is filled by gubernatorial appointment to complete the unexpired term, The justices elect the chief justice and a presiding justice to handle administrative matters for the court. The chief justice presides over the Judicial Council of Georgia. 
Each justice has three full-time staff members: two attorneys and one administrative assistant. The attorneys assist the justices in the research and preparation of opinions. They are not permitted to practice law while employed by the court. 
The Supreme Court clerk, appointed by the members of the court for a six-year term, is the administrative officer of the court and maintains its records. The opinions of the Supreme Court are published by the official reporter who is also appointed by the court. 
The Supreme Court has authority to promulgate orders needed to carry out its functions and has rule-making authority over lower courts. The Administrative Office of the Courts, the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education, the Judicial Council of Georgia, the Office of Bar Admissions and the State Bar of Georgia assist the Supreme Court in its function and duties. 
The Supreme Court caseload for calendar years 1991 and 1992 is shown on the next page. 
9 
 
 Supreme Court Caseload: 1991 and 1992 
 
Filed 
Direct appeals Petitions for certiorari Applications for appeal 
Habeas corpus Discretionary Interlocutory Attorney disciplinaries Original petitions/motions Extraordinary motions Cross appeals Certified questions Bar admissions Judicial qualifications 
Total 
 
1991 
541 616 
149 238 
52 120 
21 9 
21 5 7 2 
1,781 
 
1992 
534 658 
117 226 
48 132 
22 7 21 7 2 10 
1,784 
 
Disposed 
By opinion Affirmed without opinion (Rule 59) Allowed withdrawn Transferred to the Court of Appeals Appeals dismissed Petitions for certiorari 
Denied Granted Other Habeas corpus applications Denied Granted Other Discretionary applications Denied Granted Other Interlocutory applications Denied Granted Other Original petitions/motions Extraordinary motions Bar admissions Judicial qualifications Attorney discipline By opinion By order 
Total 
 
1991 
364\ 134 
44 60 50 
 
1992 
305 6 98 30 77 7 79 
 
570 2 82 6 
 
526 8 39 8 
 
171 
 
104 
 
3 
 
7 
 
1 
 
6 
 
177 3 
 
142" 
 
57 
 
34 
 
5 
 
9 
 
24 
 
27 
 
20 
 
11 
 
1 
 
3 
 
23 
 
22 
 
8 
 
7 
 
2 
 
5 
 
2 
 
5 
 
75' 
 
45 10 
 
72 
 
32 11 
 
1,959 5 1,630 \2 
 
I In 1991, 363 cases were disposed of by 330 opinions written by the Supreme Court. 2 Includes 13 writs vacated as improvidently granted. 3 Includes 4 denied applications for interim appellate review.  In 1991, 75 complaints were disposed of by 50 written opinions. 5 Includes 7 cases transferred from the Court of Appeals and later returned to the Court of Appeals and 1 case that was stricken 
from the docket. 6 In 1992, 305 cases were disposed of by 268 opinions written by the Supreme Court. 7 Includes 1 case remanded and 8 returned to the Court of Appeals. 8 Includes 13 writs vacated as improvidently granted. " Includes 3 denied applications for interim appellate review. 10 In 1992, 45 complaints were disposed of by 37 written opinions. 1\ In 1992, 32 complaints were disposed of by 31 orders. 12 Includes 9 cases removed or stricken from the docket. 
 
10 
 
 ------------ Court of Appeals ------------ 
The Georgia Court of Appeals was created in 1907 to alleviate the caseload burden of the Supreme Court. This court is now among the busiest appellate courts in the United States. 
The Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over appeals from superior, state and juvenile courts in all cases where exclusive jurisdiction is not reserved to the Supreme Court. These cases include civil claims for damages, child custody cases, cases involving workers' compensation and criminal cases other than capital felonies. The court may also certify legal questions to the Supreme Court. 
Nine judges serve on panels of three judges each. The court's chief judge is elected to a two-year term, usually based on seniority. The chief judge, who is responsible for the administration of the court, and the presiding judges form the executive council. The chief judge appoints presiding judges who head each panel. 
Panel decisions are final unless a single judge dissents. If, after the full court hears a case, the judges are equally divided as to the verdict, the case is transferred to the Supreme Court. 
Court of Appeals judges are elected to staggered, six-year terms in statewide, nonpartisan elections. A candidate for judgeship must have been admitted to practice law for at least seven years prior to assuming office. In the event of vacancies, the governor appoints successors to complete unexpired terms. 
The court has terms begirming in September, January and April. The Georgia Constitution provides that all cases shall be decided no later than the term following the term to which a case is docketed (the "two term" rule) or the case shall be affirmed by operation of law. 
Since October 1, 1989, Rule 52 has provided for a voluntary settlement conference procedure in civil cases after a notice of appeal is filed in the trial court. The procedure affords the possibility of settlement or simplification of the issues of a case prior to docketing with the Court of Appeals. The settlement conference chief judge and clerk in Atlanta, and settlement conference judges throughout the state, consider those cases in which the parties are proceeding under Rule 52. 
Court ofAppeals filings and dispositions for calendar years 1991 and 1992 are compared in the table on the next page. Statistics for fiscal 
year 1993 for Settlement Conference cases are also given. 
11 
 
 Cou rt of Appeals Caseload: 1991 and 1992 
 
Filed 
Appeals Discretionary applications Interlocutory applications 
Total 
 
1991 
2,265 430 450 
3,145 
 
1992 
2,455 471 486 
3,412 
 
Disposed 
By opinion By order Discretionary applications 
Granted Denied Dismissed Transferred to Supreme Court Withdrawn Changed to Interlocutory Total Interlocutory applications Granted Denied Dismissed Transferred to Supreme Court Withdrawn Total 
Total 
 
1991 
1,268 358 
95 268 
33 9 1 3 
409 
127 233 
39 3 3 
405 
2,440 
 
1992 
2,065 433 
89 334 
34 0 0 5 
462 
172 277 
31 0 1 
481 
3,441 
 
Appellat Settl ..ment Confere nc ..: 
Fii"eal Ytar 199:J 
 
Cases settled 
 
29 
 
Cases terminated 
 
49 
 
Pending 
 
26 
 
Total cases 
 
104 
 
12 
 
 Georgia's Judicial Districts, Circuits and Counties - - - - - - - - - - 
 
Georgia Judicial Districts 
Circuit Boundary 
County Boundary 
o 
I miles 
 
_ 
_ 
_ 
50 
I 
 
Judicial Counc il of Georgia 
13 
 
 ------------ Superior Courts - - - - - - - - - - - - 
The superior court, Georgia's general jurisdiction trial court, has exclusive, constitutional authority to preside over felony cases and cases regarding title to land, divorce and equity. Their exclusive jurisdiction also covers such matters as declaratory judgments, habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto and prohibition. The superior court corrects errors made by lower courts by issuing writs of certiorari; for some lower courts, the right to direct review by the superior court applies. 
Superior courts are organized into 46 judicial circuits varying in size and population, as well as in the number of judges serving them. Each county has its own superior court, though judges may serve in more than one county. Numbers of superior court judges per circuit range from two judges in each of 21 circuits to 15 judges authorized for the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. A chief judge handles the administrative tasks for each circuit. 
The superior courts are also grouped into 10 judicial administrative districts. An administrative judge and a district court administrator serve in each district. Administrative judges have statutory authority to use caseload data and other information for management purposes and to assign superior court judges, with their approval, to serve temporarily in other counties and circuits as needed. 
Superior court judges are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan, circuitwide races. To qualify as a superior court judge, a candidate must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of Georgia for at least three years, and have practiced law for at least seven years. Superior court judges who have retired from the bench and attained senior status may hear cases in any circuit at the request of a local judge, an administrative judge or the governor. 
As of June 30, 1993, 145 judges serve in Georgia's 159 superior courts. 
Graphs on page 15 show total, civil, criminal and average perjudge filings and dispositions for calendar years 1988 through 1992. Caseload 
datafor the superior courtsfor calendar year 1992 by circuit and case type is presented in the table on pages 16 and 17. 
14 
 
 fl '"t'a r In'IH I: 
loial filin gs/ 
di ~ I)(J:-ii lioli s 
Filillgs - - - - -Di~po.. iljOIl ~ - - - 
 
C Y 191111 
 
C Y 1'1111) 
 
C Y ) I)I)O 
 
,/,/ 
 
,/ 
 
~ -+ 7. 197 
 
.:: 
 
,/ 
 
,/ 
 
.:: ~(jO.:llJlI 
 
,/ ,/ 
 
~1I:1. 711-t 
 
C Y 11)1)) : l() h .7~-t 
 
C Y 1 (1 )~ 
:IOh.');11 :lO.-'.h-t7 
 
:lOO.OOO 27 0 .0 0 0 2-t0.000 
 
;)-yt'ar tr--ru l: ci,:il filin gs/ 
c li s l)()si lioJl ~ 
5 -,-ear 1rend: crfllli na l filings/ rlispos it ious 
 
Ih7.7:10 
 
/ / / / 
"" ,, " 1 7h. 7~~ 
 
1 5 h . :ll ~ 
 
""""" " 
". "/ 1 () ~ ,-t ~ lJ 
 
" " " " I50 .-thO 
 
11I6.2:1-t 11I(j.21 -t 
 
1110.000 
 
170.000 
 
16G,OOO 
 
II 'U07 
 
120.h97 
 
- - - - --1 1 9. -t:~:1 
 
1:lO.000 110.000 
 
90 .000 
 
;'- \'I'a r treu d : HY;'rU;!t' I H ~ r j ll dgt~. tu rul filings/ 
d isl' 0silio'ns 
 
1.9110 
 
I.IIO-t 
 
--- --- 
 
,/ 
 
1.9 17 
 
,/ 
 
.:: 1.11117 
 
/ ,/ 
 
,/ 
 
1.7 15 
 
C Y 19m1 
 
C Y 11)119 
 
C Y 1990 
 
2 .005 1.99:\ 
C Y Ill'll 
 
I 
2. 117 
2. 1011 
 
~ .200 ~ .OOO 
1.1100 
 
Filing and Disposition Trends 
15 
 
 Super'ior Court Casr-loud, Calendar' Ypar' 1YY2 (docker entr-ies) 
 
Circuit 
 
# of Judges 
 
Total Criminal 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
Felony 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
Alapaha 
 
2 
 
Alcovy 
 
2 
 
Appalachian 
 
2 
 
Atlanta 
 
12 
 
Atlantic 
 
3 
 
Augusta 
 
5 
 
Blue 'Ridge' . 
 
:3 
 
Brunswick 
 
4 
 
Chattahoochee 
 
4 
 
Cherokee 
 
3 
 
Clayton 
 
4 
 
Cobb 
 
7 
 
conasauga' 
 
:3 
 
Cordele 
 
2 
 
Coweta 
 
3 
 
Dougherty 
 
2 
 
Douglas 
 
2 
 
Dublin 
 
2 
 
Eastern 
 
4 
 
Enotah 
 
2 
 
Flint 
 
2 
 
Griffin 
 
3 
 
Gwinnett 
 
6 
 
LHooouksotount Mouniain .. 
 
2 
4 
 
Macon 
 
4 
 
Middle 
 
2 
 
Mountain 
 
2 
 
Northeastern 
 
3 
 
Northern 
 
2 
 
Ocmulgee 
 
3 
 
Oconee 
 
2 
 
Ogeechee 
 
2 
 
Pataula 
 
2 
 
Piedmont 
 
2 
 
Rockdale 
 
2 
 
Rome 
 
3 
 
South Georgia 
 
2 
 
Southern 
 
3 
 
Southwestern 
 
2 
 
Stone Mountain 
 
9 
 
Tallapoosa 
 
3 
 
Tifton ... 
 
2 
 
Toombs 
 
2 
 
Waycross 
 
3 
 
Western 
 
2 
 
3,143 4,935 1,170 14,848 2,274 3,101 ...... '1,166' 
 
2,738 4,415 1,063 15,282 2,144 3,038 . ... '1,i72' 
 
2,245 
 
2,529 
 
3,049 
 
3,099 
 
3,017 
 
3,173 
 
2,766 
 
2,756 
 
6,289 
 
6,061 
 
......... 2,628' ..... '2,651' 
 
1,664 
 
1,732 
 
2,998 1,843 
 
3,016 1,754 
 
2,395 
 
2,002 
 
........ . 1,345. .......1.'.358.. 
 
4,483 
 
4,297 
 
1,068 
 
1,132 
 
1,576 3,117 
 
1,668 2,936 
 
2,526 
 
2,413 
 
1,295 
 
1,344 
 
......... 2,529" . .... '2,670' 
 
3,256 
 
3,238 
 
1,346 
 
1,307 
 
845 
 
918 
 
2,133 
 
2,172 
 
.......... 1,509 .. .......1.'.335.. 
 
3,146 
 
3,134 
 
1,413 
 
1,574 
 
1,423 
 
1,395 
 
1,273 
 
1,235 
 
1,559 
 
1,471 
 
881 
 
846 
 
3,288 
 
2,643 
 
1,068 
 
1,068 
 
3,049 
 
2,959 
 
1,902 
 
1,972 
 
6,965 
 
7,599 
 
2,220 
 
2,135 
 
.... '1,175" ..... '1,068' 
 
1,663 1,576 1,537 
 
1,521 1,578 1,716 
 
1,077 1,622 
425 11,370 
813 1,865 
116 1,598 2,024 1,028 1,863 5,213 
184 653 2,287 1,279 822 545 3,496 281 684 1,485 1,840 873 ... '1,159' 
2,429 1,054 
469 1,135 
773 1,798 
680 1,018 
564 778 509 635 520 1,581 698 4,320 707 116 . 
496 1,018 1,061 
 
939 1,566 
386 11,807 
662 1,812 
813 1,903 2,055 1,152 1,844 4,995 
i9i" 
691 2,298 1,193 
641 545 3,268 302 756 1,330 1,731 912 
"U96' 
2,475 1,018 
542 1,193 
668 1,783 
841 1,007 
543 693 479 454 538 1,557 770 4,954 689 
64i 
408 1,062 1,286 
 
Total 
 
145 
 
Average per Judge- 
 
120,697 832 
 
119,433 824 
 
68,761 474 
 
69,191 477 
 
 Based on 145 superior court judges. 
 
Misdemeanor 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
Probation Revocation 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
1,931 2,631 
549 13 
1,364 419 44 331 680 
1,077 37 
131 '1,199 
512 318 197 1,013 409 
598 
451 1,372 
11 175 909 258 
8 98 308 338 1,246 500 35 498 400 97 2,141 173 314 595 
 1,114 
... i75 
880 282 155 
26,086 180 
 
1,666 
 
135 
 
2,188 
 
682 
 
483 
 
196 
 
10 
 
3,465 
 
1,385 
 
97 
 
415 
 
817 
 
'5"3 . 
 
'406 
 
310 
 
316 
 
699 
 
345 
 
1,109 
 
912 
 
46 
 
866 
 
121 
 
945 
 
i;iio 
 
"Ms' 
 
542 
 
499 
 
326 
 
393 
 
194 
 
367 
 
801 
 
560 
 
4.3. 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . .3. .9.1 
 
642 
 
987 189 
 
476 
 
441 
 
1,346 
 
260 
 
7 
 
675 
 
185 
 
247 
 
i,oi3 
 
46i . 
 
236 
 
569 
 
9 
 
284 
 
98 
 
278 
 
325 
 
690 
 
269 
 
398 
 
1,249 
 
102 
 
514 
 
233 
 
36 
 
370 
 
484 
 
211 
 
397 
 
381 
 
92 
 
275 
 
1,677 
 
512 
 
166 
 
375 
 
333 
 
1,154 
 
593 
 
609 
 
 1,047 
i48 
 
2,645 399 184 
 
826 
 
287 
 
239 
 
276 
 
116 
 
321 
 
................... 
 
24,626 170 
 
25,850 178 
 
133 661 194 3,465 
97 811 
466 
316 345 912 866 945 645 . 
499 392 367 560 378 1,029 188 436 260 675 
..... '42647i 
527 280 278 654 398 102 219 352 208 381 275 512 364 1,069 609 2,645 399 178 287 277 314 
25,616 177 
 
16 
 
 SlIpt"'iOl' (:ollrt (:a~t'load. Ca lr-nd ar \t';'" t ()<):! (dtlt'kt'l t'lltrit'~) 
 
Total Civil 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
1,861 4,281 1,699 10,004 3,848 10,767 
s.ooi 
4,657 6,935 2,767 4,279 8,909 4)13 1,965 6,167 4,281 2,709 .2,577 5,154 1,421 4,266 5,290 8,820 3,089. 4,127 5,028 2,973 1,857 3,394 2,878 4,769 2,228 3,350 1,568 2,917 1,671 3,102 2,745 4,671 1,966 11,839 2,849 1,708 1,625 3,172 2,837 
 
1,665 4,102 1,693 9,964 3,818 10,522 2,980 4,873 7,369 3,095 3,744 8,235 4,312 2,321 5,759 4,485 2,800 2,930 5,047 1,385 3,810 5,093 8,547 2,484 4,292 4,145 3,065 1,915 3,376 3,040 5,367 2,427 3,311 1,598 2,894 
1/550 2,536 2,944 4,938 1,999 13,279 2,768 2,382 1,592 2,966 2,797 
 
186,234 1,284 
 
186,214 1,284 
 
General Civil 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
648 1,297 
634 4,227 
848 2,023 738 
1,230 1,850 1,180 
658 2,085 1,264 
723 1,454 
885 1,369 
765 2,067 
595 1,706 1,762 3,168 
631 896 1,630 833 562 951 929 1,780 692 979 504 991 590 1,081 683 1,546 768 2,107 1,322 
fi6 
573 1,288 1,119 
 
557 1,254 
632 3,903 
768 1,893 734 
1,398 2,360 1,475 
554 1,977 1,355 
800 1,444 1,086 1,519 
901 2,020 
586 1,540 1,807 3,227 
468 957 1,475 913 579 1,026 913 1,980 778 990 509 1,020 515 841 734 1,728 824 2,626 1,357 1,069 552 1,224 1,226 
 
56,357 389 
 
58,094 401 
 
Domestic Relations 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
1,213 2,984 1,065 5,777 3,000 8,744 2,263 3,427 5,085 1,587 3,621 6,824 2,949 1,242 4,713 3,396 1,340 1,812 3,087 
826 2,560 3,528 5,652 2,458 3,231 3,398 2,140 1,295 2,443 1,949 2,989 1,536 2,371 1,064 1,926 1,081 2,021 2,062 3,125 1,198 9,732 1,527 
982 1,052 1,884 1,718 
 
1,108 2,848 1,061 6,061 3,050 8,629 2,246 3,475 5,009 1,620 3,190 6,258 2,957 1,521 4,315 3,399 1,281 2,029 3,027 
799 2,270 3,286 5,320 2,016 3,335 2,670 2,152 1,336 2,350 2,127 3,387 1,649 2,321 1,089 1,874 1,035 1,695 2,210 3,210 1,175 10,653 1,411 1,313 1,040 1,742 1,571 
 
129,877 896 
 
128,120 884 
 
Total Caseload 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
5,004 9,216 2,869 24,852 6,122 13,868 4,i67 6,902 9,984 5,784 7,045 15,198 6,841 3,629 9,165 6,124 5,104 3,922 9,637 2,489 5,842 8,407 11,346 .4,384 6,656 8,284 4,319 2,702 5,527 4,387 7,915 3,641 4,773 2,841 4,476 2,552 6,390 3,813 7,720 3,868 18,804 5,069 2,883 
3,288 4,748 4,374 
 
4,403 8,517 2,756 25,246 5,962 13,560 4,252 7,402 10,468 6,268 6,500 14,296 6,969 4,053 8,775 6,239 4,802 4,288 9,344 2,517 5,478 8,029 10,960 3,828 6,962 7,383 4,372 2,833 5,548 4,375 8,501 4,00 1 4,706 2,833 4,365 2,396 5,179 4,012 7,897 3,971 20,878 4,903 3,450 3,113 4,544 4,513 
 
306,931 2,117 
 
305,647 2,108 
 
Total Open Caseload 
2,781 4,399 1,790 12,031 1,539 5,970 2,019 2,483 3,795 2,674 2,457 5,932 3,i25 
670 3,539 1,541 3,922 1,178 4,061 1,184 4,403 4,230 3,390 .2,476 2,336 3,953 1,912 
848 1,832 2,435 1,916 
795 799 1,463 2,033 1,163. 2,655 1,020 3,276 1,113 5,995 2,925 1,701 1,487 2,125 1,960 
127,331 878 
 
17 
 
 - - - - - - - - - - - - State Courts - - - - - - - - - - - - 
A 1970 legislative act established Georgia's state court system by designating as such certain existing countywide courts of limited jurisdiction. In counties where they are located, these courts may exercise jurisdiction over all misdemeanor violations, including traffic cases, and all civil actions, regardless of the amount claimed, unless the superior court has exclusive jurisdiction. 
State courts are authorized to hold hearings on applications for and issuance of search and arrest warrants and to hold preliminary hearings. The Georgia Constitution grants state courts authority to review lower court decisions as provided by statute. 
The General Assembly creates state courts by local legislation. The legislature also establishes the number of judges and whether the judges are to be full or parttime. Part-time judges may practice law except in their own courts. 
In fiscal year 1993, 62 state courts operated in 65 counties. One state court serves Cherokee and Forsyth counties. Of the 88 authorized judgeships, 87 are filled; 43 are full-time and 44 are part-time. The 1993 General Assembly created state courts in Brooks and McIntosh counties and added a additional state court judgeship in Gwinnett County. 
State court judges are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan, countywide elections. Candidates must be at least 25 years old, have been admitted to practice law for at least five years, and have lived in the state for at least three years. The governor fills vacancies by appointment. 
Filings and dispositions are given for those state courts which provided caseload data. 
18 
 
 State Court Caseload, 1992 Reporting Year (docket entries) 
 
County 
 
Misdemeanor 
 
Traffic 
 
Reporting Year Filed Disposed Filed Disposed 
 
Civil 
 
Total 
 
Filed Disposed Filed Disposed 
 
Baldwin' Bibb Bryan Burke Candler Carroll Chatham' Chattooga Cherokee/Forsyth w Clarke Clayton Cobb Coffee Coweta Decatur' DeKalb Dougherty Early Effingham Elbert Fulton Glynn' Grady Habersham' Hall Houston Jackson' Jeff Davis Jenkins Miller Mitchell Muscogee Putnam Rockdale Screven Sumter Stephens httnall Thomas Tift Toombs Troup' Wayne 
 
FY 
 
5,227 
 
CY 
 
6,448 6,256 1,401 1,184 1,256 1,250 9,105 8,690 
 
FY 
 
282 
 
158 6,033 6,075 
 
63 
 
35 6,378 6,268 
 
CY 
 
547 
 
505 1,218 1,152 
 
132 
 
99 1,897 1,756 
 
CY 
 
194 
 
190 1,797 1,600 
 
39 
 
28 2,030 1,818 
 
FY 
 
481 
 
598 4,748 3,802 
 
670 
 
536 . 5,~99. 4~936 
 
CY 
 
1,971 1,863 1,188 1,076 2,562 2,809 5,721 5,748 
 
CY 
 
926 
 
797 2,286 2,069 
 
56 
 
37 3,268 2,903 
 
FY 
 
10,276 7,083 1,081 
 
859 11,357 7,942 
 
FY 
 
2,510 2,447 7,789 7,709 
 
638 
 
562 10,937 10,718 
 
CY 15,348 15,845 18,921 18,802 4,362 5,384 38,631 40,031 
 
FY 
 
8,300 7,285 99,401 88,714 22,694 21 ~43.1. .. 13 0 ,39 5 lP~430 
 
CY 
 
356 
 
124 3,730 2,439 
 
219 
 
113 4,305 2,676 
 
CY 
 
1,101 
 
990 6,816 6,324 
 
448 
 
392 8,365 7,706 
 
FY 
 
619 
 
2,113 
 
64 
 
30 2,796 
 
30 
 
CY 
 
7,913 8,617 3,716 2,491 55,862 35,012 67,491 46,120 
 
FY 
 
3,957 3,492 6,499 5,780 
 
690 
 
461 11,146 9,733 
 
FY 
 
395 
 
354 1,265 1,153 
 
18 
 
12 1,678 1,519 
 
FY 
 
562 
 
429 3,835 3,383 
 
230 
 
i iii 4,627 3,930 
 
FY 
 
550 
 
430 
 
926 
 
781 
 
89 
 
68 1,565 1,279 
 
FY 25,606 
 
N/A 23,742 11,439 90,397 31,562 139,745 43,001 
 
FY 
 
9,257 8,225 
 
238 
 
157 9,495 8,382 
 
CY 
 
221 
 
182 1,457 1,388 
 
70 
 
60 1,748 1,630 
 
FY 
 
.3,685 3,424 . 
 
.. 3,685 3,424 
 
FY 
 
5,239 5,334 5,811 5,673 
 
969 
 
925 12,019 11,932 
 
CY 
 
2,051 2,085 15,080 14,833 
 
862 
 
926 17,993 17,844 
 
CY 
 
8,130 7,849 
 
153 
 
124 8,283 7,973 
 
FY 
 
305 
 
184 
 
900 
 
870 
 
30 
 
13 1,235 1,067 
 
CY 
 
138 
 
125 1,224 1,213 
 
12 
 
9 1,374 1,347 
 
CY 
 
111 
 
109 
 
634 
 
600 
 
12 
 
8 
 
757 
 
717 
 
CY 
 
445 
 
412 1,180 1,112 
 
13 
 
10 1,638 1,534 
 
FY 
 
3,736 3,290 3,970 3,571 
 
973 
 
476 8,679 7,337 
 
FY CY 
 
50 1,145 
 
50 1,148 
 
713 5,220 
 
713 5,678 
 
425 
 
 763 
372 6,790 
 
763 7,198 
 
CY 
 
240 
 
218 1,409 1,391 
 
32 
 
28 1,681 1,637 
 
FY 
 
958 
 
905 1,581 1,581 
 
51 
 
9 2,590 .2,495 
 
CY 
 
480 
 
466 1,324 1,315 
 
186 
 
139 1,990 1,920 
 
CY 
 
151 
 
132 1,487 1,487 
 
41 
 
37 1,679 1,656 
 
CY 
 
2,451 2,420 1,511 1,390 
 
144 
 
105 4,106 3,915 
 
CY 
 
9,405 8,882 3,143 2,324 
 
202 
 
166 12,750 11,372 
 
CY 
 
577 
 
515 1,621 1,538 
 
54 
 
43 2,252 2,096 
 
FY 
 
3,044 2,804 5,028 5,028 
 
303 
 
120 8,375 7,952 
 
CY 
 
783 
 
695 1,103 1,002 
 
106 
 
53 1,992 1,750 
 
Total 
 
109,596 80,336 283,168 245,261 186,446 104,578 584,437 430,175 
 
Note: 43 of 62 courts submitted data. , Provided total filings only. , Caseload based on defendants. 1 Cherokee County data only. , Traffic includes misdemeanor cases. s Provided filings only for criminal. 
 
19 
 
 - - - - - - - - - - - - .J uvr-ni le Cuur! ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - 
The purpose of Georgia's juvenile courts is to protect the well-being of children, provide guidance and control conducive to a child's welfare and the best interests of the state, and secure care for children removed from their homes. 
The exclusive, original jurisdiction of juvenile courts extends to cases of delinquent and unruly children under the age of 17, and deprived children under the age of 18. Juvenile courts have concurrent jurisdiction with superior courts in cases involving capital felonies, custody and child support cases, and in proceedings to terminate parental rights. The superior court has the authority to terminate parental rights in adoption proceedings. In addition, the juvenile court has jurisdiction over minors enlisting in the military services, consent to marriage for minors, and cases involving the Interstate Compact on Juveniles. Most cases appealed from the juvenile courts are heard by the Court of Appeals. 
There are 51 full- and part-time juvenile court judges. In counties or circuits with no separate juvenile court judge, superior court judges hear juvenile cases. Forty-two associate judges, who must be admitted to the State Bar or have graduated from law school, serve in 42 counties to assist the juvenile or superior court judge with handling cases. 
Juvenile court judges are appointed by superior court judges of the circuit for either a four- or six-year term. (Only the juvenile court judge of Floyd County is elected.) Judges must be at least 30 years of age, have practiced law for five years and have lived in Georgia for three years. Full-time judges cannot practice law while holding office. 
Juvenile court filings and dispositions for calendar year 1992 are presented for counties submitting caseload data to the Administrative Office of the Courts. 
20 
 
 Iuvc-ni l C.IIII'( (:a~.'ltlad. Calendar Year 199:.! (nllmher of rh i ld rr-n ) 
 
County 
Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien Bibb' Bleckley Braniley Bryan Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden' Candler Carroll Charlton Chatham Chattahoochee Chattooga Cherokee Clarke Clay Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp Dade Decatur DeKalb' Dodge OODly Dougherty Echols Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin Fayette Floyd Franklin Fulton' Gilmer Glascock Grady Greene Gwinnett' Habersham Hancock 
 
Delinquent Filed Disposed 
 
74 10 28 9 219 32 166 345 192 87 1,702 45 31 94 154 194 115 13 133 23 322 40 2,260 22 45 219 826 
7 1,344 
9 2,298 
167 255 353 155 422 
13 218 
56 138 5,613 
87 42 1,522 
6 121 91 
24 79 29 210 552 43 13,873 22 
2 72 115 2,275 71 
1 
 
73 9 25 9 199 28 171 313 187 57 
45 34 80 152 184 80 13 132 23 314 40 1,800 17 37 159 826 
7 905 
9 1,777 
75 181 361 122 422 
11 242 
56 129 
68 46 1,411 
6 133 
83 25 83 25 210 435 39 
15 3 
71 102 
48 3 
 
Unruly Filed Disposed 
 
27 
 
25 
 
7 
 
7 
 
3 
 
4 
 
0 
 
0 
 
40 
 
39 
 
5 
 
6 
 
52 
 
51 
 
223 
 
205 
 
40 
 
37 
 
44 
 
25 
 
188 
 
0 
 
0 
 
4 
 
7 
 
40 
 
41 
 
43 
 
43 
 
5 
 
5 
 
18 
 
14 
 
5 
 
5 
 
104 
 
100 
 
4 
 
4 
 
245 
 
241 
 
6 
 
6 
 
324 
 
242 
 
8 
 
9 
 
36 
 
29 
 
140 
 
115 
 
303 
 
303 
 
1 
 
1 
 
366 
 
249 
 
5 
 
5 
 
827 
 
717 
 
41 
 
17 
 
18 
 
18 
 
122 
 
122 
 
20 
 
20 
 
165 
 
165 
 
3 
 
2 
 
40 
 
42 
 
23 
 
23 
 
24 
 
24 
 
1,501 
 
2 
 
2 
 
5 
 
1 
 
75 
 
69 
 
3 
 
3 
 
34 
 
34 
 
5 
 
6 
 
0 
 
0 
 
15 
 
25 
 
10 
 
8 
 
126 
 
126 
 
290 
 
242 
 
0 
 
0 
 
815 
 
17 
 
13 
 
0 
 
0 
 
4 
 
4 
 
38 
 
37 
 
688 
 
27 
 
17 
 
0 
 
0 
 
Traffic Filed Disposed 
 
24 
 
23 
 
17 
 
15 
 
23 
 
21 
 
2 
 
2 
 
117 
 
100 
 
8 
 
5 
 
92 
 
48 
 
270 
 
253 
 
76 
 
78 
 
1 
 
0 
 
176 
 
8 
 
6 
 
1; 
 
21 
 
11 
 
15 
 
31 
 
28 
 
55 
 
58 
 
48 
 
44 
 
0 
 
0 
 
88 
 
88 
 
9 
 
3 
 
136 
 
126 
 
23 
 
24 
 
688 
 
652 
 
2 
 
2 
 
25 
 
21 
 
170 
 
142 
 
320 
 
320 
 
8 
 
8 
 
706 
 
562 
 
8 
 
6 
 
893 
 
791 
 
0 
 
0 
 
75 
 
64 
 
19 
 
15 
 
11 
 
3 
 
195 
 
195 
 
18 
 
18 
 
87 
 
94 
 
40 
 
40 
 
41 
 
39 
 
1,394 
 
1 
 
1 
 
34 
 
44 
 
178 
 
173 
 
0 
 
0 
 
13 
 
18 
 
16 
 
15 
 
20 
 
16 
 
8 
 
8 
 
39 
 
29 
 
160 
 
160 
 
134 
 
105 
 
31 
 
17 
 
725 
 
16 
 
12 
 
2 
 
0 
 
29 
 
28 
 
6 
 
7 
 
519 
 
88 
 
84 
 
12 
 
11 
 
Deprived Filed Disposed 
 
6 12 2 0 58 4 48 165 13 10 256 2 0 22 35 25 
7 4 31 0 229 1 333 3 102 269 372 6 565 2 1,589 110 15 130 24 .. 189 7 30 10 44 1,416 11 3 451 1 59 32 0 9 31 228 392 21 2,513 3 4 13 26 1,570 31 0 
 
6 10 2 0 65 4 43 148 14 6 
2 0 15 37 21 4 4 31 0 229 2 252 3 102 217 372 6 503 2 1,403 55 14 126 25 189 5 30 10 44 
8 4 428 1 61 31 0 8 24 228 342 21 
3 4 10 22 
31 0 
 
Special Proceedings Filed Disposed 
 
Total Caseload Filed Disposed 
 
3 
 
3 
 
134 
 
130 
 
0 
 
0 
 
46 
 
41 
 
0 
 
0 
 
56 
 
52 
 
1 
 
1 
 
12 
 
12 
 
8 
 
8 
 
442 
 
411 
 
0 
 
0 
 
49 
 
43 
 
0 
 
0 
 
358 
 
313 
 
84 
 
70 1,087 
 
989 
 
0 
 
0 
 
321 
 
316 
 
0 
 
0 
 
142 
 
88 
 
434 
 
2,756 
 
4 
 
4 
 
59 
 
57 
 
2 
 
2 
 
48 
 
64 
 
0 
 
0 
 
167 
 
151 
 
0 
 
0 
 
263 
 
260 
 
0 
 
0 
 
279 
 
268 
 
16 
 
14 
 
204 
 
156 
 
0 
 
0 
 
22 
 
22 
 
121 
 
121 
 
477 
 
472 
 
0 
 
0 
 
36 
 
30 
 
2 
 
2 
 
934 
 
912 
 
0 
 
0 
 
70 
 
72 
 
101 
 
95 3,706 3,041 
 
0 
 
0 
 
35 
 
31 
 
27 
 
26 
 
235 
 
215 
 
32 
 
29 
 
830 
 
662 
 
42 
 
42 1,863 1,863 
 
0 
 
0 
 
22 
 
22 
 
392 
 
280 3,373 2,499 
 
0 
 
0 
 
24 
 
22 
 
143 
 
126 5,750 4,814 
 
25 
 
7 
 
343 
 
154 
 
7 
 
7 
 
370 
 
284 
 
3 
 
3 
 
627 
 
627 
 
8 
 
4 
 
218 
 
174 
 
4 
 
4 
 
975 
 
975 
 
0 
 
0 
 
41 
 
36 
 
34 
 
33 
 
409 
 
441 
 
9 
 
9 
 
138 
 
138 
 
2 
 
0 
 
249 
 
236 
 
310 
 
10,234 
 
4 
 
3 
 
105 
 
82 
 
0 
 
0 
 
84 
 
95 
 
0 
 
0 2,226 2,081 
 
0 
 
0 
 
10 
 
10 
 
4 
 
4 
 
231 
 
250 
 
0 
 
0 
 
144 
 
135 
 
1 
 
0 
 
45 
 
41 
 
1 
 
1 
 
112 
 
125 
 
0 
 
0 
 
109 
 
86 
 
59 
 
59 
 
783 
 
783 
 
423 
 
381 1,791 1,505 
 
0 
 
0 
 
95 
 
77 
 
817 
 
18,7 43 
 
0 
 
0 
 
58 
 
43 
 
1 
 
1 
 
9 
 
8 
 
0 
 
0 
 
118 
 
113 
 
11 
 
10 
 
196 
 
178 
 
725 
 
5,777 
 
0 
 
1 
 
217 
 
181 
 
1 
 
0 
 
14 
 
14 
 
21 
 
 Juvenile Court Caseload, Calendar Year 1992 (number of children) 
 
County 
 
Delinquent Filed Disposed 
 
Haralson 
 
57 
 
38 
 
Harris 
 
56 
 
50 
 
Hart 
 
49 
 
49 
 
Heard 
 
Henry 
 
241 
 
234 
 
Houston 
 
553 
 
476 
 
Irwin 
 
22 
 
30 
 
jackson 
 
121 
 
104 
 
jasper 
 
9 
 
11 
 
jeff Davis 
 
83 
 
73 
 
jefferson 
 
23 
 
12 
 
jenkins 
 
37 
 
39 
 
lohnson . 
 
32 
 
35 
 
jones 
 
65 
 
59 
 
Lamar 
 
42 
 
49 
 
Lanier 
 
37 
 
44 
 
Laurens 
 
511 
 
485 
 
Lee Liberty 
 
108 ......1.0..3.. 
 
362 
 
323 
 
Lincoln 
 
21 
 
13 
 
Long 
 
18 
 
24 
 
Lowndes 
 
456 
 
268 
 
Lumpkin 
 
42 
 
42 
 
Macon 
 
78 
 
66 
 
Madison 
 
41 
 
35 
 
Marion 
 
10 
 
11 
 
McDuffie 
 
137 
 
126 
 
Mcintosh 
 
40 
 
53 
 
Meriwether 
 
80 
 
73 
 
Miller .................... 17 
 
17 
 
Mitchell 
 
106 
 
72 
 
Monroe 
 
84 
 
80 
 
Montgomery 
 
12 
 
12 
 
Morgan 
 
51 
 
49 
 
Murray 
 
147 
 
132 
 
Muscogee' 
NeWion 
 
............ 24,59621 
 
2,305 
492 
 
Oconee 
 
43 
 
29 
 
Oglethorpe 
 
26 
 
22 
 
Paulding 
 
145 
 
141 
 
Peach 
 
113 
 
71 
 
Pickens 
 
44 
 
43 
 
Pierce 
 
65 
 
59 
 
Pike 
 
37 
 
34 
 
Polk 
 
196 
 
183 
 
Pulaski 
 
29 
 
29 
 
Putnam 
 
49 
 
25 
 
quitl11an. Rabun 
 
13 
 
2 
 
29 
 
21 
 
Richmond 
 
1,769 1,600 
 
Rockdale 
 
175 
 
155 
 
Schley 
 
13 
 
16 
 
Screven 
 
82 
 
85 
 
Seminole 
. Sp~ldfng 
 
20 
 
8 
 
550 
 
550 
 
Stephens 
 
98 
 
106 
 
Stewart 
 
29 
 
25 
 
Talbot 
 
22 
 
19 
 
Taliaferro 
 
7 
 
7 
 
Tattnall 
 
62 
 
49 
 
Taylor 
 
27 
 
20 
 
Special 
 
Total 
 
Unruly 
 
Traffic 
 
Deprived 
 
Proceedings 
 
Caseload 
 
Filed Disposed 
 
Filed Disposed 
 
Filed Disposed 
 
Filed Disposed 
 
Filed Disposed 
 
.......................................................... 
 
25 
 
23 
 
59 
 
31 
 
18 
 
16 
 
0 
 
0 
 
159 
 
108 
 
20 
 
16 
 
19 
 
19 
 
24 
 
24 
 
0 
 
0 
 
119 
 
109 
 
5 
 
5 
 
18 
 
11 
 
22 
 
24 
 
1 
 
0 
 
95 
 
89 
 
69 
 
131 
 
122 
 
22 
 
22 
 
54 
 
54 
 
55 
 
54 
 
503 
 
486 
 
273 
 
230 
 
553 
 
.5.4..2........251 
 
247 
 
76 
 
60 ....lJ06. .... 1,5.55 
 
1 
 
2 
 
16 
 
18 
 
15 
 
20 
 
0 
 
0 
 
54 
 
70 
 
35 
 
35 
 
42 
 
33 
 
45 
 
41 
 
2 
 
1 
 
245 
 
214 
 
2 
 
1 
 
29 
 
29 
 
14 
 
14 
 
1 
 
2 
 
55 
 
57 
 
12 
 
9 
 
16 
 
0 
 
18 
 
17 
 
9 
 
8 
 
138 
 
107 
 
6 
 
5 
 
18 
 
12 
 
6 
 
6 
 
0 
 
0 
 
53 
 
35 
 
. . .1.0. . . . . . . . . .1.2. . . . . . . . .1. 8. . . . . . . . . .21 
 
11 
 
15 
 
12 
 
10 
 
8 
 
. .9...........1.. 
 
1 
 
74 
 
82 
 
6 
 
7 
 
0 
 
0 
 
61 
 
67 
 
3 
 
3 
 
30 
 
25 
 
19 
 
22 
 
11 
 
7 
 
128 
 
116 
 
25 
 
13 
 
11 
 
11 
 
17 
 
19 
 
2 
 
3 
 
97 
 
95 
 
6 
 
6 
 
38 
 
41 
 
3 
 
3 
 
1 
 
1 
 
85 
 
95 
 
51 
 
51 
 
51 
 
11 
 
87 
 
87 
 
0 
 
0 
 
700 
 
634 
 
25 . .......2.5. 
 
10 
 
10 . ......2.5. .......2.2.. 
 
0 
 
217 
 
168 
 
154 
 
84 
 
92 
 
89 
 
4 
 
0 . .....1.6..8.. 
 
160 
 
3 
 
829 
 
667 
 
4 
 
3 
 
2 
 
2 
 
5 
 
2 
 
0 
 
0 
 
32 
 
20 
 
7 
 
7 
 
11 
 
15 
 
3 
 
4 
 
0 
 
0 
 
39 
 
50 
 
75 
 
51 
 
49 
 
25 
 
113 
 
99 
 
0 
 
0 
 
693 
 
443 
 
15 
 
10 
 
11 
 
17 
 
32 
 
29 
 
1 
 
0 
 
101 
 
98 
 
34 
 
43 
 
20 
 
22 
 
17 
 
18 
 
0 
 
0 
 
149 
 
149 
 
4 
 
2 
 
39 
 
31 
 
41 
 
42 
 
0 
 
2 125 i1i 
 
8 
 
2 
 
3 
 
3 
 
16 
 
13 
 
1 
 
0 
 
38 
 
29 
 
21 
 
20 
 
34 
 
32 
 
43 
 
50 
 
0 
 
0 
 
235 
 
228 
 
32 
 
44 
 
16 
 
19 
 
3 
 
3 
 
10 
 
10 
 
101 
 
129 
 
6 
 
6 
 
74 
 
74 
 
29 
 
29 
 
32 
 
32 
 
221 
 
214 
 
4 
 
4 
 
10 
 
9 . ........3... 
 
3 
 
0 
 
0 
 
34 
 
33 
 
2 
 
2 
 
26 
 
18 
 
16 
 
12 
 
1 
 
1 
 
151 
 
105 
 
39 
 
37 
 
23 
 
24 
 
85 
 
78 
 
38 
 
37 
 
269 
 
256 
 
5 
 
5 
 
1 
 
2 
 
4 
 
4 
 
0 
 
0 
 
22 
 
23 
 
6 
 
6 
 
22 
 
14 
 
16 
 
12 
 
2 
 
2 
 
97 
 
83 
 
102 
 
92 
 
81 
 
46 
 
16 
 
11 
 
14 
 
14 
 
360 
 
295 
 
829 
256 
 
746 
256 
 
439 
24( 
 
... 234915 ..... 163646 
 
606 
 
367 
 
iOG 253 
 
330 4,830 4,382 
is) ... 1,"348 1)48 
 
8 
 
5 
 
19 
 
16 
 
32 
 
29 
 
2 
 
3 
 
104 
 
82 
 
1 
 
0 
 
3 
 
8 
 
10 
 
10 
 
0 
 
0 
 
40 
 
40 
 
54 
 
52 
 
64 
 
33 
 
46 
 
48 
 
2 
 
9 
 
311 
 
283 
 
14 
 
14 
 
47 
 
34 
 
1 
 
0 
 
3 
 
3 
 
178 
 
122 
 
21 
 
18 
 
16 ........1.5.. 
 
6 
 
6 
 
5 
 
0 
 
92 
 
82 
 
10 
 
10 
 
25 
 
23 
 
37 
 
30 
 
2 
 
0 
 
139 
 
122 
 
7 
 
6 
 
21 
 
17 
 
16 
 
16 
 
0 
 
0 
 
81 
 
73 
 
57 
 
51 
 
106 
 
82 
 
20 
 
20 
 
1 
 
1 
 
380 
 
337 
 
7 
 
7 
 
0 
 
0 
 
5 
 
6 
 
1 
 
1 
 
42 
 
43 
 
6 
 
3 
 
56 
 
51 
 
2 
 
2 
 
2 
 
2 
 
115 
 
83 
 
0 
 
0 
 
4 
 
0 
 
3 
 
0 
 
0 
 
0 
 
20 
 
2 
 
2 
 
2 
 
15 
 
5 
 
10 
 
10 
 
0 
 
0 
 
56 
 
38 
 
250 
 
243 
 
294 
 
164 
 
83 
 
74 
 
192 
 
132 2,588 2,213 
 
86 
 
81 
 
25 
 
23 
 
207 
 
198 
 
123 
 
97 
 
616 
 
554 
 
3 
 
1 
 
3 
 
3 
 
5 
 
5 
 
0 
 
0 
 
24 
 
25 
 
18 
 
19 
 
6 
 
6 
 
6 
 
8 
 
0 
 
0 
 
112 
 
118 
 
18 
 
3 
 
11 
 
0 
 
1 
 
0 
 
0 
 
0 
 
50 
 
11 
 
91 
 
91 
 
395 
 
399 
 
52 
 
52 
 
7 
 
7 1,095 1,099 
 
18 
 
17 
 
55 
 
64 
 
39 
 
40 
 
0 
 
0 
 
210 
 
227 
 
6 
 
5 
 
4 
 
4 
 
1 
 
1 
 
0 
 
0 
 
40 
 
35 
 
4 
 
1 
 
12 
 
14 
 
2 
 
3 
 
0 
 
0 
 
40 
 
37 
 
2 
 
2 
 
0 
 
0 
 
0 
 
0 
 
0 
 
0 
 
9 
 
9 
 
75 
 
81 
 
26 
 
26 
 
8 
 
11 
 
2 
 
1 
 
173 
 
168 
 
0 
 
1 
 
15 
 
15 
 
3 
 
3 
 
0 
 
. 
 
0 
.. 
 
. 
 
. 
 
. 
 
. 
 
. 
 
. 
 
. 
 
45 
.... 
 
. 
 
. 
 
. 
 
39 
 
22 
 
 Juvenile Court Case load, Calendar Year' 1992 (number of children) 
 
County 
Telfair Terrell Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen Troup Turner Twiggs Union LJpson Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington Webster Wheeler White Whitfield Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth 
Total 
 
Delinquent Filed Disposed 
 
Unruly Filed Disposed 
 
Traffic Filed Disposed 
 
Deprived Filed Disposed 
 
54 
 
40 
 
13 
 
11 
 
9 
 
5 
 
15 
 
14 
 
120 
 
120 
 
2 
 
2 
 
34 
 
34 
 
9 
 
9 
 
274 
 
229 
 
57 
 
21 
 
74 
 
74 
 
63 
 
55 
 
304 
 
224 
 
35 
 
40 
 
27 
 
31 
 
111 
 
95 
 
95 
 
84 
 
3 
 
2 
 
60 
 
49 
 
10 
 
6 
 
8 
 
7 
 
1 
 
1 
 
7 
 
7 
 
4 
 
4 
 
27 
 
21 
 
0 
 
0 
 
6 
 
2 
 
10 
 
9 
 
828 
 
703 
 
187 
 
164 
 
398 
 
321 
 
128 
 
116 
 
92 
 
92 
 
16 
 
16 
 
0 
 
0 
 
43 
 
43 
 
30 
 
29 
 
16 
 
15 
 
18 
 
20 
 
6 
 
5 
 
34 
 
26 
 
32 
 
30 
 
13 
 
13 
 
19 
 
19 
 
264 
 
245 
 
46 
 
42 
 
75 
 
64 
 
78 
 
70 
 
156 
 
155 
 
77 
 
72 
 
35 
 
34 
 
88 
 
88 
 
692 
 
643 
 
198 
 
88 
 
22 
 
20 
 
119 
 
115 
 
357 
 
248 
 
159 
 
114 
 
109 
 
92 
 
46 
 
37 
 
8 
 
6 
 
1 
 
1 
 
6 
 
3 
 
5 
 
1 
 
180 
 
142 
 
3 
 
3 
 
27 
 
24 
 
3 
 
2 
 
22 
 
11 
 
2 
 
2 
 
0 
 
0 
 
6 
 
8 
 
12 
 
13 
 
1 
 
2 
 
1 
 
1 
 
0 
 
0 
 
73 
 
60 
 
25 
 
35 
 
23 
 
23 
 
68 
 
73 
 
337 
 
294 
 
281 
 
245 
 
189 
 
154 
 
188 
 
154 
 
23 
 
20 
 
0 
 
0 
 
11 
 
9 
 
0 
 
1 
 
29 
 
29 
 
1 
 
1 
 
4 
 
4 
 
8 
 
9 
 
16 
 
14 
 
3 
 
2 
 
31 
 
36 
 
12 
 
12 
 
63 
 
63 
 
33 
 
33 
 
18 
 
18 
 
61 
 
61 
 
52,227 25,011 11,481 7,287 12,594 8,616 15,145 8,647 
 
Special Proceedings Filed Disposed 
 
Total Caseload Filed Disposed 
 
0 
 
0 
 
91 
 
70 
 
10 
 
10 
 
175 
 
175 
 
4 
 
4 
 
472 
 
383 
 
0 
 
0 
 
477 
 
390 
 
42 
 
27 
 
210 
 
168 
 
1 
 
1 
 
21 
 
20 
 
2 
 
2 
 
45 
 
34 
 
30 
 
25 1,571 1,329 
 
0 
 
0 
 
151 
 
151 
 
0 
 
0 
 
70 
 
69 
 
0 
 
0 
 
98 
 
88 
 
0 
 
0 
 
463 
 
421 
 
34 
 
34 
 
390 
 
383 
 
333 
 
321 1,364 1,187 
 
54 
 
45 
 
725 
 
536 
 
1 
 
1 
 
21 
 
12 
 
0 
 
0 
 
213 
 
170 
 
0 
 
0 
 
30 
 
21 
 
0 
 
0 
 
14 
 
16 
 
5 
 
5 
 
194 
 
196 
 
199 
 
150 1,194 
 
997 
 
0 
 
0 
 
34 
 
30 
 
0 
 
0 
 
42 
 
43 
 
2 
 
2 
 
64 
 
66 
 
2 
 
2 
 
177 
 
177 
 
5,804 3,056 97,320 52,618' 
 
Note: 146 of 159 counties provided data. 1 Provided filings only. 2 All motion hearings are included in special proceedings. 3 Estimate.  Dispositions not reported by four of the largest courts: Bibb, Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnelt. 
 
23 
 
 ------------ Probate Courts ---------- 
Located in each of Georgia's 159 counties, the probate court exercises exclusive original jurisdiction in the probate of wills, the administration of estates, the appointment of guardians and the involuntary hospitalization of incapacitated adults and other dependent individuals. 
IT provided by statute, probate judges may serve as election superintendent, appoint persons to fill public offices, administer oaths of office, issue marriage licenses, hold habeas corpus hearings or preside over criminal preliminary hearings. In those counties where there is no state court, probate courts may also hear traffic cases and violations of state game and fish laws, unless there is a demand for a jury trial, in which instance a case would be transferred to the superior court. 
In counties with a population greater than 100,000 and where the probate judge has practiced law for at least seven years, a party to a civil case has the right to a jury trial if so asserted by a written demand with the first pleading. Appeals from such civil cases may be to the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals, depending on the particular matter. 
Most probate court judges are elected to four-year terms in countywide, partisan elections. Fulton and DeKalb counties hold nonpartisan elections. A candidate for office must be at least 25 years of age, a high school graduate, a U.S. citizen and a county resident for at least two years preceding the election. In counties with a population over 100,000, candidates must fulfill additional qualifications concerning age and practice of law. 
Fiscal year 1993 criminal and civil caseload data is published as submitted. 
24 
 
 "rohatl' COllrt Cri nri n a l Ca~I'load. ri~I'al 'I'ar 1l)');~ (dllt'k ... t'ntl"il'~) 
 
County 
Bacon Baker Banks Barrow Bartow .BenHil.I' Brantley Bulls Camden' Crawford Cook Dawson Fannin Fayelle Floyd' Glascock Gordon' Grady Greene Haralson Harris Heard' Henry Jasper Jones' Lanier' Laurens' Lee Macon Madison Marion McDuffie Mcintosh Monroe' Murray' Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding Peach Pickens' Polk Pulaski Randolph Seminole Taylor Telfair' Terrell Thomas Towns Turner Twiggs' Union Walton Warren' Wheeler White Whitfield' Wilkes' Wilkinson 
Total 
 
Misdemeanor 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
a a 
124 
a 
394 
20 
89 
97 
17 
103 
48 
255 
66 
48 
a 
31 14 
28 147 
139 
a 
68 
94 
a 
0 
34 
93 
a a 
2 
a a a 
74 
21 
68 
a 
19 
62 
a a 
65 
a a 
17 
a 
9 
.57 42 
65 
a 
37 
105 
102 
5 
15 
37 
a 
12 
77 
 
a a 
104 
a 
394 
18 
89 
97 
19 
110 
48 
255 
76 
36 
a 
31 
30 
76 
160 
105 
a 
68 
97 
a 
5 
34 
92 
a a 
9 
3 
a a 
42 
21 
66 
a 
19 
32 
a a 
52 
a a 
18 
a 
9 
.. 47 31 
48 
a 
37 
89 
103 
4 
6 25 
a 
12 
71 
 
2,800 
 
2,688 
 
Note: 60 of 96 courts with criminal jurisdiction submitted data. , Reported for two quarters of fiscal year. 2 Reported for three quarters of fiscal year. J Reported for one quarter of fiscal year.  Reported for calendar year 1993. 
 
Traffic 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
977 567 1,353 4,134 5,777 516 1,231 1,413 3,335 1,452 3,688 
.508 614 2,386 4,953 149 1,272 
a 
1,581 2,331 
a 
702 4,049 
235 1,408 
265 2,936 2,139 1,244 
1/228 
a 
2,317 
a 
3,490 1,106 3/562 2,217 
670 905 6,010 
a 
.1/970 
a 
1,730 1,910 1,896 
573 
.1/419 
a 
301 7,175 
490 528 5,743 622 818 945 1,360 552 404 
 
977 537 1,044 4,134 5,777 420 1,231 1,341 3,335 1,303 3,769 502 614 2,346 4,265 148 1,557 
a 
1,342 2,039 2,423 
702 4,796 
656 (045 
265 2,567 2,411 1,021 
.. 1,228 1,053 2,317 1,896 2,821 1,106 3,471 2,217 684 667 6,010 2,411 
.. 1.,786 891 
1,730 1,657 1,795 
532 .1,)72 
a 
254 3,599 
483 451 5,051 501 818 701 1,360 551 342 
 
101,156 
 
102,322 
 
Total Caseload 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
977 567 1,477 4,134 6,171 536 1,320 1,510 3,352 1,555 3,736 763 680 2,434 4,953 180 1,286 
28 1,728 2,470 
a 
770 4,143 
235 1,408 
299 3,029 2,139 1,244 
1,230. 
a 
2,317 
a 
3,564 1,127 3,630 2,217 
689 967 6,010 
a 
2,035 
a 
1,730 1,927 1,896 
582 1,476 
42 366 7,175 527 633 5,845 627 833 982 1,360 564 481 
 
977 537 1,148 4,134 6,171 438 1,320 1,438 3,354 1,413 3,817 757 690 2,382 4,265 179 1,587 
76 1,502 2,144 2,423 
770 4,893 
656 
i ,050 
299 2,659 2,411 1,021 
1,237 1,056 2,317 1,896 2,863 1,127 3,537 2,217 
703 699 6,010 2,411 1,838 891 1,730 1,675 1,795 541 1,419 
31 302 3,599 520 540 5,154 505 824 726 1,360 563 413 
 
103,956 
 
105,010 
 
25 
 
 Probate Court Civil Caseload, Fiscal Year 1993 (docket entries) 
 
County 
 
No 
 
Administration 
 
Probate 
 
Year's 
 
Administration Necessary Common Solemn Guardianship Support Hospitalization 
 
Habeas Corpus 
 
Licenses 
 
Marriage 
 
Pistol 
 
Total Civil 
 
Bacon 
 
25 
 
15 
 
Baker 
 
4 
 
0 
 
Baldwin' 
 
20 
 
1 
 
Banks 
 
4 
 
1 
 
Barrow 
 
29 
 
4 
 
Bartow 
 
35 
 
16 
 
Ben Hill' 
 
6 
 
0 
 
Berrien 
 
14 
 
4 
 
Bibb 
 
73 
 
21 
 
Brantley 
 
6 
 
0 
 
Bryan 
 
13 
 
4 
 
Bulloch 
 
30 
 
1 
 
Butts 
 
7 
 
0 
 
Camden' 
 
7 
 
1 
 
Candler 
 
6 
 
2 
 
Carroll' 
 
34 
 
4 
 
Cherokee 
 
41 
 
9 
 
Clarke 
 
30 
 
10 
 
Clayton 
 
87 
 
24 
 
Clinch' 
 
9 
 
2 
 
Cobb 
 
184 
 
27 
 
Coffee 
 
31 
 
3 
 
Colquitt 
 
17 
 
21 
 
Cook .. ......... .....7.. .............. 3. 
 
Coweta 
 
35 
 
14 
 
Crawford 
 
5 
 
2 
 
Dawson 
 
10 
 
4 
 
Decatur 
 
24 
 
0 
 
DeKalb 
 
785 
 
77 
 
Dougherty' . 
 
47 
 
10 
 
Douglas 
 
. 29 
 
'F 
 
Early' 
 
6 
 
2 
 
Effingham' 
 
19 
 
1 
 
Elbert' 
 
9 
 
2 
 
Emanuel 
 
13 
 
6 
 
Evans 
 
14 
 
0 
 
Fannin 
 
12 
 
4 
 
Fayette 
 
8 
 
8 
 
Floyd' 
 
27 
 
11 
 
Forsyth 
 
15 
 
5 
 
Fulton' 
 
471 
 
209 
 
Glascock 
 
3 
 
4 
 
Glynn 
 
101 
 
5 
 
Gordon' 
 
20 
 
1 
 
Grady 
 
28 
 
9 
 
Greene 
 
6 
 
2 
 
Gwinnett 
 
104 
 
25 
 
Habersham' 
 
23 
 
5 
 
Hall 
 
63 
 
22 
 
Haralson 
 
24 
 
1 
 
Harris 
 
7 
 
3 
 
Heard 
 
4 
 
0 
 
Henry 
 
25 
 
11 
 
Houston 
 
46 
 
8 
 
Jackson' 
 
14 
 
2 
 
Jasper 
 
6 
 
4 
 
Jeff Davis 
 
4 
 
2 
 
Jefferson 
 
10 
 
8 
 
Jones' 
 
3 
 
1 
 
Lanier' 
 
1 
 
1 
 
Laurens' 
 
17 
 
2 
 
5 
 
85 
 
30 
 
10 
 
8 
 
0 
 
91 
 
0 
 
10 
 
2 
 
0 
 
9 
 
0 
 
19 
 
1 
 
44 
 
25 
 
4 
 
159 
 
0 
 
265 
 
3 
 
21 
 
4 
 
12 
 
8 
 
0 
 
68 
 
3 
 
71 
 
58 
 
9 
 
28 
 
0 
 
216 
 
3 
 
149 
 
2 
 
26 
 
4.9..............6........ 56 
 
0 
 
2 
 
6 
 
0 
 
383 
 
0 
 
90 
 
2 
 
30 
 
4 
 
4 
 
9 
 
0 
 
116 
 
28 
 
403 
 
80 
 
38 
 
61 
 
1 
 
1,603 
 
0 
 
14 
 
3 
 
3 
 
0 
 
0 
 
100 
 
0 
 
22 
 
28 
 
4 
 
8 
 
0 
 
91 
 
6 
 
79 
 
2 
 
40 
 
17 ............0.. 
 
31 
 
7 
 
5 
 
9 
 
0 
 
319 
 
0 
 
116 
 
0 
 
9 
 
8 
 
1 
 
0 
 
0 
 
338 
 
0 
 
19 
 
7 
 
0 
 
0 
 
0 
 
81 
 
2 
 
178 
 
49 
 
20 
 
178 
 
0 
 
771 
 
11 
 
149 
 
35 
 
21 
 
34 
 
0 
 
546 
 
11 
 
173 
 
92 
 
13 
 
63 
 
0 
 
674 
 
14 
 
285 
 
306 
 
36 
 
44 
 
0 
 
1,497 
 
0 
 
11 
 
12 
 
3 
 
0 
 
0 
 
70 
 
29 
 
788 
 
474 
 
64 
 
100 
 
39 
 
4,180 
 
3 
 
72 
 
16 
 
2 
 
0 
 
0 
 
373 
 
3 
 
100 
 
22 
 
5 
 
34 
 
0 
 
407 
 
1......... )9. 
 
14 
 
3 
 
138 
 
75 
 
3 . .........1.6.. .. ..........0.. 
 
21 
 
48 
 
0 
 
1)2. 504 
 
0 
 
20 
 
10 
 
2 
 
0 
 
0 
 
58 
 
0 
 
18 
 
4 
 
2 
 
7 
 
0 
 
88 
 
1 
 
52 
 
15 
 
0 
 
17 
 
0 
 
208 
 
205 
 
1,119 
 
1,533 
 
181 
 
597 
 
17 
 
4,265 
 
7 
.) 
 
.. 
 
102 li4 
 
......... 
 
4641 
 
9 
 
51 
 
i7 0 
 
0 0 
 
490 
s2 ci 
 
0 
 
27 
 
17 
 
0 
 
6 
 
0 
 
50 
 
4 
 
51 
 
68 
 
22 
 
17 
 
0 
 
165 
 
3 
 
23 
 
5 
 
3 
 
3 
 
0 
 
29 
 
4 
 
58 
 
15 
 
4 
 
47 
 
0 
 
166 
 
0 
 
21 
 
2 
 
1 
 
5 
 
0 
 
71 
 
0 
 
34 
 
18 
 
8 
 
14 
 
0 
 
109 
 
2 
 
118 
 
52 
 
24 
 
0 
 
0 
 
545 
 
17 
 
195 
 
34 
 
12 
 
37 
 
0 
 
435 
 
2 
 
113 
 
8 
 
6 
 
0 
 
0 
 
443 
 
197 
 
1,593 
 
1,257 
 
108 
 
25 
 
0 
 
6,693 
 
0 
 
13 
 
12 
 
189 
 
7 ............1. ...... ......0.. ............0.. . ........1..8. 
 
57 
 
68 
 
30 
 
0 
 
779 
 
1 
 
45 
 
23 
 
4 
 
16 
 
0 
 
154 
 
0 
 
44 
 
26 
 
1 
 
30 
 
0 
 
180 
 
0 
 
19 
 
7 
 
1 
 
20 
 
0 
 
77 
 
18 
 
457 
 
376 
 
51 
 
55 
 
0 
 
3,529 
 
5 .........1.2.9.............3.1.......... ...2.. ........ . .1.9.......... 0 
 
225 
 
3 
 
259 
 
41 
 
12 
 
38 
 
0 
 
806 
 
0 
 
74 
 
25 
 
10 
 
30 
 
0 
 
203 
 
0 
 
51 
 
4 
 
5 
 
0 
 
0 
 
185 
 
0 
 
26 
 
15 
 
4 
 
19 
 
0 
 
55 
 
13 
 
110 
 
94 
 
32 
 
21 
 
2 
 
515 
 
4 
 
191 
 
85 
 
10 
 
56 
 
0 
 
880 
 
4 
 
49 
 
16 
 
10 
 
13 
 
0 
 
150 
 
2 
 
21 
 
12 
 
5 
 
4 
 
0 
 
46 
 
0 
 
17 
 
7 
 
0 
 
0 
 
0 
 
155 
 
5 
 
42 
 
14 
 
7 
 
0 
 
0 
 
100 
 
0 
 
22 
 
9 
 
1 
 
16 
 
0 
 
73 
 
0 
 
14 
 
3 
 
0 
 
3 
 
0 
 
44 
 
2 
 
60 
 
16 
 
6 
 
55 . . . . . . . . . .0. . . . . . . . . .2.6.0. 
 
89 
 
358 
 
23 
 
67 
 
199 
 
718 
 
81 
 
202 
 
241 
 
659 
 
505 ....... 1,20.2 . 
 
22 
 
154 
 
35 
 
218 
 
563 
 
2,871 
 
73 
 
199 
 
123 
 
293 
 
. ....2.5..5.. 
 
738 
 
125 
 
311 
 
68 
 
432 
 
14 
 
129 
 
930 
 
2,166 
 
576 
 
1,422 
 
582 ....... 1,64.8. 
 
664 
 
2,957 
 
47 
 
154 
 
2,578 
 
8,463 
 
129 
 
629 
 
85 
 
694 
 
71 ...... )76 . 
 
408 
 
1,246 
 
71 
 
168 
 
85 
 
218 
 
97 
 
414 
 
2,778 11,557 
 
389 560 . 
 
1,149 i,622 
 
49 
 
157 
 
22 
 
369 
 
65 
 
142 
 
275 
 
588 
 
57 
 
171 
 
149 
 
348 
 
582 
 
1,339 
 
351 
 
1,119 
 
420 
 
1,012 
 
3,000 13,553 
 
10 
 
56 
 
374 
 
1,615 
 
136 
 
400 
 
60 
 
378 
 
111 
 
243 
 
2,124 
 
6,739 
 
165 
 
604 
 
600 
 
1,844 
 
169 
 
536 
 
186 
 
441 
 
63 
 
186 
 
605 
 
1,428 
 
568 
 
1,848 
 
173 
 
431 
 
75 
 
175 
 
54 
 
239 
 
94 
 
280 
 
91 
 
216 
 
11 
 
77 
 
370 .......7..8.8.. 
 
26 
 
 Probate Court Civil Caselnud. Fiscal Yt'HI' t 99:~ (docket t'ntrit,s) 
 
County 
 
No 
 
Administration 
 
Probate 
 
Year's 
 
Administration Necessary Common Solemn Guardianship Support Hospitalization 
 
Habeas Corpus 
 
Licenses 
 
Marriage 
 
Pistol 
 
Total Civil 
 
Lee 
 
7 
 
Liberty 
 
50 
 
Long 
 
8 
 
Lowndes 
 
58 
 
Macon 
 
15 
 
Madison 
 
21 
 
Marion 
 
5 
 
McDuffie 
 
16 
 
Mcintosh 
 
10 
 
Mitchell 
 
11 
 
Monroe' 
 
2 
 
Murray' 
 
12 
 
Muscogee' 
 
54 
 
Newton 
 
41 
 
Oconee 
 
7 
 
Oglethorpe 
 
14 
 
Paulding' 
 
6 
 
Peach 
 
4 
 
Pickens' 
 
10 
 
Polk 
 
30 
 
Pulaski 
 
3 
 
Putnam' 
 
11 
 
Rabun 
 
17 
 
Randolph. 
 
3 
 
Richmond 
 
110 
 
Rockdale 
 
18 
 
Seminole 
 
13 
 
Spalding 
 
20 
 
Sumter' 
 
12 
 
Tattnall' 
 
9 
 
Taylor 
 
5 
 
Telfair' 
 
12 
 
Terrell 
 
13 
 
Thomas 
 
24 
 
Tift 
 
26 
 
Toombs' 
 
28 
 
Towns 
 
6 
 
Troup 
 
45 
 
Turner 
 
9 
 
Twiggs' 
 
4 
 
Union 
 
13 
 
Walton 
 
29 
 
Ware 
 
28 
 
Warren' 
 
3 
 
Washington' 
 
5 
 
Wheeler 
 
4 
 
White 
 
4 
 
Whitfield' 
 
22 
 
Wilkes' 
 
6 
 
Wilkinson 
 
8 
 
Worth 
 
.13 
 
2 
 
11 
 
24 
 
28 
 
1 
 
24 
 
0 
 
0 
 
62 
 
266 
 
8 
 
24 
 
0 
 
0 
 
6 
 
12 
 
1 
 
2 
 
11 
 
7 
 
200 
 
53 
 
11 
 
29 
 
1 
 
1 
 
33 
 
8 
 
1 
 
13 
 
4 
 
0 
 
55 
 
20 
 
8 
 
22 
 
1 
 
0 
 
12 
 
2 
 
2 
 
0 
 
3 
 
1 
 
65 
 
27 
 
6 
 
12 
 
1 
 
1 
 
23 
 
9 
 
1 
 
0 
 
4 
 
1 
 
60 
 
10 
 
4 
 
7 
 
1 
 
1 
 
16 
 
0 
 
3 
 
0 
 
1 
 
0 
 
26 
 
15 
 
4 
 
11 
 
6 
 
16 
 
215 
 
85 
 
42 
 
27 
 
18 
 
11 
 
114 
 
105 
 
11 
 
1 
 
4 
 
3 
 
52 
 
27 
 
4 
 
6 
 
0 
 
1 
 
26 
 
17 
 
1 
 
6 
 
2 
 
4 
 
54 
 
27 
 
9 
 
0 
 
0 
 
0 
 
66 
 
10 
 
1 
 
3 
 
3 
 
2 
 
43 
 
2 
 
3 
 
35 
 
7 
 
5 
 
127 
 
40 
 
1 
 
53 
 
3 
 
1 
 
27 
 
2 
 
1 
 
16 
 
2 
 
2 
 
43 
 
29 
 
1 
 
5 
 
12 
 
1 
 
47 
 
36 
 
6 
 
5 
 
1 
 
9 
 
29 
 
5 
 
2 
 
5 
 
42 
 
39 
 
458 
 
111 
 
152 
 
133 
 
9 
 
5 
 
111 
 
90 
 
10 
 
3 
 
4 
 
2 
 
36 
 
3 
 
0 
 
10 
 
8 
 
5 
 
154 
 
74 
 
21 
 
54 
 
3 
 
3 
 
41 
 
6 
 
2 
 
7 
 
1 
 
1 
 
21 
 
8 
 
1 
 
7 
 
0 
 
1 
 
25 
 
1 
 
0 
 
18 
 
1 
 
2 
 
10 
 
5 
 
0 
 
6 
 
2 
 
3 
 
26 
 
4 
 
3 
 
4 
 
2 
 
2 
 
91 
 
13 
 
4 
 
579 
 
4 
 
2 
 
81 
 
14 
 
2 
 
21 
 
19 
 
0 
 
143 
 
35 
 
7 
 
6 
 
4 
 
2 
 
35 
 
5 
 
0 
 
1 
 
22 
 
13 
 
155 
 
40 
 
11 
 
67 
 
12 
 
1 
 
39 
 
15 
 
0 
 
7 
 
1 
 
1 
 
7 
 
5 
 
5 
 
23 
 
2 
 
4 
 
32 
 
7 
 
0 
 
0 
 
13 
 
5 
 
100 
 
52 
 
18 
 
41 
 
12 
 
3 
 
142 
 
28 
 
19 
 
24 
 
0 
 
0 
 
8 
 
1 
 
0 
 
0 
 
7 
 
3 
 
40 
 
11 
 
2 
 
2 
 
0 
 
0 
 
11 
 
3 
 
0 
 
0 
 
3 
 
4 
 
41 
 
5 
 
2 
 
14 
 
6 
 
1 
 
45 
 
9 
 
7 
 
14 
 
1 
 
1 
 
29 
 
7 
 
1 
 
19 
 
4 
 
3 
 
36 
 
6 
 
2 
 
9 
 
4 
 
2 
 
55 
 
14 
 
1 
 
. .1.3 
 
0 
 
140 
 
178 
 
415 
 
0 
 
581 
 
81 
 
1,072 
 
0 
 
45 
 
31 
 
105 
 
0 
 
959 
 
450 
 
1,778 
 
60 
 
95 
 
69 
 
296 
 
0 
 
149 
 
189 
 
468 
 
0 
 
45 
 
28 
 
95 
 
0 
 
148 
 
125 
 
403 
 
0 
 
55 
 
35 
 
135 
 
0 
 
165 
 
114 
 
376 
 
0 
 
25 
 
28 
 
76 
 
0 
 
87 
 
80 
 
236 
 
0 
 
858 
 
167 
 
1;470 
 
0 
 
395 
 
388 
 
1,084 
 
0 
 
139 
 
227 
 
469 
 
0 
 
80 
 
155 
 
300 
 
0 
 
316 
 
267 
 
685 
 
0 
 
137 
 
120 
 
341 
 
0 
 
130 
 
144 
 
372 
 
0 
 
308 
 
277 
 
848 
 
0 
 
75 
 
67 
 
195 
 
0 
 
90 
 
81 
 
264 
 
0 
 
110 
 
89 
 
323 
 
0 
 
48 
 
99 
 
201 
 
0 
 
1,366 
 
1,031 
 
3,442 
 
0 
 
617 
 
472 
 
1,335 
 
0 
 
550 
 
28 
 
646 
 
0 
 
535 
 
448 
 
1,319 
 
0 
 
124 
 
149 
 
347 
 
0 
 
67 
 
58 
 
173 
 
0 
 
62 
 
42 
 
154 
 
0 
 
46 
 
42 
 
124 
 
0 
 
76 
 
86 
 
217 
 
0 
 
400 
 
127 
 
1,242 
 
0 
 
415 
 
178 
 
743 
 
0 
 
238 
 
272 
 
748 
 
0 
 
69 
 
91 
 
213 
 
0 
 
469 
 
415 
 
1,237 
 
1 
 
64 
 
53 
 
201 
 
0 
 
37 
 
34 
 
117 
 
0 
 
89 
 
72 
 
219 
 
0 
 
304 
 
297 
 
859 
 
0 
 
435 
 
207 
 
898 
 
0 
 
9 
 
19 
 
40 
 
0 
 
81 
 
80 
 
231 
 
0 
 
44 
 
12 
 
74 
 
0 
 
155 
 
88 
 
316 
 
0 
 
70 
 
87 
 
261 
 
0 
 
35 
 
21 
 
120 
 
0 
 
52 
 
118 
 
238 
 
0 
 
1.82 
 
164 
 
44~ . 
 
Total 
 
3,661 
 
926 
 
832 11,842 
 
6,835 
 
1,317 
 
3,548 
 
120 47,889 
 
31,655 108,625 
 
Note: 112 of 159 probate courts submitted data. , Reported for three quarters of fiscal year. , Reported for two quarters of fiscal year. l Reported data for calendar year 1993. , Reported for one quarter of fiscal year. 5 Reported data for calendar year 1992. 
27 
 
 'Ia~istratt COlII'ts - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Magistrate court jurisdiction encompasses civil claims of $5,000 or less; issuing distress warrants and dispossessory writs; trials for county ordinance violations; trials for misdemeanor violations of bad check laws; preliminary hearings; and issuing summonses, arrest warrants and search warrants. A chief magistrate, who may be assisted by one or more magistrates, presides over each of the 159 magistrate courts in the state. 
Magistrates may grant bail in cases where the setting of bail is not exclusively reserved to a judge of another court. Magistrates also administer oaths and issue subpoenas, as well as sentence and fine for contempt up to 10 days imprisonment and/or $200. 
No jury trials are held in magistrate court. If a defendant submits a written request for a jury trial, cases are removed to superior or state court. 
The chief magistrate of each county assigns cases, sets court sessions, appoints other magistrates (with the consent of the superior court judges) and resolves disputes among magistrates. The number of magistrates in addition to the chief is usually set by majority vote of the superior court judges. 
Chief magistrates are elected in partisan, countywide elections to serve a fouryear term, unless otherwise provided by local legislation. Terms for other magistrate judges run concurrently with that of the chief magistrate who appointed them. 
To qualify as a magistrate, an individual must reside in the county for at least one year preceding his or her term of office, be 25 years of age, and have a high school diploma or its equivalent. New magistrates, unless active members of the State Bar, are required to complete an initial 40-hour course for certification. All magistrates must attend annual 20-hour continuing education seminars to maintain certification. 
The Georgia Magistrate Courts Training Council formulates the curricula for the seminars and sets the standards for certification. 
Judges of other limited jurisdiction courts may also serve as magistrates in the same county. At the end of fiscal year 1993, 159 chief magistrates and 304 magistrates served in Georgia; 23 probate judges, three civil court judges, and three juvenile court judges or associate judges were among this number. 
Fiscal year 1993 magistrate court caseload is presented. Submission ofdata is required by the Uniform Rules for the Magistrate Courts. 
28 
 
 .\Iagi:-.tratt' COllrt Ca~('load. Fi~('al \(';11' 19(';~ (a~(':-. filed) 
 
County 
Appling Atkinson' Bacon' Baldwin' Banks Barrow Ben Hill Berrien Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan Bulloch Burke' Butts' Camden Candler' Carroll' Catoosa Charlton Chatham Chattahoochee' Chattooga Cherokee Clarke Clay Clayton. Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt Columbia Cook Coweta Crisp Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb' Dodge Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin Fayette Floyd Forsyth1 Franklin Fulton Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady Greene 
 
Warrants Issued 
 
Bond & 
 
Criminal 
 
Commitment 
 
Cases 
 
Hearings Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
828 358 148 2,283 624 1,890 1,322 927 6,949 701 177 533 832 4,987 1,087 272 1,270 102 1,122 2,425 485 8,834 104 2,398 4,325 7,747 347 10,182 352 18,813 5,058 1,835 1,752 1,156 2,748 1,562 639 973 1,304 8,768 1,078 551 6,099 4,068 698 1,156 1,274 1,026 439 461 1,095 4,454 1,373 769 14,656 706 
37 4,732 3,021 1,291 
624 
 
648 2 
99 106 132 992 575 
0 5,045 
245 136 403 227 215 339 111 840 
38 61 685 366 3,194 67 747 1,520 2,684 125 .13,846 15 15,393 333 195 279 
3 17 799 309 453 445 18,675 0 125 3,997 166 254 126 407 973 130 113 753 1,867 414 483 23,814 131 
5 1,871 
571 336 738 
 
378 27 
251 0 
46 83 361 
0 2,078 
0 89 115 53 
1 0 123 517 0 360 514 108 1,503 20 0 345 0 5 2,800 0 4,921 8 0 1,330 112 564 891 0 23 0 1,844 185 0 1,122 163 0 553 57 296 202 150 521 978 345 239 24,742 231 9 2,259 178 10 0 
 
101 0 
46 0 
39 83 361 
0 1,426 
0 84 94 53 
1 0 117 435 0 298 294 118 2,475 32 0 375 30 6 .1,775 0 4,921 8 0 1,148 0 557 767 0 0 0 947 0 0 616 155 0 389 58 285 169 84 259 1,841 345 281 20,708 83 2 2,271 178 124 0 
 
Civil Claims Filed Disposed 
 
Other 
 
Total 
 
Total 
 
Civil Cases 
 
Warrants & Hearings & 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed Filings Disposi tions 
 
664 206 311 2,114 182 600 715 340 3,538 254 210 430 481 1,422 678 160 513 
82 934 450 180 6,671 
40 682 1,301 1,605 
82 2,658 
124 3,647 1,463 1,784 1,013 
290 1,293 
653 104 306 692 2,616 374 323 3,175 874 545 338 422 723 246 292 580 2,422 412 509 7,175 438 
62 2,083 1,440 
667 570 
 
587 200 311 2,111 175 600 635 299 6,030 365 195 303 556 2,293 761 160 348 
82 281 428 207 4,220 
30 629 1,624 1,206 
75 1,771 . 
123 2,643 
826 536 696 312 1.,190 575 110 465 305 1,102 163 269 2,677 1,384 223 289 387 671 104 243 537 1,637 412 540 3,518 436 
40 2,083 1,049 
542 557 
 
140 70 
126 1,615 
66 743 733 158 2,046 184 
39 223 143 807 376 118 351 
44 657 476 
82 9,148 
13 343 1,653 2,129 
24 10,911 
98 2,006 1,081 
643 509 150 1,228 522 
80 111 328 
43 175 136 3,852 1,516 291 188 281 407 221 
82 577 2,726 230 291 38,095 126 
12 1,846 
869 307 367 
 
140 68 83 
1,615 63 
744 733 100 1,743 218 
39 197 143 555 295 109 334 
44 499 345 
76 4,935 
13 302 1,370 1,636 
21 6,598 
82 1,039 
644 472 406 158 922 280 
77 90 220 
0 95 112 1,789 1,112 154 179 179 308 165 82 490 1,438 210 216 27,698 102 
7 1,847 
710 305 304 
 
2,010 661 836 
6,012 918 
3,316 3,131 1,425 14,611 1,139 
515 1,301 1,509 7,217 2,141 
673 2,651 
228 3,073 3,865 
855 26,156 
177 3,423 7,624 11,481 
458 26,551 
574 29,387 
7,610 4,262 4,604 1,708 5!833 3,628 
823 1,413 2,324 13,271 1,812 
.. lP10. 14,248 
6,621 1,534 2,235 2,034 2,452 1,108 
985 2,773 10,580 2,360 1,808 84,668 1!501. 
120 10,920 
5,508 2,275 1,561 
 
1,476 270 539 
3,832 409 
2,419 2,304 
399 14,244 
828 454 997 979 3,064 1,395 497 1,957 164 1,139 1,752 767 14,824 142 1,678 4,889 5,556 227 23,990 220 23,996 1,811 1,203 2,529 473 2,686 2,421 496 1,008 970 20,724 258 506 9,079 2,817 631 983 1,031 2,237 568 522 2,039 6,783 1,381 1,520 75,738 752 
54 8,072 2,508 1,307 1,599 
 
29 
 
 Magistrate Court Caseload, Fiscal Year 1993 (cases filed) 
 
County 
 
Warrants Issued 
 
Bond & 
 
Criminal 
 
Commitment 
 
Cases 
 
Hearings Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
Civil Claims Filed Disposed 
 
Other 
 
Total 
 
Total 
 
Civil Cases 
 
Warrants & Hearings & 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed Filings Dispositions 
 
Gwinnett 
 
9,361 
 
4,333 
 
2,518 
 
810 
 
4,140 
 
3,854 
 
8,099 
 
4,251 
 
24,118 
 
13,248 
 
Hall 
 
2,408 
 
6,395 
 
2,527 
 
1,917 
 
2,031 
 
2,457 
 
2,073 
 
1,735 
 
9,039 
 
12,504 
 
Hancock 
 
441 
 
391 
 
139 
 
139 
 
584 
 
584 
 
213 
 
213 
 
1,377 
 
1,327 
 
Haralson 
 
842 
 
107 
 
4 
 
4 
 
324 
 
233 
 
183 
 
175 
 
1,353 
 
519 
 
Harris 
 
918 
 
0 
 
8 
 
6 
 
524 
 
514 
 
300 
 
226 
 
1,750 
 
746 
 
Hart 
 
652 
 
537 
 
161 
 
123 
 
440 
 
327 
 
376 
 
271 
 
1,629 
 
1,258 
 
Heard' ......... ..... 
 
259 '" 
 
. . . . . . . . .1.4. . . . . . . . . . . .2.5. . . . . . . 
 
18 
 
203 
 
114 
 
54 
 
35 . ......5.4.1...... 181 
 
Henry 
 
1,730 
 
2,765 
 
684 
 
656 
 
1,165 
 
1,447 
 
902 
 
404 
 
4,481 
 
5,272 
 
Houston' 
 
5,184 
 
3,268 
 
385 
 
385 
 
848 
 
825 
 
1,199 
 
1,142 
 
7,616 
 
5,620 
 
Irwin 
 
279 
 
1 
 
0 
 
0 
 
248 
 
248 
 
214 
 
160 
 
741 
 
409 
 
jackson 
 
2,157 
 
246 
 
1 
 
1 
 
568 
 
1,919 
 
443 
 
506 
 
3,169 
 
2,672 
 
jasper 
 
280 
 
99 
 
3 
 
3 
 
221 
 
219 
 
122 
 
110 
 
626 
 
431 
 
jeff Davis 
 
634 
 
703 
 
382 
 
382 
 
548 
 
548 
 
479 
 
479 
 
2,043 
 
2,112 
 
jefferson jenkins 
 
784 
 
479 
 
282 
 
282 
 
730 
 
540 
 
484 
 
484 
 
.. 2,280 .......1,.185.. 
 
340 
 
38 
 
0 
 
0 
 
467 
 
319 
 
196 
 
195 
 
1,003 
 
552 
 
johnson 
 
407 
 
31 
 
23 
 
20 
 
225 
 
211 
 
149 
 
141 
 
804 
 
403 
 
Jones' 
 
587 
 
93 
 
0 
 
0 
 
359 
 
276 
 
159 
 
120 
 
1,105 
 
489 
 
Lamar 
 
584 
 
87 
 
0 
 
0 
 
430 
 
432 
 
258 
 
182 
 
1,272 
 
701 
 
Lanier 
 
502 
 
0 
 
0 
 
0 
 
187 
 
113 
 
41 
 
27 
 
730 
 
140 
 
Laurens 
 
3,231 
 
1,522 
 
898 
 
898 
 
900 
 
844 
 
857 
 
857 
 
5,886 
 
4,121 
 
Lee Liberty 
 
505 
 
178 
 
60 
 
60 
 
344 
 
344 . . . . . .1. 3. 0. . . . . . . . . . . 1. 0. .9. . . . . . . .1,0.39. 
 
691 
 
2,293 
 
934 
 
96 
 
57 
 
684 
 
563 
 
639 
 
446 
 
3,712 
 
2,000 
 
Lincoln 
 
191 
 
39 
 
112 
 
6 
 
279 
 
208 
 
95 
 
73 
 
677 
 
326 
 
Long 
 
251 
 
80 
 
79 
 
14 
 
109 
 
109 
 
31 
 
28 
 
470 
 
231 
 
Lowndes 
 
6,387 
 
2,232 
 
1,856 
 
97 
 
2,112 
 
555 
 
2,176 
 
1,611 
 
12,531 
 
4,495 
 
Lumpkin' 
 
677 
 
396 
 
221 
 
159 
 
285 
 
178 
 
132 
 
123 
 
1,315 
 
856 
 
Macon 
 
491 
 
129 
 
60 
 
0 
 
406 
 
283 
 
258 
 
193 
 
1,215 
 
605 
 
Madison Marion 
 
494 
 
205 
 
211 
 
172 
 
110 
 
0 
 
81 
 
378 
 
220 
 
99 
 
0 
 
158 
 
105 
 
119 
 
85 ...... 1;1.82.. 
 
591 
 
68 
 
449 
 
283 
 
McDuffie 
 
1,052 
 
43 
 
238 
 
23 
 
852 
 
517 
 
699 
 
232 
 
2,841 
 
815 
 
Mcintosh 
 
427 
 
401 
 
20 
 
16 
 
338 
 
311 
 
64 
 
64 
 
849 
 
792 
 
Meriwether 
 
1,204 
 
21 
 
0 
 
0 
 
940 
 
940 
 
457 
 
358 
 
2,601 
 
1,319 
 
Monroe 
 
672 
 
250 
 
133 
 
131 
 
713 
 
534 
 
351 
 
251 
 
1,869 
 
1,166 
 
Montgomery' 
 
165 
 
23 
 
344 
 
344 
 
61 
 
61 
 
31 
 
31 
 
601 
 
459 
 
./vI0rgan.. Newton 
 
642 j;i38 
 
....... 
 
321 44" 
 
...... 
 
;),23391 
 
200 . ;,634 
 
387 Bio 
 
....... 
 
629847 
 
226 
902 
 
164 
 
1,486 
 
969 
 
484 
 
6,489 
 
3,256 
 
Oconee 
 
518 
 
334 
 
196 
 
114 
 
230 
 
172 
 
177 
 
105 
 
1,121 
 
725 
 
Oglethorpe 
 
399 
 
316 
 
110 
 
118 
 
307 
 
299 
 
70 
 
70 
 
886 
 
803 
 
Paulding 
 
1,024 
 
285 
 
230 
 
211 
 
446 
 
335 
 
423 
 
377 
 
2,123 
 
1,208 
 
Peach 
 
872 
 
674 
 
460 
 
203 
 
539 
 
307 
 
352 
 
204 
 
2,223 
 
1,388 
 
Pickens' 
 
514 
 
5 
 
120 
 
55 
 
219 
 
180 
 
102 
 
70 
 
955 
 
310 
 
Pierce Pike 
 
765 
 
180 
 
1.9.0............2.7...........2.7.8...........1.3..6...... 142 
 
111 ....... 1;3.15. 
 
454 
 
389 
 
178 
 
1 
 
1 
 
256 
 
189 
 
67 
 
61 
 
713 
 
429 
 
Pulaski 
 
424 
 
189 
 
0 
 
0 
 
282 
 
180 
 
134 
 
44 
 
840 
 
413 
 
Putnam' 
 
383 
 
363 
 
0 
 
0 
 
353 
 
248 
 
181 
 
98 
 
917 
 
709 
 
Rabun 
 
599 
 
3 
 
31 
 
18 
 
316 
 
402 
 
114 
 
82 
 
1,060 
 
505 
 
Richmond 
 
12,789 
 
2,153 
 
2,536 
 
1,758 
 
5,472 
 
2,969 
 
5,952 
 
3,543 
 
26,749 
 
10,423 
 
Rockdale 
 
2,415 
 
1,727 
 
1,364 
 
820 
 
808 
 
709 
 
1,016 
 
765 
 
5,603 
 
4,021 
 
Schley .. ......... j1S326 Seminoie 
 
39 i 45 
 
0 
;7'0 
 
........ ;780 
 
101 
2si 
 
.. 
 
90 14ij 
 
.... 
 
7360 
 
28 
 
269 
 
165 
 
53 
 
848 
 
5i6 
 
Spalding 
 
4,254 
 
3,495 
 
1,654 
 
1,552 
 
1,890 
 
1,769 
 
3,365 
 
2,630 
 
11,163 
 
9,446 
 
Stephens' 
 
580 
 
5 
 
1 
 
143 
 
247 
 
186 
 
138 
 
13 
 
966 
 
347 
 
Stewart 
 
374 
 
41 
 
0 
 
0 
 
96 
 
35 
 
49 
 
41 
 
519 
 
117 
 
Sumter 
 
2,003 
 
953 
 
62 
 
62 
 
1,212 
 
1,181 
 
1,114 
 
1,114 
 
4,391 
 
3,310 
 
Tattnall 
 
521 
 
323 
 
357 
 
330 
 
608 
 
586 
 
252 
 
156 
 
1,738 
 
1,395 
 
Taylor 
 
441 
 
54 
 
21 
 
0 
 
202 
 
202 
 
101 
 
101 
 
765 
 
357 
 
Telfair 
 
510 
 
62 
 
62 
 
48 
 
414 
 
374 
 
327 
 
320 
 
1,313 
 
804 
 
Terrell 
 
558 
 
357 
 
149 
 
128 
 
341 
 
286 
 
204 
 
192 
 
1,252 
 
963 
 
Thomas 
 
2,496 
 
871 
 
990 
 
799 
 
2,694 
 
2,195 
 
1,230 
 
1,086 
 
7,410 
 
4,951 
 
Tift 
 
3,413 
 
692 
 
438 
 
10 
 
1,112 
 
1,112 
 
899 
 
899 
 
5,862 
 
2,713 
 
Toombs' .. 
 
2,454. 
 
.6.1. . .........8.1.5.. 
 
799. . ....... 528 .. .. }33. . ....59.8. ....... 42.2. . ..... 4,395 . ......1.,.61.5.. 
 
30 
 
 Magistrate Court Caseload, Fiscal Year 1993 (cases filed) 
 
County 
Towns Troup' TWiggs Union Upson Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington Wayne Webster' Wheeler White Whitfield Wilkes Wilkinson Worth' 
Total 
 
Warrants Issued 
 
Bond & 
 
Criminal 
 
Commitment 
 
Cases 
 
Hearings Filed 
 
Disposed 
 
Civil Claims Filed Disposed 
 
Other 
 
Total 
 
Total 
 
Civil Cases 
 
WarTants & Hearings & 
 
Filed 
 
Disposed Filings Dispositions 
 
378 1,196 
503 360 1,375 1,374 2,006 2,077 157 1,324 724 
51 127 614 2,665 417 341 496 
263,536 
 
5 60 99 18 326 508 578 1,176 
1 4 388 26 34 213 11 230 61 71 
151,864 
 
27 
13 45 350 367 517 1,351 
2 246 440 
8 
247 
1,622 65 13 
 
80,320 
 
36 27 13 35 99 369 854 1,348 
232 
370 
62 
404 32 11 
 
64,171 
 
91 5,292 
245 257 1,019 930 916 752 381 1,443 611 
38 141 342 2,699 632 505 179 
124,832 
 
94 3,140 
213 273 664 528 711 543 292 1,469 611 
36 38 305 2,699 632 505 177 
102,612 
 
16 3,813 
88 47 914 577 1,387 769 144 504 396 17 50 124 2,142 286 199 73 
144,681 
 
10 2,832 
77 37 562 437 1,286 656 84 433 396 10 37 124 1,625 286 199 68 
102,687 
 
485 10,328 
849 709 3,658 3,248 .4!826 4,949 684 3,517 2,171 114 318 .1,327 9,128 1,400 1,058 748 
613,369 
 
145 6,059 
402 363 1,651 1,842 3,429 3,723 377 2,138 1,765 
72 109 704 4,739 1,180 776 316 
421,334 
 
Note: 140 of 159 magistrate courts submitted data. , Reported three quarters. 1 Reported two quarters. l Reported one quarter .  Reported three quarters of civil caseload. 
5 Reported two quarters of criminal case load. 
 
------------- Other Courts ----------- 
 
Along with the two appellate and five classes of trial courts, approximately 400 local courts form the Georgia court system. Special courts and courts serving incorporated municipalities operate under a variety of names with varying jurisdictions. 
Originally created by statute or constitutional provision, certain special courts have limited civil and criminal jurisdiction throughout the county. These include the civil courts located in Bibb and Richmond counties and the Municipal Court of Columbus. Special courts authorized to exercise criminal jurisdiction only are the county recorder's courts of Chatham, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties and those of the consolidated government of Colurnbus-Muscogee County. 
At the local level, Georgia has courts of incorporated municipalities that try municipal ordinance violations, issue criminal warrants, conduct preliminary hearings, and may have concurrent jurisdiction over shoplifting cases and cases involving one ounce or less of marijuana. Although first established under various names (city courts, mayor's COW"ts, municipal courts, police courts, recorder's COW1S), these courts were redesignated as municipal courts by the 1983 state constitution. (An exception is the City Court of Atlanta, which retains its original name.) 
Qualifications of judges and terms of office in municipal courts are set by local legislation. 
31 
 
 J'L" '[) '[ ( T [ '\'[ 1 
 
... 
 
_\.. .~ . _J.l.i.\.\(..~~ '..[...f;A".~\.(.'_\.'~1f'[';-')~ 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - Judi rial Couru-i l - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
Since its creation by statute in 1973, the Judicial Council has served the Georgia judiciary and citizens as the state-level judicial agency for coordinating administrative efforts for and recommending improvements in the state judicial system. An administrative arm of the Supreme Court since 1978, the council advises the legislature and the governor on the need for additional superior court judgeships by evaluating circuit caseloads, demographics and special circumstances. The council also responds to legislative directives and individual requests for studies and initiates projects to generate efficiencies in the state's courts. 
Twenty-four representatives of the appellate and trial courts serve on the Judicial Council. The Supreme Court's chief justice and presiding justice act as the chairperson and vice chairperson, respectively. The chief judge and another member of the Court of Appeals; the presidents and presidents-elect of the superior, state, juvenile, probate and magistrate court councils; and the 10 superior court district administrative judges complete the council's membership. 
The full council meets at least twice each year, as it did in December 1992 and June 1993, to consider its committees' recommendations regarding specific studies and ongoing projects. The council oversees the activities of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and the Board of Court Reporting. 
The Judicial Council continued its contract with the 10 judicial administrative districts for district personnel to conduct the annual casecount. Raw data obtained by the districts was analyzed by the AOC and the results were submitted to the council for use in evaluating requests for additional superior court judgeships. 
In considering additional judgeships, the Judicial Council seeks a balanced and equitable distribution of superior court caseload to promote speedy and fair trials. Recorrunendations are based on information that dearly and convincingly depicts the necessity of additional judicial personnel. 
The council compares a requesting circuit's situation, in terms of weighted caseload, average filings, jury trials, open caseload, population and days of senior judge assistance, to that of the remaining circuits. In fiscal year 1993, the council recommended to Gov. ZeUMiller and the General Assembly the creation of 16 new superior court judgeships. Circuits recommended are listed in the council's order of priority: Ogeechee (3rd judgeship), Cobb (8th), Conasauga (4th), Augusta (5th), Coweta (5th), Western (3rd), Alcovy (3rd), Northern (3rd), Macon (5th), Douglas (3rd), Atlanta (16th), Piedmont (3rd), Middle (3rd), Southern (5th) and Chattahoochee (6th). A request to divide the Brunswick Judicial Circuit did not meet the minimum statistical criteria established by the Judicial Council. 
In the past five years, the General Assembly has created at least five judgeships from the council's recommended lists; however, the 1993 General Assembly created no new judgeships. Lack of sufficient funding is one of the primary reasons lawmakers cited for not creating the recommended judgeships. 
32 
 
 \dlllini:-;tratin' OffiCI' of t lu- Court- 
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) provides fiscal, communications, research and staff support services for the state court system and serves as liaison with other state and national judicial agencies. The AOC also serves as staff to the Judicial Council, working closely with its chairperson, the chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. 
Communications and publications AOC publications provide information to judges, court support personnel and 
public and private judicial organizations. The Georgia Courts Journal was issued seven times in fiscal year 1993 and was distributed to more than 3,000 local, state and national officials. The Georgia Courts Journal informs readers of changes in court procedure, judicial personnel appointments and elections, recent legislation, court management activities and other events. 
The Judicial Legislative Log, published weekly during the legislative session, monitors and tracks court-related legislation. The Legislative Logis distributed to approximately 900 judges, county officers and court administrative personnel. 
The Georgia Courts Directory contains name, address and telephone information for Georgia county, state and federal judicial branch officials. The AOC produced the directory and distributed 2,800 copies at no cost to judicial branch personnel and at cost to attorneys and others. 
The Nineteenth AnnualReport on the Work o/the Georgia Courts was compiled by the AOC's communications and research divisions. The report presents caseload data for all classes of courts as well as narratives of judicial branch agency activities. 
Twelve issues of the Public Relations Digest, abstracts of news and features items about the judiciary, were compiled and circulated to members of the Judicial Council to assist the council in gauging public opinion about court activities and identifying matters of concern. 
Other communications efforts included coordinating media relations and information releases pertaining to the Judicial C01UlCil's activities. 
Research and court services The research and court services division generates statistical information and 
analysis on the work of the courts to identify needs and propose recommendations for improvement. The AOC performs studies as requested by the General Assembly and the judicial community and initiates projects to fulfill its legislatively prescribed duty to serve the courts. The research staff provides information to national organizations, other states and the public. 
The research staff supervises the yearly collection of caseload and other data from the trial courts, Calendar year 1991 superior court caseload data submitted by district personnel was audited and analyzed in terms of circuit workloads. This information was presented to the Judicial Council to formulate recommendations on the need for additional superior court judgeships. Caseload-projection reports were made for several local jurisdictions. 
33 
 
 The calendar year 1992 salary survey was compiled for personnel from all trial courts. Information on salary, staffing and funding is produced from the survey. Superior court clerks, probate judges and magistrates submitted information on county retirement and health plans. Magistrate court budgets were also included. 
A study of weighted caseload data, demographics, costs and travel was prepared for the proposed division of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit. 
Caseload information was provided to the Supreme Court Office of Dispute Resolution and others to determine if revenues generated by court fees would support new programs. 
The staff represented the AOC concerning court records retention with the State Records Committee. 
Secretariat and administrative services As required by statute, the AOC provides secretariat services to judicial branch 
agencies and organizations. AOC staff worked with the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education to assist 
the Superior Court Clerks Training Council in developing policy, long-range training curriculum plans and the on-site component of the new clerks' orientation program. 
Staff assisted both the Municipal Courts Training Council and the Georgia Magistrate Courts Training Council in planning their continuing education programs and maintaining educational certification records. 
The Board of Court Reporting received assistance in distributing the Georgia Certified Court Reporters Handbook, developing long-range plans for continuing education and administering certification tests. 
The AOC also provided staff assistance to the chief justice of the Supreme Court and other judicial organizations. 
The Council of Superior Court Judges received staff assistance in updating judges' trial manuals and uniform rules of court. Staff provided editorial and administrative support to the Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions and assisted in revisions to the Superior Court Benchbook. 
AOC staff provided liaison services and assisted the Council of State Court Judges in tracking legislation, staffing committees and distributing manuals. 
With the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education, AOC staff assisted the Executive Probate Judges Council in developing policy. Staff also maintained certification records as required by statute. 
The Council of Probate Court Judges was assisted in distribution of the Uniform Forms; and coordination of the legislative, nominating, vital records, elections, scholarship and other committees. 
The Council of Magistrate Court Judges received assistance in updating the Magistrates Benchbook and coordinating executive, budget and legislative committee activities. 
The State-Federal Judicial Council (comprised of Georgia's federal court judges, Supreme Court justices, and judges of the Court of Appeals, superior courts and state courts) received assistance in coordinating its annual meeting. Staff members also participated in the executive committee. 
AOC staff also provided computer and other technical support to the judiciary. 
34 
 
 Staff support to commissions The AOC provided substantial staff support and direction to the Georgia Courts 
Automation Commission. Planning, obtaining funding and coordinating meetings and minutes are among the tasks performed. In addition, the AOC provided staff, administrative and technical support to the newly formed Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Court System. Staff support to the Georgia Commission for Gender Equality was begun, as this group worked to implement the recommendations of the Georgia Commission on Gender Bias in the Judicial System. (For more information on these commissions, please see "The Judicial Branch in Review" on page 3.) 
 
Liaison functions 
 
AOC staff served as liaison for the judicial branch with groups involved in 
 
policy-making. 
 
The director of the AOC holds a seat on the board of the Law- Related Education 
 
Consortium, which is composed of criminal justice and 
 
education field personnel who promote law-related matters in school curricula. 
A staff member represented the chief justice of the 
 
J)lIli('~ of tI u\dlllilli~tl'ati\l' Olll"" of tl ... <:OIJlt~ 
 
Georgia Supreme Court on the Statistical Analysis Bureau, a joint effort of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, state-level criminal justice agencies and Georgia State University, to provide research on Georgia's criminal justice system using existing data from state agencies. 
The chief justice was also represented on the Child Abuse Task Force, an advisory committee responsible for federal grants for the prevention and treatment of child abuse. 
The chair of the Judicial Council was represented on the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, including service on the Federal Grants Advisory Committee and the Crime Victims Compensation Board. 
A staff member appointed by the governor served on the Family Violence Commission, The commission, created as a result of recommendation by the Commission on Gender 
 
1) Consult with and assist judges, administrators, clerks of court and other officers and employees of the court pertaining to matters relating to court administration and provide such services as are requested. 
2) Examine the administrative and business methods and systems employed in the offices related to and serving the courts and make recommendations for necessary improvement. 
3) Compile statistical and financial data and other information on the judicial work of the courts and on the work of other offices related to and serving the courts, which shall be provided by the courts. 
4) Examine the state of the dockets and practices and procedures of the courts and make recommendations for the expedition of litigation. 
S) Act as fiscal officer and prepare and submit budget estimates of state appropriations necessary for the maintenance and operation of the judicial system. 
6) Perform such additional duties as may be assigned by the Judicial Council. 
 
Bias, began preparing a handbook for establishing a community task force on family violence in each judicial circuit. 
 
7) Prepare and publish an annual report on the work of the courts and on the activities of the Administrative Office of the Courts. 
 
Fiscal support services 
 
8) Receive grants from any source, public or private, and expend funds and perform services in accordance with the terms of any grant. 
 
The AOC coordinates fiscal services and annual judicial branch appropriations requests. The fiscal office performs payroll, accounts payable, cash management, purchasing, inventory control and financial reporting functions for 15 judicial branch agencies. 
In fiscal year 1993, the AOC managed 65 separate funding sources, including 28 state fund allocations, 15 
 
9) Prepare, publish and distribute, from time to time, studies and reports relating to the administration of justice, impose reasonable charges for such reports where appropriate on either an individual or subscription basis and retain any proceeds of such charges. 
10) Provide clerical, technical, research or other assistance to individual courts to enable them more effectively to discharge their duties. 
11) Enter into contracts as necessary to perform its other duties. 
 
federal grants and 22 fee or other revenue sources. 
 
35 
 
 - - - - - - - - - Board of Court HepOlting - - - - - - - - - - 
The Board of Court Reporting operates under authority of the 1974 Georgia Court Reporting Act to assist the state's ju diciary by insuring minimum proficiency in the practice of court reporting and encouraging high standards of professionalism among reporting practitioners. The Judicial Council of Georgia appoints board members, governs official court reporting fees through regulation and adjustment of an established fee schedule and reviews the rules of the Board of Court Reporting. The Board of Court Reporting has the authority to resolve fee disputes. 
Certification and permits The state court reporters certification exam is a skills test in one of three 
methods: machine shorthand, manual shorthand or Stenomask. Certificates are renewed each year. 
The board held tests twice during the fiscal year. Seventy individuals were certified, thirteen of these upgraded their certificates. At the end of the fiscal year 1,186 certified court reporters were officially registered. 
Court reporters who are not certified must obtain a temporary permit from the board or from a local judge. Board temporary permits are issued for a single testing period and may not be renewed. These reporters may work until the permit expires or they become certified. Three temporary permits were issued during the year. 
Eleven permits were issued upon sponsorship of a judge. Reporters working under judicial temporary permits are restricted to the sponsoring judge's court and may not freelance. These permits may be revoked by the board only with the approval of the issuing judge. Reporters on judicial temporary permits who report more than 100 hours per year must take the board exam until certified, or until the permit is rescinded. 
The board also issued 16 certificates to reporters who met the National Court Reporters Association or the National Stenomask Verbatim Reporters Association's stringent accreditation requirements and other basic criteria. 
Formal complaints The board investigates complaints against court reporters and administers 
disciplinary action when warranted. The board remedies are restricted to revocation or suspension of a court reporter's license, unless the complaint involves a fee dispute involving an official court reporter. Complaints alleged various practices, including improper charges for takedown, exclusion of arguments of council from transcript, delay in producing transcript and failure to produce transcript. Of the eight complaints received during the year, five were dismissed. In two cases, fee adjustments were recommended, and in another case, the court reporter's license was suspended for 30 days. 
Board opinions Three formal opinions were issued during the year. The first opinion stated that 
it is not the court reporter's responsibility to inform both sides in a dispute when 
36 
 
 a transcript has been ordered. The second: if a reporter is properly certified at the time the transcript is taken down, the reporter need not maintain an active certificate to transcribe notes in the future. The third: a resident reporter performing verbatim transcription of depositions in this state must be certified, even when the deposition is for use in a court outside of Georgia. 
Related activities At the request of a joint committee of the Board of Court Reporting and 
representatives of the Georgia Certified Court Reporters Association, the Judicial Council approved changes to the board rules to mandate 10 hours of continuing education each year for all reporters licensed by the state and create the Court Reporter's Training Council to implement and oversee continuing education activities. The new rule became effective on July 1, 1993. Mandatory training will be effective for 1994. 
 
Cnu rt Ht'porlt'r~: 1I) I):! alld 11)1):~ 
 
Officially registered 
 
1992 1,141 
 
1993 1,186 
 
Certificates and permits issued 
 
Certificates 
 
84 
 
70 
 
Upgraded certificates 
 
5 
 
13 
 
Board temporary permits 
 
21 
 
3 
 
Judicial temporary permits 
 
11 
 
11 
 
National accreditation certificates 17 
 
16 
 
Co 1111 (. i I of .Ii 1\ t'II i It' <: 0 II r I .lu d:..': t' ... 
(Annual report for fiscal year 1993, as required by OCGA 15-11-4.) 
The Council of Juvenile Court Judges is composed of all judges of the courts exercising jurisdiction over juveniles. Council membership for fiscal year 1993 included 51 part and full-time juvenile court judges, 57 superior court judges exercising juvenile court jurisdiction and 42 associate juvenile court judges. 
Council staff provide support to juvenile courts through legal research services, legislative tracking and specialized programs to assist courts in protecting the best interests of children and the state. 
The council's executive committee, comprised of the president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer and immediate past president, sets policy. There are nine standing committees: education/certification, uniform rules, legislative, guardian ad litem, court organization, delinquent/unruly services, information systems, 
37 
 
 pennanency planning and past presidents. Individual judges act as liaisons to the following agencies: Council of Superior Court Judges, Division of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse, Division of Family and Children Services, Department of Children and Youth Services, Department of Education, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and the Georgia Courts Automation Commission. 
In October 1992, the council and the Department of Family and Children Services co-hosted the National Association of Foster Care Reviewers' annual training conference. Over 350 citizen review panel members from 26 states attended. 
During fiscal year 1993, the Uniform Rules for the Juvenile Courts of Georgia were revised and reprinted. The council published a pictorial directory and the first issue of its newsletter, The Chronicle. The Chronicle will be published 6 times annually. 
Juvenile Information System The council contracted with Canyon Software, Inc. (Phoenix, AZ) for a 
statewide license for the Juvenile Case Activity Tracking System (JCATS) software package. This PC-based, automated case-processing system will be available to all of Georgia's juvenile courts. The council will implement standardized juvenile court data collection procedures. 
Purchase of Services Program The Purchase of Services program provides funding for community-based 
treatment alternatives for juveniles on probation. Its primary goal is to reduce formal court involvement, recidivism and the disproportionate incarceration and commitment rates of minority offenders. Juvenile court judges may select from a menu of services to provide assistance to children under their jurisdiction. Available services include: counseling and diagnostic testing, education/upgrading basic skills, community service work, symbolic restitution, short-term (out-of-home) placements, nonsecure housing and transportation services. More than 3,000 children from 107 counties benefited during the past year. Now in its 14th year of operation, the program is funded through a $216,000 federal grant from the Children and Youth Coordinating Council and from state appropriations. 
Adolescent Substance Abuse Program The Adolescent Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) assists juvenile offenders in 
changing behavior to eliminate patterns of substance abuse and delinquency. Approximately 750 children were active in the program in the last year. 
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council provided $225,000 to continue program operation in seven counties. 
The project funds intervention officers to interview, screen and assess new juvenile probationers to determine their degree of involvement with illegal substances. Where use or abuse is indicated, appropriate intervention is recommended for each individual and progress is monitored by the intervention officer. Prevention services such as group counseling and parent support groups are provided to juveniles and their families. 
38 
 
 Project goals and objectives include: identification of substance-involved youth; deterrence of future involvement with illegal substances; provision of appropriate intervention/prevention services; case-management; and alliances with local drug treatment providers. 
Permanent Homes for Children in Georgia Permanent Homes for Children (PHC) staff provide support and technical 
assistance to juvenile court judges and judicial citizen review panels. Four PHC field representatives assist individual counties. In addition, the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) provides two staff positions to assist with panel reviews, and the Universit y of Georgia School of Social Work provides master's level interns. 
During fiscal year 1993, PHC staff assisted with 134 panels in 52 counties, In these 52 counties, all estimated 9,000 children were in paid foster care or in institutional placements. Case reviews are carried out by citizen review panels once every six months. The goal of panel reviews is to ensure reunification of the child and parents if at all possible. If reunification is not an option, the panels work with DFCS and other agencies to locate feasible permanency options such as adoption. Approximately 800 citizen volunteers served on panels statewide during the past year. Panel members are appointed by their local juvenile court judge and trained by PHC staff. 
The council received $98,000 from the legislature for program expansion. New panels have already been established in Fulton County, and eight new counties will be added. Three new field staff will be hired to assist new counties. 
Cou nci l of 'Iagi~trat(' Court .Judg('~ 
The Council of Magistrate Court Judges was statutorily created to further the improvement of the magistrate courts and the administration of justice, to assist magistrates tluoughout the state in the execution of their duties and to promote and assists in their training. 
All chief magistrates and magistrates in Georgia are members of the council. The executive committee, comprised of six officers, two representatives from each of the 10 judicial administrative districts and two members-at-Iarge, carries out the administrative duties of the council. 
The council held four meetings during the year. Topics covered included: good behavior bonds, domestication of foreign judgments, an overview of magistrate jurisdiction, garnishments, and legislation and its effect on the magistrate courts. At each meeting judges held an open forum to discuss common problems and expenences. 
Legislative efforts focussed on a retirement bill, creation of the position of senior magistrate and responding to proposed let,rislation affecting magistrate courts. A retirement bill has been approved for actuarial study; the senior magistrate bill became effective July 1, 1993. 
39 
 
 The council's Uniform Rules Committee revised the rules of magistrate courts to conform with changes in the uniform rules for superior courts as well as with changes in practice. The revisions have been sent to the Supreme Court for approval. The Benchbook Committee updated the Magistrates Benchbook published and distributed by the Magistrate Courts Training Council. Judge Wayne M. Purdom of DeKalb County authored the second edition of the Magistrate Court Handbook. Four issues of the Georgia Magistrate Court Newsletter were published during the year. 
- - - - - - - - Counr-ll of Probate Court .Judge~ - - - - - - - - 
The Council of Probate Court Judges was created by statute in 1988 to further improvement of the probate courts and administration of justice. Composed of judges and retired judges of the probate courts, the council has developed uniform rules and forms, a benchbook and a handbook. 
The council met four times during fiscal year 1993. The meetings were held in Savannah, Atlanta, Athens and Jekyll Island. Training at the meetings was conducted by the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education (ICJE). Three of the meetings were held jointly with meetings of the County Officers' Association of Georgia. 
The annual update of the Handbook for Probate Judges was completed. The council and ICJE produced a video tape on adult guardianships for use in instructing potential guardians as to their responsibilities. 
During the 1993 General Assembly, the council and the COWIty Officers' Association of Georgia worked to pass a salary bill which was vetoed by Gov. Zell Miller. Other legislation dealt with fiduciary and probate law and retirement issues. 
- - - - - - - - - Couur il of State Court .JlIdge~ - - - - - - - - - 
The Council of State Court Judges began meeting in 1985 to develop uniform court rules. A 1988 statute officially created the council to further the improvement of the state courts, the quality and expertise of the judges and the administration of justice. 
The council coordinates its activities with other trial court councils. In developing uniform rules in particular, state court judges have worked closely with superior court judges to establish similar practices. 
During fiscal year 1993 the council began a Mentor Program to assist new state court judges taking the bench. Council committees also began work on reference materials designed specifically for state courts, 
In addition to two annual business meetings held in conjunction with the spring and fall continuing education programs, the council has an active committee system. This includes standing committees on race and gender bias, mandatory continuing judicial education, legislative liaison, uniform rules and criminal sanctions and facilities. 
40 
 
 - Cuu nri l of Su pr-riur Cuu rt Clr-rk -- 
The Council of Superior Court Clerks of Georgia was created by an act of the Georgia General Assembly in 1990. Its purpose is to further the improvement of superior courts and the administration of justice, to assist superior court clerks in the execution of their duties and to promote and assist in their training. TIle council is composed of Georgia's 159 superior court clerks. 
In fiscal year 1993, the council successfully supported legislation establishing the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority as a public corporation. The cooperative will work for development and distribution of record management systems, information, services, supplies and materials for superior court clerks. 
The council president reports that the group is involved in numerous projects devoted to improving the courts. 
Cuu nri I of Supr-riur (:ollrt .Il1d!:t~ 
The Council of Superior Court Judges was created to further the improvement of the superior courts of Georgia and administration of justice. All superior court judges and retired superior court judges are eligible for council membership. 
The executive conunittee is composed of four officers elected by the entire council and ten administrative judges elected from the 10 judicial administrative districts. Council staff assists in coordinating services, developing uniform court rules, preparing pattern jury instructions and tracking legislation. Staff also coordinates information and activities involving the ten district court administrators on issues of statewide concern. 
The council holds two meetings each year in conjunction with its summer and fall continuing education programs. Standing and special committees make recommendations on activities to promote the purposes and objectives of the council. The committees include: mandatory continuing education, benchbook, courts automation, compensation and retirement and indigent defense. Other committees are liaisons with court-related officials, agencies and organizations such as the superior court clerks and the State Bar of Georgia. Council representatives fill assigned seab on panels such as the Governor's Task Force on Correctional Institutions and Populations and the Supreme Court's Commission on Racial and Etlmic Bias in the Court System. 
During fiscal year 1993, the council ratified a constitution and by-laws to formalize its administrative structure and operations. Amendments to the Uniform Rules for the Superior Courts relating to discovery in civil actions, commitment hearings and financial affidavits in domestic relations actions were approved. New rules on mandatory continuing education and evidence of violence against victims were also approved. Updates to the Criminal 13enchbook and Suggested Pattern Jury Instructions were produced and distributed to all superior court judges and senior judges. 
41 
 
 During the 1993 legislative session, the council supported a retirement bill to lower the age at which judges can receive full benefits and endorsed a bill to increase from 5 to 12 years the minimum length of a sentence or consecutive sentences which may be reviewed by the Superior Courts Sentence Review Panel. 
------ Georgia Courts Automation Commission ------ 
The Georgia Courts Automation Commission (GCAC) was created by the legislature in 1991. Its duties are to define, implement and administer a statewide automation system for the collection, entry, storage, processing, retrieval and distribution of court-related information; coordinate statewide strategies and plans for incorporating county and local governments into the courts automation system; establish policies and procedures, rules and regulations and technical and performance standards for county and local government access to the courts automation system network; and offer advisory services to county and local governments to assist in guiding their efforts toward automating their court procedures and operations. 
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) provides project direction, staff support and fiscal coordination for the commission. Additional staff support is provided by the Computer Services Division of the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS). In fiscal year 1993, GCAC held monthly meetings to provide policy guidance on individual projects. 
Automated case-management and inquiry A statewide license for an automated case-management software system, 
SUSTAIN, was purchased using a grant awarded to the AOC/GCAC by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. SUSTAIN will be tested in a local county court and then offered at no charge to other courts. The software system operates on mM and compatible personal computers or networks and can be adapted to meet the needs of individual courts, including: docketing, case assignments, indexing, scheduling, calendar preparation, notice preparation, accounting and statistical reporting. Data collected and managed by the new system will be forwarded to state computers electronically, reducing excessive paperwork. Electronic transfer of information will also improve the timeliness of these records. 
The introduction of Automated Database Inquiry (ADI), a menu-driven, single point of inquiry system, made state databases containing information such as criminal histories, parole and corrections records, child support recovery information' birth records and driver histories quickly accessible to local courts. Developed through a grant awarded to the AOC/GCAC by the Governor's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), ADI is available to courts and justice system practitioners throughout the state. 
Automated tools Georgia Jury, a jury-management software system that includes jury-selection, 
check-writing and summons-producing capabilities, now operates in 63 counties 
42 
 
 and is available for installation and use in aJIY other court upon request. This software package was written and made available to the courts by DOAS. 
As a result of the contract between the Code Revision Commission and the Michie Company, judicial and executive branch subscribers are eligible to receive the Georgia Law On Disc at little or no cost. The Georgia Law compact disc contains the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA), the rules of court and Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions. The number of judicial branch subscribers reached 368 during the year. Requests are reviewed and processed at the xoc and forwarded to the vendor. 
The Governor's Office of Highway Safety provided graJlt funding to GCAC to expand the automated traffic citation tracking and reporting system into 16 additional courts. This software system, developed by DOAS, was initially implemented in 14 test sites. Electronic reporting of convictions reduces paperwork and provides more timely, accurate statewide data on traffic offender information, including DUI and habitual offender records. 
C('orgia Indigent I)efen~e Council ~------- 
The Georgia Indigent Defense Council was statutorily created as a judicial branch agency in 1979 to provide a program of legal representation for indigent defendants. The council is composed of 15 members appointed by the Supreme Court, including one lawyer from each of the 10 judicial administrative districts, three lay members from the state at large and two county commission representatives. 
The council's four statutory purposes and duties are: 1) to administer funds provided by the state and federal government to support 
local indigent defense prograJllS; 2) to recommend uniform guidelines for local programs; 3) to provide local programs and attorneys who represent indigent defendants 
with technical and research assistance, clinical and training programs aJId other administrative services; and 4) to prepare budget reports and management information required for implementation of the Georgia Indigent Defense Act. Four meetings took place during fiscal year 1993. Monetary assistance was provided to 106 counties for operation of their indigent defense programs. These grants, totaling $1.5 million, were funded from state appropriations and the Georgia Bar Foundation. Several divisions assist local programs. The Mental Health Advocacy Division provides services to attorneys representing clients in three specific areas: assistance with direct representation of insanity acquitees who are incarcerated indefinitely in state mental hospitals; training seminars for defense attorneys who represent mentally ill clients; and on-going support and consultation for attorneys who represent clients confined to mental hospitals. The Multicounty Public Defenders Office (MPD) is a statewide trial resource center for attorneys handling death penalty cases. MPD assists lawyers by providing 
43 
 
 consultation on pretrial motions, trial strategy, expert witnesses, motions for funds and attorney fees. MPD also provides direct representation in some instances, particularly when a circuit or county does not have qualified lawyers available to defend capital cases. 
A grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council provides a Drug Defense Resource Center to assist with defense of indigents charged with drug or drug-related offenses. 
Felony Trial Division attorneys provide representation at the request of local indigent defense committees. The Professional Education Division provides CLE(continuing legal education) accredited training to lawyers. This division administers a mentor program, provides scholarships and produces a newsletter. 
The council also responds to inmate requests for assistance and coordinates 1000 Lawyers for Justice, the largest pro bono criminal effort in the country. A speakers bureau and job bank for attorneys are maintained by the council. The council offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for undergraduate and law students. 
The council monitors the implementation of Supreme Court-adopted guidelines for the operation of local indigent defense programs. Guidelines cover appointment of counsel on a timely basis; eligibility determinations and criteria to qualify indigents; standards for the operation of public defender offices, panel attorney programs and hiring of contract defenders; appointed attorney fees; procedures to insure the independence of court-appointed counsel; roles and responsibilities of local indigent defense governing committees and the mechanism for distribution of state-appropriated funds. 
- - - - - Georgia .\Iagi~tnttt' Courts Tnlining Council - - - - - - 
(Annual Report for calendar year 1993, as required by OCGA 15-10-134.) 
The Georgia Magistrate Courts Training Council supervises continuing judicial education requirements for magistrate court judges and prescribes minimum standards for curricula and criteria for magistrate training. The council approves instructor qualifications and issues training certification to chief magistrates and magistrates who satisfactorily comply with established programs. 
Nonlawyer magistrates who are newly elected or appointed must attend the first scheduled certification course after assuming office and successfully complete 40 hours of training. To maintain certified status, all magistrates (including those who are members of the State Bar of Georgia) must fulfill an annual 20-hour training requirement. 
In calendar year 1992, the training council again sponsored two 40-hour seminars covering civil and criminal matters. Magistrates needing recertification training may attend part of a 40-hour program to fulfill the 20-hour requirement. Three 20-hour recertification programs were held. 
The training council now allows recertification credit to be earned by attending 
44 
 
 other programs. The council sponsored eight judges who attended out-of-state programs. 
The council contracted with the National Judicial College, the American Judicature Society and Alternative Dispute Resolution Associates for in -state programs on decision-making, bench skills, judicial ethics, mediation fundamentals and advanced mediation. 
The following publications were distributed: the Magistrates Benchbook (to new magistrates) or its update (to sitting magistrates), the Georgia Magistrate Court Handbook by Judge Wayne M. Purdom, the Magistrate Court Guide by Judge Johnny W. Warren and the Criminal Enforcement Handbook. 
Fee and fine accounting system software, developed via funding from the council during fiscal year 1992, was tested in the Crisp County Magistrate Courts. The Institute for Continuing Judicial Education provided introduction and training at the Georgia Center in Athens. The system was approved by the council and reviewed and approved by the State Department of Audits. It is available to all magistrate courts. 
The Judicial Qualifications Commission required that four judges attend additional traininz in 1993 due to hours missed in 1992. Three of the four judges complied; the other has been referred to the Judicial Qualifications Commission for further action. 
 
(;t'or~ia \Ia~i:--Iralt Court s Trn in i m; COIIlIt'il: 
lqq:~ St'llIinar:-- 
 
Seminar 
Decision Making 40-Hour Certification Basic Mediation Bench Skills 20-Hour Recertification Judicial Ethics 20-Hour Recertification 20-Hour Recertification 40-Hour Certification Advanced Mediation 
Total 
 
Location 
Savannah Athens Athens 
Americus Savannah Americus Columbus Decatur 
Athens Athens 
 
Number of Attendees 
25 
70 21 26 118 19 70 80 65 30* 
524 
 
Number of magistrates attending out-of-state seminars: 8 Number of magistrates attending seminars other than magistrate 
seminar to obtain credit: 1 Number of magistrates certified in 1993: 476** 
* 1 administrator ** 49 judges attended more than one program 
 
45 
 
 - - - - - - Institute of Continuing Judicial Education - - - - - 
More than 3,100 judges, court officials and judicial personnel attended programs delivered by the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education (ICJE) in fiscal year 1993. This record number placed ICJE among the top continuing judicial education agencies in the country. Georgia now ranks eighth among states in fiscal support for professional education programs for state court personnel. 
As an administrative arm of the Supreme Court, the institute has had responsibility for the training of all judicial personnel since 1981. The various courts and judges' councils have since adopted training standards for their members. Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges must complete a minimum of 12 hours of instruction each year, with at least two hours devoted to legal or judicial ethics. 
Superior court judges are required to attend judicial education programs totaling at least 12 hours per year, including two hours of judicial ethics every two years. Rule 43 of the Uniform Rules for the State Courts mandates that state court judges attend continuing legal and!or judicial education courses totaling 24 hours every two years. The total must include two ethics hours. 
As prescribed by the Executive Probate Judges Council, probate court judges must complete initial training and 12 hours of continuing education annually thereafter. Magistrate court judges fulfill an initial40-hour training requirement (attorney magistrates are exempt) and attend an annual 20-hour recertification course. Superior court clerks complete 40 hours in basic certification and 15 hours in yearly recertification training courses. 
Municipal court judges complete an annual 12-hour certification course. New judges must fulfill a 20-hour training requirement. 
Seminars In fiscal year 1993, the institute offered programs for judges of the superior, 
state, juvenile, probate and magistrate courts. In addition, training was provided for clerks of court, judges' secretaries, juvenile court probation officers, court administrators, and administrative law judges. For more information, please refer to the chart on page 47. 
Justice in the Next Millennium: Report of the Court Futures Vanguard was published by the Institute. Copies were distributed to Vanguard members, judges and legislators. 
The Magistrate Courts Training Council provided training in various computer programs. A basic personal computer course was conducted for superior court judges. Both state court and juvenile court judges were introduced to "Georgia Law on Disc," a computerized version of state statutes, appellate cases and court rules. The council initiated training on a customized fee and fine accounting system. 
Other initiatives include funding for development of interactive compact disc training programs targeting evidence law and use of artificial intelligence software platforms to manage rational decision-making procedures. A videotape to aid probate court judges in teaching guardians of elderly adults how to perform their duties was completed. 
46 
 
 Administration The ICJE's fiscal year 1993 expenditures of $864,105 included $634,322 in 
state funds and $229,842 in federal and other funds. In addition, ICJE had oversight responsibility for funds from other sources, including $75,000 for on-site services, MCLE fees and special projects and $20,000 for nationally based training of superior court judges. Administrative funds included a fiscal year 1993 increase to cover that portion of the executive director's salary and fringe benefits formerly paid by the University of Georgia Law School. 
Of 37 applications for financial aid to attend national courses, 34 were approved at usually 80 percent, and a total of 31 judges actually attended out-ofstate seminars. 
The ICJE board of trustees is made up of representatives of client groups of state courts and judicial organizations. The board includes one Court of Appeals judge; two members of the Council of Superior Court Judges; a representative from the councils of state, juvenile, probate and magistrate court judges; one representative from the Superior Court Clerk's Association; onc member of the State Bar of Georgia, one Irom the Judicial Council; and ex officio members, including the immediate past chairperson of the institute's board of trustees and the board of trustees of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the deans of the state's four accredited law schools. A liaison member representing the Supreme Court and an advisory member also serve on the board. 
 
Institute of Continuing .Judieial Edur-ation: Fiseal Year 199:l III s tI'll(' t i0 Il a I Activith- 
 
Date 
 
Program 
 
location Attendees 
 
July 9-10 July 19-21 July 19-22 
July 22-24 August 5-7 August 13- 14 August 26-28 
Aug. 3D-Sept. 4 Aug. 31-Sept. 3 Sept. 23-25 
Sept. 28-30 
Oct. 5-7 
Oct. 14-16 Oct. 19-21 Oct. 25-27 
Oct. 26-30 
Oct 28-30 Nov. 4-5 
Nov. 18-20 Nov. 18-20 Dec. 9-10 
Dec. 9-11 Jan. 15 Jan. 20-22 
 
Probate court clerks seminar Managing trials effectively Superior court judges summer seminar Magistrates 20-hour recertification Magistrates 20-hour recertification Probate court clerks seminar Municipal court judges 12-hour recertification Magistrates 40-hour recertification Municipal 20-hour certification Georgia Association of Independent Juvenile Courts Personnel fall seminar Magistrates mediation fundamentals Municipal court judges 12-hour recertification State court judges fall seminar Juvenile court judges fall seminar Georgia Court Futures Study follow-up conference Computers; Judging and Humanities Superior Court Judges Superior court judges fall seminar Administrative law judges, Georgia executive branch agencies sixth annual seminar Probate court judges fall seminar Superior court clerks fall seminar Municipal court judges l Z-hour recertification Probate court new judge orientation Basic WordPerfect 5.1 The decision-making process (magistrates) 
 
Athens 
 
15 
 
St. Simons 
 
13 
 
St. Simons 
 
143 
 
Columbus 
 
60 
 
Marietta 
 
91 
 
Hiawassee 
 
20 
 
Jekyll Island 
 
125 
 
Athens 
 
46 
 
Athens 
 
27 
 
Athens 
 
127 
 
Athens 
 
48 
 
Athens 
 
85 
 
Amicalola Falls 61 
 
Helen 
 
87 
 
Athens 
 
108 
 
Athens Athens 
 
12/session 121 
 
Athens 
 
93 
 
Savannah 
 
96 
 
Athens 
 
142 
 
Athens 
 
13 
 
Athens 
 
43 
 
Macon 
 
14 
 
Savannah 
 
25 
 
Date Jan. 28-29 Feb. 5 Feb. 12 Feb. 14-19 Feb. 16-18 
March 19 March 24-26 
March 29-31 
March 29-31 
April 7-9 April 12-13 
April 15-17 
April 22-23 April 14-16 
May 19-21 
May 19-21 May 21 May 27-28 
May 28-29 
June 2-4 June 9-11 June 25 
June 23-25 
 
Program 
State court new judge orientation Basic WordPerfect 5.1 Basic WordPerfect 5.1 Magistrates 40-hour certification Municipal court judges 20-hour certification Basic WordPerfect 5.1 Judicial secretaries annual seminar Mediation fundamentals (magistrates) Workers' compensation administrative law judges annual seminar Magistrate judges: bench skills Juvenile court clerks annual seminar Superior court clerks spring seminar Dept. of Corrections Tour Probate court judges spring seminar Georgia Coalition of Juvenile Services seminar State court judges spring seminar Basic WordPerfect 5.1 Juvenile judges long-range curriculum development Municipal court judges 12-hour recertification Magistrates 20-hour recertification Probate court clerks seminar County Officers Association of Georgia summer seminar Municipal court judges 12-hour recertification 
 
location Athens Macon Macon Athens 
Athens Macon 
Augusta 
Athens 
 
Attendees 34 13 16 70 
22 11 
176 
21 
 
Athens 
 
24 
 
Americus 
 
26 
 
Augusta 
 
57 
 
Augusta 
 
159 
 
Savannah area 
 
25 
 
Athens 
 
147 
 
Jekyll Island 
 
114 
 
Jekyll Island 
 
:6 
 
Macon 
 
15 
 
Athens 
 
13 
 
Decatur 
 
49 
 
Savannah 
 
118 
 
Jekyll Island 
 
75 
 
Jekyll Island 
 
82 
 
Macon 
 
40 
 
47 
 
 - - - - - - - - Ju dicia l Administ rativ Di~tr icts - - - - - - - - 
Regional court administration for the superior courts is organized through the Judicial Administration Act of 1976. Ten judicial administrative districts are served by a district court administrator and administrative judge selected from the superior court judges and senior judges of that district. 
Under the guidance of district administrative judges and district court administrators Seminars for Divorcing Parents were established. Computerized lists of open cases were prepared for superior court judges in each of Georgia's 159 counties. Assignment of senior judges and other judges to serve either in the district or elsewhere was handled by the districts. 
District court administrators function as liaisons between superior courts and local government officials, court personnel and components of the criminal justice system. Assistance is given to chief judges in the preparation, presentation and management of local court budgets. District court administrators screen and interview applicants for trial court administrator, law clerk, court reporter and other court support positions. Orientation sessions for jury commissioners are conducted locally. 
District staff assist chief judges and clerks in jury management projects. Jury selection was automated in many circuits and county jury boxes were revised. 
Assistance to the superior courts was provided in the following areas: grant applications and grant management; space and facilities management; courthouse renovation; arbitration; mediation; video arraignment; court delay reduction; alternative sentencing/jail overcrowding problems; records retention and management; and indigent defense programs 
District personnel work with committees of the Council of Superior Court Judges, the Judicial Council of Georgia, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and other local, state and national organizations. 
-----~--- Judirinl '\olllinating Commission - - - - - - 
The Judicial Nominating Commission (INC) solicits nominations for judgeships to be filled by gubernatorial selection. Nominations may be to fill judicial vacancies or to find candidates for newly created judgeships. 
Qualifications for all judges are specified either in the state constitution or in pertinent statutes. Nominations are usually sought from leaders of the local civic and legal communities. JNC members evaluate candidates based on a standard questionnaire and a legal article or brief submitted by the candidate. The commission interviews attorneys familiar with the candidate and the candidates themselves. 
The commission held 12 meetings in fiscal year 1993 to consider candidates for two vacancies on the Supreme Court, one vacancy on the Court of Appeals, five superior court vacancies (in the Tallapoosa, Gwinnett, Stone Mountain, Northeastern and Eastern judicial circuits) and one state court vacancy (in DeKalb County). 
48 
 
 Since 1973, the commission has acted on a total of 222 judgeships, including 15 Supreme Court vacancies, 15 Court of Appeals vacancies, 128 superior court offices, 55 state court posts, two municipal court judgeships and two civil court vacancies. 
The nine-member commission includes the president of the State Bar of Georgia and the state attorney general as ex-officio members. Three other members, who must be members of the State Bar, are appointed by the governor. The four remaining positions must be filled by nonlawyers-two appointed by the governor, one by the lieutenant governor and one by the speaker of the House of Representatives. The appointed members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority . 
.Judicial ()ualific'atiol\:-' COIIIJlli:-,:-,ioll 
The Georgia Constitution empowers the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) to respond to inquiries from judges regarding appropriate judicial conduct, to direct investigations into complaints involving members of the state judiciary and to hold hearings on allegations of judicial misconduct. 
Grievances against judges are usually initiated by a written, verified complaint to the conunission. Alleged misconduct or protests must be based on one of the seven canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Grounds for action include: 1) willful misconduct in office, 2) willful and persistent failure to perform duties, 3) habitual intemperance, 4) conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the judicial office into disrepute, and 5) disability which seriously interferes with the performance of judicial duties and which is or is likely to become permanent. 
During fiscal year 1993, the commission held 11 meetings and disposed of four formal complaints by submitting findings and recommendat ions to the Supreme Court. The commission suspended two judges who were indicted and subsequently cun victed fur felonies. At the begirming of the year 14 complaints and three requests for opinion were pending from fiscal year 1992. During fiscal year 1993, the commission received and acted upon 203 new matters, including 179 complaints and 24 requests for opinion. 
Including carryovers from fiscal years 1991 and 1992, the commission handled 216 matters as follows: 99 dismissed as appropriate fur appeal as a matter of law, unsupported or without merit; 62 dismissed after minimal investigation; one dismissed after substantial investigation; one judge resigned; three judges were removed; one judge was publicly reprimanded; 18 judges were privately reprimanded; one judge was suspended and publicly reprimanded (on three separate complaints); and one judge under investigation was subsequently defeated for re-election. 
In one formal proceeding, the commission recommended a public reprimand. This recommendation was approved and the judge was reprimanded in open court by the chief judge of the circuit. 
In a second formal proceeding, the comnussron and judge agreed to the following sanctions: a 30-day suspension without pay; a public reprimand in open court by the chief judge of the circuit; and a letter from the judge to the commission conunitting to the required ethical standards in all future matters. 
49 
 
 In a third formal proceeding, the judge was privately reprimanded. In a letter the judge agreed to abide by the Code of Judicial Conduct, should he again hold judicial office. Evidence had failed to substantiate the majority of the charges filed; the judge did not seek re-election. 
In a fourth formal proceeding, the judge was prohibited from ever again holding judicial office in the state of Georgia. 
Known sources of complaints for the fiscal year included: 158 litigants or their relatives, 23 judges, six auxiliary judicial personnel, ten attorneys, one anonymous, seven nonlitigants, two public officials and nine others. 
Twenty-four requests for Advisory Opinions were received. Fourteen formal opinions were rendered (five requests were handled with Opinion 175, and two were handled with Opinion 183), seven informal opinions were rendered and a clarification of Opinion 76 was issued. 
The seven -mernber commission operates under established procedural rules. All proceedings of the commission-including complaints, conferences, communications and decisions-are confidential, with the exception of notice of formal hearings, formal hearings, reports recommending discipline and decisions after a hearing in which a judge was found not guilty of misconduct. 
Members of the commission include two judges of courts of record appointed by the Supreme Court, three attorneys named by the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia and two citizens selected by the governor. A director, investigator and secretary serve as staff. 
Synopses of fiscal year 1993 JQC opinions follow. 
 
Synopses of Judicial Qualifications Commission Opinions: Fiscal Year 1993 
 
Opinion 171: Opinion No. 152 does not prohibit a judge from requiring a defendant to attend a "private, for profit" counseling program sponsored by the court's probation contractor. Note: This opinion is expressly conditioned upon and subject to review and modification, if necessary, upon promulgation of the rules and regulations authorized by OCGA. 42-8-101, as amended. 
Opinion 172: No judge should have any interest, financial or otherwise, in a "private, for profit" probation service company, and the execution of contracts with various courts for such services by a parttime magistrate would inevitably give rise 
 
to an impermissible appearance of impropriety in violation of Canon 2 which cannot be sanctioned. Note: This opinion is expressly conditioned upon and subject to review and modification, ifnecessary, upon promulgation of the rules and regulations authorized by OCGA 42-8-101, as amended. 
Opinion 173: The basic rule stated in Canon 5C( 4) plainly prohibits a judge from acceptingasubstantialgiftfromanyone. Three exceptions are stated, but none is applicable in this instance. Accordingly, the acceptance of the proposed gift under the circumstances here presented would be inappropriate and in violation of Canon 5. 
 
50 
 
 ------_._--------------------------------, 
 
Opinion 174: A magistrate judge should not personally participate in child fatality investigations conducted pursuant to OCGA 19-15-3, but rather should designate a representative to serve on the Child Abuse Protocol Committee who is not a magistrate judge. 
Opinion 17;"'): The longstanding and fairly common practice of part-time judges also serving as attorneys for governmental bodies is inconsistent with the underlying principles upon which the Code of Judicial Conduct is premised and, consequently, cannot be sanctioned. Accordingly, the numerous requests for reconsideration and revision of Opinion No. 155 are denied and, absent specific statutory authority, it is suggested that persons occupying such dual positions elect, not later than 12 months from the date of this Opinion, which position he or she chooses to continue to occupy and resign the other. (Please see Opinion 183.) 
Opinion t 7(,: The Code of Judicial Con- 
duct does not prohibit a sitting Georgia Court of Appeals judge from serving as a director of the federal State Justice Institute created by 42 USCA 10702. 
Opinion 177: Opinion No. 175 has no application to a part-time city court judge whose court is not located in either of the two counties in which he simultaneously serves as county attorney. 
 
Opinion 180: Subject to the limitations contained in Part B of the Compliance Section of the Code of Judicial Conduct, there appears to be no ethical restriction upon the right of an attorney who periodically serves as a juvenile court judge pro tempore to also practice in the juvenile court, and such service, standing alone, would not appear to warrant disqualification of the full-time juvenile court judge in other cases handled by such attorney. 
Opinion lX1: Dual service as a municipal court solicitor and a part-time state court judge in the same city and county is inappropriate and cannot be sanctioned. 
Opinion t 82: Provided both judges follow the mandate of Canon 3C(1)(d)(ii) by disqualifying in all cases in which there is a prohibited relationship, a superior court judge is not disqualified from hearing a criminal case presented by the district attorney in her circuit solely by reason of the fact that her spouse is a private attorney who has a contract with the district attorney's office to handle civil cases involving child support recovering actions. Nor is the judge of a state court disqualified from assisting the superior court in criminal cases by reason of the fact that the judge's sibling is an assistant district attorney in that circuit. The better practice, however, is complete disclosure on the record, thereby giving all parties an informed opportunity to object as provided by law. 
 
Op in ion t 7X: A part-time recorders court judge may appropriately serve on a Public Safety Coordinating Council established by a city police department unless such service is such as to cast doubt on his capacity to impartially decide issues coming before him. 
Opinion t 711: A full-time county depart- 
ment head (Animal Control & Code Enforcement) is an employee of a law enforcement body and, as such, may not serve as a parttime magistrate. A full-time county tax appraiser would appear to have no involvement in law enforcement and may serve as a part-time magistrate within certain limitations. 
 
Opinion t X:~: Byreason of the 1993 amendment to OCGA  15-1-8 relating to when a judge or judicial officer is disqualified, the long-standing practice of part-time judges simultaneously serving as attorneys for governmental bodies, disapproved in Opinion No. 175, is now specifically authorized by the laws of this State, and Opinion No. 175 is therefore expressly withdrawn. 
Opinion t 84: While the appointment of a law clerk/magistrate as a temporary superior court judge would not appear to be inappropriate per se, because such appointments will inevitably lead to the appearance of impropriety, as well as numerous disqualifications, they cannot be sanctioned. 
 
<;1 
 
 ---------- Sentence Review Panel ---------- 
 
The Superior Courts Sentence Review Panel reviews defendants' sentences to 
 
assure that they are not excessive in relation to other sentences for similar crimes. 
 
In comparing sentences, the panel considers the nature of the crime and the 
 
defendant's prior criminal record. 
 
Cases subject to the panel's jurisdiction are those sentences totaling five or more 
 
years set by a superior court judge without a jury (or those totalling 12 or more years 
 
beginning July 1, 1993). Exceptions to the panel's jurisdiction include sentences set 
 
in misdemeanor cases and murder cases where a life sentence has been applied. The 
 
panel may reduce sentences, but is prohibited from increasing punishments, 
 
reducing sentences to probation or suspending any sentence. 
 
The panel reviews sentences upon application of a defendant. Defendants must 
 
act within 30 days of the date sentenced by the superior court judge, or after 
 
remittitur from the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court affirming the conviction of 
 
the sentencing court, whichever occurs last. The application must be transmitted 
 
by the trial court clerk to the panel within 10 days of its filing. The clerk also 
 
sends copies of any pre-sentence or post- 
 
sentence report. Both the defendant and 
 
the district attorney must present written 
 
Superior Courts Sentence Review Panel Caseload Summary 
 
arguments as to the harshness or justification of the sentence. 
A defendant may not file more than 
 
Fiscal Year 1993 
 
one application for review of a sentence. The panel's actions are not reviewable. 
 
Cases Cases 
 
Cases Percent 
 
Affinned Reduced Reviewed Reduced 
 
Panel orders are binding on the defendant and the superior court that imposed the 
 
Panel 73 
 
823 
 
16 
 
Panel 74 
 
539 
 
13 
 
Panel 75 
 
468 
 
11 
 
Panel 76 
 
532 
 
6 
 
839 
 
1.9% 
 
552 
 
2.4% 
 
479 
 
2.4% 
 
538 
 
1.1% 
 
Total 
 
2,362 
 
46 
 
2,408 
 
1.9% 
 
sentence. The panel affirmed 2,362 cases and 
reduced 46 cases in fiscal year 1993, a total caseload of 2,408. The reduction rate for the year was 1.9 percent. 
 
Each Sentence Review Panel is com- 
 
10-Year Comparison of Cases Reviewed 
 
posed of three superior court judges. Panel 
 
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 
 
Cases Cases Percent Affinned Reduced Reduced 
 
2,335 
 
119 
 
2,137 
 
100 
 
1,769 
 
67 
 
2,485 
 
63 
 
2,273 
 
87 
 
1,889 
 
74 
 
2,804 
 
72 
 
2,790 
 
113 
 
2,557 
 
57 
 
2,362 
 
46 
 
4.9% 4.5% 3.7% 2.5% 3.7% 3.8% 2.5% 3.9% 2.2% 1.9% 
 
members are appointed and chairpersons are designated by the president of the Council of Superior Court Judges to serve three-month terms. Asupernumerary member, appointed for each term, is authorized to substitute for any member who cannot attend a meeting or who is disqualified. 
An administrative board of three judges prepares an annual budget, considers revisions to the panel's procedural rules and 
 
supervises the staff. 
 
52 
 
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Judicial Personnel Changes: Fiscal Year 1993 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
SUPREME COURT justice Carol W. Huntstein, appointed Nov. 23, 1992 Dec. 31,1994. justice George H. Carley, appointed March 16, 1993 Dec.31,1994. 
COURT OF APPEALS judge Alan Blackburn, elected jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31,1996. Judgel.D, Smith, appointed May 10, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1994. 
SUPERIOR COURTS Atlanta Judicial Circuit 
judge josephine Holmes-Cook, elected jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31, 1996. Cherokee Judicial Circuit Judge jefferson L. Davis, [r., elected jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31,1996. Clayton Judicial Circuit judge Matthew O. Simmons, elected jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31, 1996. judge Deborah C. Benefield, elected Jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31, 1996. Cobb Judicial Circuit judge Mary E.Staley,elected Jan. 1, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1996. Eastern Judicial Circuit judge Charles D. Mikell, elected jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31,1996. Enotah Judicial Circuit judge Hugh W. Stone, appointed August 10, 1992 Dec. 31,1994. judge David E. Barrett, appointed August 10, 1992 Dec. 31,1994. Gwinnett Judicial Circuit judge james W. Oxendine, appointed Dec. 21, 1992 Dec. 31,1994. judge Michael C. Clark, elected jan. 1,1993 - Dec. 31, 1996. Mountain Judicial Circuit Judge E.H. (Bucky) Woods, elected jan. 1,1993 Dec. 31,1996. Piedmont Judicial Circuit Judge Robert W. Adamson, elected jan. 1,1993 Dec. 31, 1996. Rockdale Judicial Circuit judge Sidney L. Nation, elected jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31, 1996. Southwestern Judicial Circuit judge R. Rucker Smith, elected Jan. 1,1993 - Dec. 31, 1996. Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Judge Gail C. Flake, appointed April 13, 1993 Dec. 31,1994. Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit judge William A. Foster, III, appointed Oct. 26,1992 Dec. 31,1994. 
STATE COURTS Bryan Cou nty 
judge Jack E. Carney, [r., elected jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31, 1996. Chatham County Judge John E. Morse, appointed july 30, 1992 Dec. 31, 1994 Cobb County judge Melodie Howard Clayton elected jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31, 1996. DeKalb County Judge Denise L. Majette, appointed June 8, 1993 Dec. 31, 1994. Dougherty County judge john F.Salter,elected jan. 1, 1993  Dec. 31, 1996. Elbert Cou nty judge Thomas L. Hodges, elected jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31, 1996. Evans County judge William E. Callaway, Ir.. elected Jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31, 1996. Fulton County judge Gail Tusan joyner, appointed july 6,1992Dec. 31,1993. 
 
judge Wendy L. Shoob, appointed July 6, 1992 Dec. 31,1993. Glynn County judge Orion L. Douglass, elected jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31,1996. Gwinnett County Judge David M. Fuller, elected jan. 1, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1996. Liberty County judge Leon M. Braun, [r., elected jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31,1996. Rockdale County judge William F. Todd, Ir., elected jan. 1,1993Dec. 31,1996. Sumter County Judge Michael A. Fennessy, elected jan. 1, 1993  Dec. 31, 1996. 
JUVENILE COURTS Alapaha Circuit 
judge E. Chandler Barrett, appointed Jan. 1, 1993 . Dec. 31,1996. Colquitt County Judge William Mcintosh, appointed Jan. 1, 1993 Dec. 31,1996. 
PROBATE COURTS* Camden County 
judge Martin Gillette, elected jan. 1, 1993. Dougherty County 
judge Nancy Smith Stephenson, elected jan. 1, 1993. Echols County 
judge Charlie M. Culpepper, Sr., elected jan. 1, 1993. Elbert County 
judge jane P. johnson, elected jan. 1, 1993. Evans County 
Judge Darin McCoy, elected Jan. 1, 1993. Fannin County 
judge Linda K. Davis, elected Jan. 1, 1993. Fayette County 
judge Martha King Stephenson, elected jan. 1, 1993. Gwinnett County 
judge Walter j. Clarke, III, elected jan. 1, 1993. Habersham County 
judge Ann Frye Jerrell, elected jan. 1, 1993. Hall County 
judge Patti P. Cornett, elected jan. 1, 1993. Hart County 
judge Bob Smith, elected jan. 1, 1993. Jackson County 
judge Margaret Deadwyler, elected jan. 1, 1993. Jasper County 
judge Kathy C. Tyler, elected jan. 1, 1993. Lamar County 
judge Kathryn B. Martin, elected jan. 1, 1993. Long County 
judge Frances G. Deloach, elected jan. 1, 1993. Miller County 
judge Bobby E. Richardson, Sr., elected Jan. 1, 1993. Morgan County 
Judge Mike Bracewell, elected Jan. 1, 1993. Murray County 
Judge Dale Adams, elected jan. 1, 1993. Pierce Cou nty 
judge Brenda C. Howard, elected jan. 1, 1993. Pulaski County 
judge jeffrey jones, elected jan. 1, 1993. Randolph County 
judge Perry Turner, elected jan. 1, 1993. Rockdale County 
judge LillisHanson Brown, elected jan. 1, 1993. Screven Cou nty 
Judge Debbie Brown-Wells, elected jan. 1, 1993. Sumter County 
Judge judy Reeves, elected Jan. 1, 1993. Telfair County 
judge joe Seay, elected jan. 1, 1993. Toombs County 
judge jackie O. Driskell, elected jan. 1, 1993. Wheeler County 
judge Roy O. Braswell, Ir., elected jan. 1, 1993. 
 
Whitfield County judge Evelyn Davenport, elected jan. 1, 1993. 
Wilkinson County Judge Cuyler A. Payne, elected jan. 1, 1993. 
CHIEF MAGISTRATES* Atkinson County 
Judge JoAnn May, elected jan. 1, 1993. Barrow County 
judge johnny Fred Smith, elected jan. 1, 1993. Bartow County 
judge James P. Blalock, elected jan. 1, 1993. Carroll County 
Judge Richard G. Smith, elected Jan. 1, 1993. Catoosa County 
Judge Gene Lowery, elected jan. 1, 1993. Charlton County 
judge Chris C. Conner, elected jan. 1, 1993. Clayton County 
judge Michael D. Anderson, appointed jan. 1, 1993. Colquitt Cou nty 
judge Annette W. Hunter, appointed Jan. 1, 1993. Crawford County 
Judge Juanita Childres, elected jan. 1, 1993. Dade County 
Judge Thomas W. Reed, elected jan. 1, 1993. Dougherty County 
Judge Willie E. Lockette, appointed jan. 1, 1993. Douglas County 
judge Harold A. Lane, elected jan. 1,1993. Echols County 
judge Charlie M. Culpepper, Sr., elected Jan. 1, 1993. Glynn County 
judge Earnest B. Gilbert, elected jan. 1, 1993. Grady County 
Judge Larry Bearden, elected jan. 1, 1993. Habersham County 
judge Douglas L. Henry, elected jan. 1, 1993. Harris County 
judge W. Ken Askew, elected Jan. 1, 1993. Heard County 
judge Brenda jennings, elected jan. 1, 1993. Jasper County 
Judge Kay B. Lancaster, appointed jan. 1, 1993. Jeff Davis County 
Judge Roger D. Ogilvie, elected Jan. 1,1993. McDuffie County 
Judge Robert H. Cofer, II, appointed jan. 1, 1993. Miller County 
judge Bobby Richardson, Sr., elected jan. 1, 1993. Morgan County 
judge Connie Holt, elected Jan. 1, 1993. Peach County 
judge Linda O'Neal, elected jan. 1, 1993. Pickens County 
Judge Larry Ray, elected Jan. 1, 1993. Randolph County 
Judge Perry E.Turner, elected jan. 1, 1993. Rockdale County 
judge Clarence R. Home, [r., elected jan. 1, 1993. Schley Cou nty 
judge Robert Larry Wall, elected jan. 1, 1993. Screven Cou nty 
judge M. Grady jenkins, elected jan. 1, 1993. Telfair County 
Judge Mildred Hall jones, elected Jan. 1, 1993. Tift County 
Judge Luann F. Deason, elected Jan. 1, 1993. Twiggs County 
Judge Robert L. Hughes, [r., elected jan. 1, 1993. Upson County 
judge W.T. Ellerbee, [r., elected jan. 1,1993. Wheeler County 
judge Roy O. Braswell, [r., elected jan. 1, 1993. White County 
judge Charles M. Hicks, elected jan. 1, 1993. Whitfield County 
judge Barrett W. Whittemore, Ir.. elected jan. 1, 1993. Wilkinson County Judge Cuyler A. Payne, elected Jan. 1, 1993. 
*All terms expire Dec. 31, 1996.