Annual report on the work of the Georgia Courts, 1994

Jl994 ANNUAL REPORT
July 1, 1993 - June 30, 1994

Judicial Branch in Review Message from the Chief Justice Fiscal Year 1994 Highlights Appropriations

The Courts Supreme Court Court of Appeals Superior Courts State Courts Juvenile Courts Probate Courts . Magistrate Courts Other Courts

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.
. .

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Judicial Agencies

Judicial Council of Georgia

Administrative Office of the Courts

Board of Court Reporting

Council of Juvenile Court Judges..

Council of Magistrate Court Judges

.

Council of Probate Court Judges

Council of State Court Judges

Council of Superior Court Clerks

Council of Superior Court Judges

Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution

Georgia Courts Automation Commission

Georgia Indigent Defense Council

Georgia Magistrate Courts Training Council.......

Georgia State-Federal Judicial Council..............

Institute of Continuing Judicial Education

Judicial Administrative Districts

Judicial Nominating Commission.....................

Judicial Qualifications Commission

Supreme Court Committee for Gender Equality

Judicial Personnel Changes

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14

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25

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29

. 35

. 39

40

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. 45

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48

49

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49

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... 52

53

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56

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63

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Published by the Judicial Council of Georgia and the Administrative Office of the Courts in compliance with OCGA 15-5-24 and by Order of the Supreme Court of Georgia dated June 12, 1978. All rights reserved.
Judicial Council of Georgia. Administrative Office of the Courts 244 Washington Street, SW, Suite 550
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-5900. (404) 656-5171
Director, Robert L. Doss [r . Senior Communications OffiCer, Billie Dickerson. Editor, Nancy Kahnt
o Printed on recycled paper.

- - - - - - - - - Judicial Council of Georgia - - - - - - - - June 1994

Chief Justice Willis B. Hunt Jr. Chair Supreme Court Atlanta
Presiding Justice Robert Benham Vice Chair Supreme Court Atlanta
Judge Dorothy T. Beasley Court of Appeals Atlanta
Judge Joe C. Bishop Second District Administrative Judge Dawson
Judge James N. Butterworth President Council of State Court Judges Cornelia
Judge David L. Cavender First District Administrative Judge Hinesville
Judge Philip F. Etheridge President Council of Superior Court Judges Atlanta
Chief Judge Hilton Fuller Fourth District Administrative Judge Decatur
Chief Judge William F. Grant Tenth District Administrative Judge Elberton
Judge William H. Ison Sixth District Administrative Judge Jonesboro
Chief Judge Isaac Jenrette Fifth District Administrative Judge Atlanta
Chief Judge Walker P. Johnson Jr. Third District Administrative Judge Macon
Judge William W. Lavigno III President Council of Juvenile Court Judges Conyers

Judge N. Kent Lawrence President-elect Council of State Court Judges Athens
Judge H. Arthur McLane President-elect Council of Superior Court Judges Valdosta
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 Guy D. "Pete" Pfeiffer First Vice President Council of Magistrate Court Judges Cordele
Chief Judge Marion T. Pope Jr. Court of Appeals Atlanta
Chief Judge Tom Pope Seventh District Administrative Judge Calhoun
Judge Wayne M. Purdom President Council of Magistrate Court Judges Decatur
Judge Ronald H. Rentz President-elect Council of Juvenile Court Judges Colquitt
Chief Judge William M. Towson Eighth District Administrative Judge Dublin
Judge John Wheaton President Council of Probate Court Judges Leesburg

2

JUDKCKAL BIRANCHI KN IREVKEW
- - - - - - - - Message from the Chief Justice - - - - - - - -
Chief Justice Willis B. Hunt delivered the State of the Judiciary Address to the Georgia Oeneral Assembly on Ianuary 11,1995. Highlights ofhis remarksfollow.
I know my presence here is less an opportunity to disseminate useful information than it is a symbol that the third branch of government indeed exists and that you recognize our role, and we appreciate that. You understand that our engines are fed primarily by your work product. Almost everything you do finds its way to us. Whether your statutory enactments govern the substance and procedure of our tort cases, our divorce cases, or our criminal cases, or whether the laws you pass are simply presented to us for interpretation (because some people, believe it or not, don't know what you mean), the produce of your work is our life blood.
Courts do not make law, but they interpret it everyday, whether in the literal sense of the appellate function or in the practical application of the trial courtsapproving or disapproving by their enforcement or rejection of your work product. And, it is that everyday, necessary, even intense, relationship between us, that I will reflect on in response to your kind invitation to be here.
Should I do as my predecessors have done for the last eight years, and that is, should I shower you with statistics that demonstrate the ongoing overload on your state courts and the fact that the courts' share of the state budget has never exceeded one percent-never reached one percent? You may recall Harold Clarke's eloquent plea two years ago reflecting on the song, "Buddy, Can You Spare A Dime?" and then asking you, "Buddy, Can You Spare a Penny?" But a penny could not be spared then, and apparently cannot now. We get right at eight-tenths of one percent of the state budget.
I have decided not to dwell on that because everyone knows there is an unmet demand for court time; everyone knows the courts are overloaded, a situation that will not be alleviated by stiffer sentencing laws or the upcoming Olympics. You don't have to be a lawyer or a judge to know that. And everyone knows that there are far more demands for your money than can be met. There are hard choices for you to make. We understand that. Education, for example. You cannot be too generous as to educational needs. And, in fact, the more you address education, the more you fund it, the less will be needed for courts and corrections-at least down the road. Pouring money into education is not a waste; it is an opportunity to attack the source of crime problems rather than the consequences, as has always been done in the past.
No matter what percent of the budget we have gotten, I think you have done as well by us as present circumstances permit. In fact, as far as the Supreme Court goes, you have been generous. Your generosity has permitted us to create and nurture programs we believe essential to the goal of equal justice and effective justice. Those programs include the Committee for Gender Equality, the Commission on Racial
3

and Ethnic Bias, the Office of Dispute Resolution (ADR), Courts Automation, and the new Committee on Substance Abuse and the Courts. Over the past three years you have doubled funding for indigent defense. These are important programs with important goals and we, the judiciary and the legislature, are jointly fulfilling our responsibility to pursue them.
Superior courts You have fulfilled your responsibility to the superior courts-the principal trial
courts of the state. You have agreed to add judges, but your hands are tied by federal voting-rights litigation. We pray for a speedy resolution, and a fair resolution as well.
To meet the current demand, our superior courts have absorbed all available senior judges and many, many magistrates, juvenile court judges, and probate court judges. Much of the family law workload in the superior courts has been shifted to magistrates. These are emergency times and this is an emergency measure-but it is troubling.
It is at the heart of dissatisfaction and disenchantment of family court litigants and lawyers. Family law problems go beyond the lack of judge power. We all know that and we, and the members of the State Bar, and a number of you, are working with the Family Court Commission to address the overall problems and the wisdom, the feasibility of a family court. The citizens have authorized pilot programs in this field and you will consider those. This is not the time under all the attendant circumstances, to alter the discretionary appeals process. Let's not attack the problem piecemeal with a short-term solution, but address the whole problem through the study of the commission, the pilot programs, and the eventual addition of superior court judges. The trial courts desperately need help. What is most needed is more judges, but you cannot address that now.
Appellate courts I have not overlooked our Court of Appeals, I have saved them for last because
they need your help, and you can help them. For every one opinion that I and my colleagues on the Supreme Court write, my colleagues on the Court of Appeals each write five-or is it six? They are basically writing one opinion for each workday, an enormous load-an impossible load. They seek your help in order to provide sufficient staff to keep them afloat and I know you will be responsible and meet their needs. Be generous with them. Don't compromise, be generous. They are the hardest working appellate judges in the country, and they need and deserve your help.
To be honest, they need more than staff. They need, although they may not agree with me, they need the benefit of a restructured appellate court system. They need more judges-either on their court or at least on another appellate tier- but you cannot solve that now, even if we were to agree how to solve it.
So there you have it. You get a high grade from me. Weare grateful for what you do, and I thank you once again for the across-the-board pay raise you gave all judges last year. You were generous-most generous. Decent compensation says a lot about the state of our judiciary and we are grateful that you recognized and met our need.
4

Selection of judges Weare also grateful that a decade ago you were wise enough to let the people
tell us through their constitution that judges' elections should be nonpartisan. We have thereby avoided the confusion and distress suffered by our neighbors in Alabama, North Carolina, and Texas. The pressure of party politics and political action committees has cast a dark shadow on the legitimacy of their method of selecting judges.
But our system still deserves scrutiny. The underlying challenges of the votingrights case must eventually be addressed, regardless of the outcome. And, the wisdom of statewide judicial elections remains in question. In twenty years appellate court incumbents have faced opposition ten times and won nine of those times-a track record that challenges the system. Should a newly appointed member of either of these two courts be required to face election within a few months after taking office? Is that fair to the judge? Is it fair to you and the rest of the voting public? Will we see the same increase in campaign contributions-mainly from interested lawyers-as has occurred in Alabama, North Carolina, and Texas? I hope not, but I am worried about it and you should be too.
Vision Let me conclude with a vision-my vision of what our court system should be
and, yes, it will cost more than a tenth of one percent of the state budget. But you will have plenty of lead time to adjust. It is a vision that no other judge necessarily shares, but you get it from me for the price of admission.
Beyond the probate and magistrate courts which could be joined together, but probably never will, there would be three tiers.
There would be one trial court-the Superior Court, with a family law division, including juvenile matters, and perhaps a criminal division. All civil and criminal cases would go there and superior court judges could try something besides divorce and felonies. Why have both superior courts and state courts? There is no reason. State trial courts should be funded by state moneys.
There would be a well staffed mediation/arbitration office through which most of the civil work would be funneled initially. There would be-as there is now in some states-an appellate division of the superior court. Regionally, perhaps by congressional district (as judicial districts are now divided), there would be a panel of three judges who would hear direct appeals from all civil cases, family law included, and most criminal cases. They would provide for a review of fact and law in these cases, many of which are now discretionary. This appellate division would be a primary court of appeals. Our present Court of Appeals, on the other hand, would be a true intermediate court of appeals. It may well need no more members. It would take capital criminal cases on direct appeal, but others would be largely discretionary. Because of the work of the primary court of appeals, its workload would be gready reduced. It would be manageable; it would be important. It would be the high error-correcting court.
The Supreme Court then, except for death penalty cases, constitutional issues, tax cases, and claims against the state, would be a true cert court. It would take its cases by writ of certiorari to the Court of Appeals. Unlike now, the Supreme Court
5

and the Court of Appeals would not be doing the same thing-they would not be sharing the error-correcting function. That would primarily rest with the Court of Appeals and the primary appellate division. The Supreme Court could fulfill its principal role, that of molding the common law, that of interpreting the constitution' and that of overseeing the legal profession-an increasingly important and urgent role. The Supreme Court would speak to broad issues of justice and equality.
The judges of these courts would be fairly selected by a method that would insulate them as far as possible from unwanted political pressure, but would permit the voters to decide, either directly or indirectly, who serves. That method would also insure the selection of judges who look like the people of this staterepresentation as to gender and to race.
Well, there you have it. Simple, right? It will come, as do all judicial reforms, in increments. But it will come-trust me-I've seen the process close up for 24 years and something like my suggestion, similar to my suggestion, will arrive. It is not unlike the product envisioned by Paul Broun, Larry Walker and Roy Barnes (and myself) in 1984 on the Governor's Commission on Judicial Processes-Justice 2000. It is a vision that would simplify and immeasurably enhance the administration of justice and you-with responsibility, gratitude, humility and vision-will be proud to fund it.
There is one more word that describes better than any other the journey, the odyssey, the pilgrimage of the courts in our search for justice, and that is persistence. We have a great partnership-our two branches-together we will persist and prevail for the people we serve.
Ceremonies on March 3, 1994, installed Justice Willis B. Hunt Jr. as Georgia's 25th chief justice. Justice Hunt succeeded Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke who retired March 1.
6

- - - - - - - - - - - Georgia Court System: June 30, 1994 - - - - - ' - - - - - - - -

SUPREME C O U R T 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

STATE C O U R T (64 courts) 90 judges (91 authorized): 44 full-time, 46 part-time.
jurisdiction (limited):
Civil law actions except cases within the exclusive jurisd iction of superior court.
Misdemeanors, traffic, felony preliminaries.
jury trials.
MUNICIPAL COURTS (373 courts active)
jurisdiction (limited):
Ordinance violations, traffic, criminal preliminaries.
No jury trials.

SUPERIOR COURT 46 circuits, 145 judges (159 authorized)
jurisdiction (general):
Civil law actions, misdemeanors, and other cases.
Exclusive jurisdiction over cases of divorce, title to land, equity.
Exclusive felony jurisdiction.
jury trials.

II

JUVENILE COURT (159 courts) 53 judges: 17 full-time, 36 part -ti me (1 state court judge serves as a part-time juvenile court judge), 32 associate judges. Superior court judges serve in counties without separate juvenile court judges.
jurisdiction (limited):
Deprived, unruly, delinquent juveniles.
Juvenile traffic.
No jUrytrials.

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. Hold courts of inquiry. Search warrants and arrest
warrants in certain cases.

I
COUNTY RECORDER'S COURT
(4 courts) 8 judges
jurisdiction (limited):
County ordinances, criminal warrants and preliminaries.
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 (1 59 courts) 159 chief magistrates and 318 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 landlordtenant cases (civi I) under $7,500.
Misdemeanor guilty pleas and preliminary hearings.
Warrants.
jury trials in civil cases.

7

- - - - - - - - Fiscal Year 1994 Highlights - - - - - - - -
July 1993 Fiscal year begins with judicial branch budget of: $63,674,960.
Georgia Courts Automation Commission (GCAC) began installation and pilot testing of SUSTAIN, court case-management software.
August 1993
Supreme Court Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Court System meets for diversity training sessions led by Dr. Jacob Herring of California. State Bar Commission on Judicial Compensation meets to discuss objectives and strategies for increasing compensation for appellate and superior court judges.
September 1993
Supreme Court meets on the original site of the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court at New Echota in North Georgia to pay tribute to Native American heritage.
Portrait oflate Chief Justice Charles L. Weltner presented to the Supreme Court of Georgia and hung in the courtroom. The portrait originally hung in the Fulton County Courthouse.
October 1993 First public hearing of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias takes place October 1 at the DeKalb County Public Library in Decatur. Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham opens the meeting. Commission hears testimony from judges, lawyers, city officials and others. The commission's second public hearing is held October 29 at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus.
The Georgia Conference on Substance Abuse and the Courts is held in Athens on October 27 and 28, bringing together judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers and others to address the problems of substance-abuse related crime and its impact on the court system. Judge Harl Haas of Portland, Oregon, and Judge Kathleen Gearin of St. Paul, Minnesota, are the invited speakers. Twenty-five judicial circuits and 125 individuals participate in the two-day meeting.
Georgia Commission for Gender Equality approves a model policy for the handling of sexual harassment complaints to "achieve a workplace free from sexual harassment by establishing a procedure for submitting complaints, and for the investigation and resolution of these complaints."
November 1993
Report and recommendations issued by the Judicial Compensation Commission find that current judicial salaries are neither fair nor adequate.
Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias hearings are held November 19 in Savannah at Armstrong State College.
December 1993
Judicial Council recommends creation of 16 additional superior court judgeships. Recommendations are sent to Governor Zell Miller and the General Assembly. The Administrative Office of the Courts presents superior court caseload data for the 46 judicial circuits showing total filings per superior court judge at 1,191 civil cases and 763 criminal cases.
Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias hearings are held December 3 in Dalton at the Northwest Georgia Trade Center.
8

- - - - - - - - Fiscal Year 1994 Highlights - - - - - - - -
January 1994
Revised Code of Judicial Conduct becomes effective January 1. The revisions were suggested by the Judicial Qualifications Commission and bring Georgia up to date with the American Bar Association 1990 Model Code ofIudicial Conduct. The new code features a preamble, a glossary of key terms and speaks to concerns regarding societal fairness and cultural diversity, Georgia's judicial code ofconduct was last updated in 1984.
Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke delivers his final State of the Judiciary Address to the General Assembly. Justice Clarke calls for patient remedies attacking the causes of crime. He suggests services to teenage mothers and drug abusers, education on the value of humanity and community programs that offer hope to the young and disadvantaged. ChiefJustice Clarke retires from the bench at the end of February.
Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias holds hearings January 21 in Augusta.
February 1994
The Georgia Commission on Family Violence issues a report on its first year of activities focusing on reducing domestic violence.
Chief Justice Clarke receives first Harold G. Clarke Equal Justice Award recognizing his strong leadership in support of indigent defense.
Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias recommends that orientation and continuing education programs for judges and court personnel include a component of cultural diversity and sensitivity training.
March 1994
Willis B. Hunt Jr. becomes the 25th Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court in ceremonies held March 3 in the Supreme Court courtroom.
April 1994
Final public hearing by the Commission on Racial Ethnic Bias is held April 8 at Georgia State University in Atlanta. Governor Zell Miller signs into law a measure increasing base salaries for appellate court justices and judges and superior court judges. The General Assembly acted on recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Commission.
May 1994 The Georgia Commission on Gender Equality meets on May 13 and endorses distribution of the Court Conduct Handbook. The pamphlet addresses behaviors that are forms ofgender, race and ethnic bias. Examples of offensive conduct are presented, as well as guidelines and suggestions to avoid such behavior.
June 1994 Judicial Council meets in Savannah on June 15. State Bar of Georgia begins forming a Commission on Family Courts. The commission's goal is to evaluate and improve the delivery of judicial services to families and children in Georgia with respect to family law issues. The commission will review pilot family court projects in Georgia and other states.
9

I

State Appropriations for the Judicial Branch: Fiscal Years 1993, 1994 and 1995

Budget Unit!Agency Supreme Court

FY 1993 Amended Appropriation
$4,893,172

FY 1994 Amended Appropriation
$5,201,909

Percent Change FY93-94
6.3%

1995 General Appropriation
$5,433,395

Percent Change FY 94-95
4.5%

Court of Appeals

5,593,669

5,819,886

4.0%

6,269,416

7.7%

Superior Courts (Total) Operations Council of Superior Court Judges Judicial Administrative Districts Prosecuting Attorneys' Council Sentence Review Panel

45,649,233 42,124,772
114,499 1,464,647 1,791,715
153,600

47,558,332 44,268,810
126,609 1,164,572 1,840,926
157,415

4.2% 5.1% 10.6% -20.5% 2.7% 2.5%

51,050,860 47,535,338
135,417 1,242,858 1,969,089
168,158

7.3% 7.4% 7.0% 6.7% 7.0% 6.8%

Council of Juvenile Court Judges

847,005

911,803

7.7%

1,023,530

12.3%

Institute of Continuing Judicial Education (Total) Operations Magistrate Courts Training Council

634,322 498,322 136,000

647,450 509,750 137,700

2.1% 2.3% 1.3%

652,490 513,260 139,230

0.8% 0.7% 1.1%

Judicial Council Operations Board of Court Reporting Case Counting Council of Magistrate Court Judges Council of Probate Court Judges Council of State Court Judges Council of Superior Court Clerks Appellate Resource Center Computerized Information Network

2,061,454 986,713 40,241 76,500 26,000 20,000 12,000 0 240,000 660,000

2,389,352 1,269,363
41,689 76,500 26,000 20,000 12,000 33,800 250,000 660,000

15.9% 28.6%
3.6% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 4.2% 0.0%

1,802,442 1,262,686
70,756 76,500 26,700 20,000 12,000 33,800 300,000
0

-24.6% -0.5% 69.7% 0.0% 2.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 20.0%
-100.0%

Judicial Qualifications Commission

139,258

146,228

5.0%

148,808

1.8%

Indigent Defense Council

1,009,958

1,000,000

-1.0%

2,000,000

100.0%

Georgia Courts Automation Commission (Total)

0

Operations

0

Computerized Information Network

0

0

0

1,244,331

0

0

0

561,763

0

0

0

682,568

0

Judicial Branch Totals

$60,828,071

$63,674,960

4.7%

$69,625,272

9.3%

---------- Appropriations ----------
The total state budget rose by 6.3 percent for fiscal year 1994; appropriations to the judicial branch increased by 9.3 percent. The judicial branch budget includes funds for 14 superior court judgeships and related positions that cannot be filled until final settlement of federal voting-rights litigation. No new judgeships were approved by the General Assembly in 1994.

10

State Judicial Branch Budget Units: Funds Available and Expenditures Fiscal Year 1994

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

$5,131,909 86,400
5,218,309 77,458 539,761

$5,778,182 41,704
5,819,886 0
59,261

$48,888,332 -1,330,000 47,558,332 1,770,839 1,922,704

$911,803 0
911,803 304,149
3,165

$639,950 7,500
647,450 6,689
115,346

$2,286,773 102,579
2,389,352 445,157 155,614

$146,228 0
146,228 0 0

$1,000,000 0
1,000,000 56,230
1,926,143

$64,783,177 -1,091,817 63,691,360 2,660,522 4,721,994

$5,835,528 $5,879,147 $51,251,875 $1,219,117 $769,485 $2,990,123 $146,228 $2,982,373 $71,073,876

Expenditures

Personal Services

$4,245,086

Regular Operating Expenses 447,852

Travel

38,189

Equipment Purchases

137,574

Computer Charges

188,183

Real Estate Rentals

302,355

Telecommunications

47,837

Per Diem, Fees & Contracts 347,422

$5,110,448 120,071 24,427 142,159 123,614 242,187 39,356 21,393

$45,516,809 1,595,062 570,396 44,560 216,662 138,896 43,872 1,410,976

$520,752 436,723 36,698 2,429 17,417 44,167 16,309 144,517

$0 $1,100,269

162,169 154,965

0

23,147

8,213

25,943

25,228 1,150,045

0

33,996

0

16,651

573,605 477,070

$101,491 17,480 4,240 1,162 367 5,206 1,289 13,584

$893,644 1,562,622
28,468 461
14,522 40,084 15,743
8,483

$57,476,635 4,494,716 723,394 363,187 1,735,876 807,037 181,718 3,006,421

Total Expenditures

$5,754,498 $5,823,655 $49,537,233 $1,219,012 $769,215 $2,982,086 $144,819 $2,564,027 $68,788,984

Five-Year Comparison of State Judicial Budget (1991-1995)

Fiscal Year

Total State Appropriation

Percent Change

Judicial Appropriation

Percent Change

Percent of State Budget

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

$7,461,512,616 $7,552,871,790 $8,252,216,454 $9,201,886,925 $9,785,260,431

-2.4% 1.2% 9.3% 11.5% 6.3%

$56,234,292 $56,004,791 $60,828,071 $63,674,960 $69,625,272

7.7% -0.4% 8.6% 4.7% 9.3%

0.75% 0.74% 0.74% 0.69% 0.71%

11

- - - - - - - - - Georgia's Judicial Districts, Circuits and Counties --'----------

Georgia Judicial Districts
Circuit Boundary
County Boundary o
I miles

_
_
_
50 I

GRADY

THOMAS

Judicial Council of Georgia
12

THECOUJRTS
- - - - - - About Filing and Disposition Figures - - - - - -
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.
Therefore, this report should not be used to evaluate or compare judicial performance.
13

- - - - - - - - - - - Supreme Court - - - - - - ' - - - - - - - - -
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 (mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, etc.), divorce and alimony, all cases certified to it by the Court of Appeals and all cases in which a sentence of death was imposed or could be imposed. Additionally, the Supreme Court may answer any question of law from any state or federal appellate court and may review by certiorari cases in the Court of Appeals which are of gravity or great public importance.
Terms of court begin in January, April and September. Oral arguments are heard each month, except 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, has charge of the court's records and keeps it minutes. 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 the superior, state, juvenile, probate and magistrate 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 supervises the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism. The commission's primary charge is to ensure that the practice of law remains a high calling, enlisted in the service not only of the client, but the public good as well.
The Supreme Court caseload for calendar years 1992 and 1993 is shown on the next page.
14

Supreme Court Caseload: 1992 and 1993

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

1992
534 658
117 226
48 132
22 7 21 7 2 10
1,784

1993
580 721
122 249
57 140
7 23 30 3 7
2
1,938

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 Denied Granted Stricken from docket Bar admissions Judicial qualifications Attorney discipline By opinion By order
Total

1992
305 1 98 30 77 2 79
526 3 39 8
104 7 6
142' 34 9
27 11
3 22
* * *
5 5
45 5 32 6
1,630 7

1993
344 8 1279
29 128 10 72
634 11 99 12 19
93 1 9
175 13 46 30 14
21 15 16 15
*
11 7 1 5 2
29 18
1,931

1 In 1992, 305 appeals were disposed of by 268 written opinions. 2 Includes 1 case remanded and 8 returned to the Court of Appeals. 3 Includes 13 writs vacated as improvidently granted. Includes 3 denied applications for interim appellate review. 5 In 1992, 45 complaints were disposed of by 37 written opinions. 6 In 1992, 32 complaints were disposed of by 31 orders. 7 Includes 9 cases removed or stricken from the docket. 8 In 1993, 425 appeals were disposed of by 344 written opinions. 9 Includes 1 appeal affirmed without opinion, with direction. 10 Includes 2 cases remanded and 24 returned to the Court of Appeals. 11 Includes 10 writs vacated as improvidently granted. 12 Includes 11 writs granted and remanded to the Court of Appeals. 13 Includes 2 applications for Interim Appellate Review. 14 Includes 16 applications transferred to the Court of Appeals. 15 Includes 9 applications transferred to the Court of Appeals . No statistics kept.

15

- - - - - - - - - - Court of Appeals --~-------
The Georgia Court of Appeals has constitutional jurisdiction over appeals from trial 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 chief judge of the court, usually the most senior judge who has not served as chief judge, is elected by the court to a two-year term. The chief judge appoints three presiding judges, usually the most senior, to head each panel.
Panel decisions are final unless a judge dissents. If, after a hearing by the full court the judges are equally divided, the case is transferred for decision 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 beginning 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.
The Court of Appeals provides 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 clarification of the issues of a case prior to docketing with the Court of Appeals. The settlement conference chief judge and other settlement conference judges located throughout the state consider those cases assigned to the settlement conference.
On January 1, 1994, the Court of Appeals created the position of clerk/court administrator to handle the increasing administrative requirements of the court as well as the increasing caseload. The clerk/court administrator assists the chief judge and oversees the clerk's office.
During fiscal year 1994, the court began using central staff attorneys to screen cases. The attorneys check for proper jurisdiction, timeliness of filing notice, and proper form and filing of application.
Court ofAppealsfilings and dispositionsfor calendar years 1992 and 1993 are compared in the table on the next page. Statistics for fiscal
year 1994 for Settlement Conference cases are also given.
16

Court of Appeals Caseload: 1992 and 1993

Filed
Appeals Discretionary applications Interlocutory applications
Total

1992
2,455 471 486
3,412

1993
2,601 479 450
3,530

Disposed
Appeals 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

1992
2,065 433
89 334
34 0 0 5
462
172 277 31
0 1 481
3,441

1993
2,183 512
127 296
51 0 1 4
479
142 247 49
1 0 440
3,614

Appellate Settlement Conference: Fiscal Year 1994

Cases settled

23

Cases terminated

38

Pending

10

Total cases

71

17

- - - - - - - - - - - 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. The exclusive jurisdiction of this courtalso 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 ranging in size from one to 27 counties. 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, 1994, 145 judges served in Georgia's 159 superior courts.
Graphs on page 19 show total, civil, criminal and average per judge filings and dispositions for calendar years 1989 through 1993. Caseload
data for the superior courts for calendar year 1993 by circuit and case type is presented in the table on pages 20 and 21.
18

Superior Court Filing and Disposition Trends, 1989-1993

Total filings/ dispositions

CY 1989

Filings - - - - Dispositions - -
2W868

CY 1990 293,026

CY 1991 306,724

CY 1992 306,931 305,647

CY 199.3 303,304 297,065
I

300,000 280,000

260,000

Civil filings/ dispositions

188,04"8'1;---"""-'-"-1=8"6"",2--3:.4..--- 188,083

/ 180,432 /
/ /
/
/

187,417 186214 - - --

,

184,212

//176,722

/
167,7.30 /
/ / /
/162,429

190,000 180,000 170,000

Criminal filings/

dispositions

112,594

119,307

120,697
- - .........

- - -119,433 ............

/'

'

/ / 116,799

/ / /

102,138

/ ;'

;'

;'

;'

;'

97,969

/107,062

115,221
<,
112,853

120,000 110,000 100,000

Average per judge,
total filings/
dispositions*

*The average per judge has been calculated using the number of judgeships filled, rather than the number of authorized positions. From fiscal year 1989 through 1994, a number of judgeship positions remained unfilled due to litigation concerning judicial elections.

1,956

CY 1989

2,175

CY 1990

CY 1991

CY 1992

2,092 2,049
CY 1993

2,200 2,000 1,800

19

Superior Court Caseload, Calendar Year 1993 (docket entries)

Circuit

# of Judges

Total Criminal

Filed

Disposed

Felony

Filed

Disposed

Misdemeanor

Filed

Disposed

Probation Revocation

Filed

Disposed

Alapaha

2

Alcovy

2

Appalachian

2

Atlanta

Ti

3,980 4,698 1,338
i i,32j'"

3,942 4,565 1,161
; 2,469'

1,275
1,620
425 S",i:iS5

1,239
1,488
362
9~b3'S'

2,624

2,622

2,319

2,324

626

515

183' '279" ...

81
759
287 "3;155' ..

81
753
284 3,"1"S5"

Atlantic
ABulugeusRtaidge

3
35

1,240
3U,5'5809

1,139

.

3,011 '''''141"'''

981
2,'2i068i

880 1,738 '766"

55

55

204

204

6'272i

532 69











"7i5i9i













37"4i.12

Brunswick

4

Chattaho()chee.... 4

Cherokee

3

Clayton

4

Cobb

7

Conasauga"i

2,292

2,428

1,574

1,701

402

411

3,530..... ..3,3.85..

2,643

2,796

. .. .2.,4.1.3.2p.8.

850

912

803

793

904

1,000

2,968

3,042

1,852

1,925

76

77

4,968

4,908

2,240 2;6gij

3,784 829'

3,853 688

i18408"

140 '779'

316

316

31~

3.14..

889

884

1,040

1,040

1,036

915

63i" '63i"'

Cordele

2

1,636

1,621

611

Coweta ijou'ghe~ty""

232.

,

9

.

1.5. 1,865

Douglas

2

2,517

2.-869. 1,775
2,440

.2.,185 1,174
759

Dublin Eastern Enotah
Flint Griffin Gwinnett Houston
Lookout Mountairi'

2...... 4 2
2........ 3 6
2 4

.1,2.60. 3,884

. 1.'.1.85. 4,060

608 2,417

1,023

1,339

236

1/?66 3,216

1A~4 2,712

?1.6 1,856

2,682

2,780

1,842

1,203

1,140

803

2,610 .. ...... 2;188.. ........,.,013

Macon
Middle Mountain Northeastern
.Northern.. Ocmulgee Oconee Ogeechee p'ati;ufa .

4
2 2 3
2.......... 3 2 2
. .. i ..

3,058

2,987

1/3.50. 977

..1,3.~9 985

1,723

1,842

.1,~70. . 1.,.425

3,155

2,990

1,499

1,540

1,402

1,241

1,232" .. '1',345 ..

1,862
1,2,33 510 932
696 1,613
694 1,032
54 i

Piedmont

2

.R.o..c.k.d.a.l.e..

2

Rome

3

South Georgia

2

1,558

1,430

638

583

654

338

2,826

3,092

740

1,085

1,052

530

Southern South~e~t~~~

3

.3/2.1.8

2.,961

2" ..

1,931

1,819

lA82. 642

Stone Mountain

9

Tallapoosa

3

Tifton ........ .. .... 2"

6,756

6,398

4,252

2,164

2,083

749

i)igi" ...... ;;659.... .... .. 6"19'"

593

498

500

527

528

2,13.9....

274

274

1,093

305

296

456..

456

386

386

677

1,158

1,163

600

600

610 2,564
360 6~~ 1,575 1,895
751 929

466

387

100

129

585

777

~.~9

17?

1,072

849

6

8

208

201

..1 , o 6 4 . . . . g i " i

1.86..... 1,367
202
410 288 834
192 593

188 1,367
202 3.9~.. 288 877
188 '''347''

1,810
1,23.2 501
1,064

138

119

a

...0..

79

97

419

419

1,058
117 388 372

1,058
11.1 387 359

609 1,513
685 891
.. 6 ' ' ' 1 ' '

390

341

1,407

1,342

555

633

18

21

.. .. .. 454" s ; i

484 135 250 352
.. 'iji .

475 135 222 329
.. .. ii2' .

605 426 761 519 . 1,6?3 605
3,894 697 6'47'

573
a.
1,683
229

478
a
1,794
210

),67 605
a

390..... 530
a

...1.,0i4s1i ...... 1",i0i"138'

347 245 403 326
969 684
2,504 374
i;5....

347 . 228
537 323 ~98.. 684
2,504 368
.... '199"

Toombs Waycross Western

2

1,745

1,832

605

662

3

1,462

1,483

833

874

2

1,500

1,558

972

995

891

921

249

249

187

177

442

432

136

171

392

392

Total

145

Average per Judge*

115,221 795

112,853 778

63,696 439

61,977 427

25,158 174

24,955 172

26,367 182

25,921 179

*Based on 145 superior court judges

20

Superior Court Caseload, Calendar Year 1993 (docket entries)

Total Civil Filed Disposed

General Civil Filed Disposed

Domestic Relations

Filed

Disposed

Total Caseload

Total Open

Filed

Disposed Caseload

Circuit

1,733
4,091
1,586 '1'4;21 1"

1,676

535

4,274

1,150

1,543

599

"1 0~55'1'" ' 4 ; 8 7 2

500
1,341
622 '2;673'"

1,198
2,941
987 '9,":345' .

1,176
2,933
921 . 7;il18

5,713
8,789
2,924 2"6;540'"

5,618

2,466

8,839

4,299

2,704

1,799

i3,020 14,9"77

Alapaha Alcovy Appalachian
Atfariia'" .

3,215
10,284 '2;957'

3,205 9,449
. '2/7'i2

883

921

2,332

2,306

1,998

7,978

816 762" '2,"1"4f

2,284

4,455

4,344

7,451

13,873

12,460

2;c>i"6 4,"1"67" 3,913

1,341

Atlantic

i7,,h2664 ABuiugeusRtaidge

4,717

4,745

1,243

1,357

6,309

5,956

1,709

1,427

.. j;82"1 3;3441 ;574 "i;4M

3,474

3,388

4,600

4,529

2;24i (94::3"

7,009

7,173

2,294

Brunswick

.....

9,839 6;464

..



9,341 6,"1"40..



4,723 3,047

Chattahoochee
Ch"erokee

4,121

4,158

9,160

8,867

.. j;996" ... j;859'

631
"U1,869"81"'

760

3,490

1,976

7,262

.., ;242".. .. '2,S3!;"

3,398
6,891 ... 2;61"7"

7,089

7,200

14,128

13,775

6,236 .... 5,9'57"

1,684

Clayton

5,430 . 3",:200' .... '"

'CCoo'bnbasauga

2,397

2,359

6,291

6,478

.. j~96'6""" .4;21"0..

661

630

1,736

1,563

1,656

4,728

6i1 833 "3;295'

1,729 4,822
3;3i7'

4,033
9,206 '5;831"'"

3,980
9,347 'S,985

719

Cordele

3,077

Coweta

. i",ij"30 '" 'O'ough"erty"

600

2,858

3,132

1,378

2,797

2,714

700

671

',4;269" ..... 5;240 "1 ;505 '2;,05

1,718
2,097 . '2,"764""

1,480
2,043 3~ 13'5'"

1,414
4,057 . '8,"153

5,375 3,899
.... 'i,3'OCY

5,572

Douglas

.

1,302 2",520





DEuabslitnern

1,566

1,641

608

693

4,255

4,519

1,740

2,024

. S;05"8 '.4;a07 i ;663 "; ;539"

958 2,515 .. "3;395'

948 2,495 3',268'

2,589 5,821 '8;274'"

2,980 6,053 . 7,5;9

754
43,)8'426i

Enotah
'" FClinrltffln ..

8,047

6,446

2,836

2,954

2,809

998

. 4;61:3 3;ilii1' '850'

2,264
778 ..... '755

5,211

4,182

1,956

2,031

.. "3;1'63 .. 3",1:2"6'

10,729
4,157 .... '6;623

9,226
3,949 .... 6,069"

3,171

Gwinnett

2,638 .. 2",839 '"

"HLooouksotount "Mtrl.

4,679
2,238 .. 1;95'7

4,149
2,076 2; 11"6' .. . .

1,589
543 565

1,265
468i 8'3

3,090
1,695 '1;392

2,884
1i ;,4598"78"

7,737
3,588 . . . . '2;934'

7,136
3,425 3,095'

4,233
1.,4iS937

Macon
'MMiodudnlteain'

3,471

3,350

2,608

2,427

3,8M" ..... 3;71"3

2,221

2,137

3,653

3,615

. '1;77:3" '2;14'0'"

902 879 .. 1;785'
649 910 '500'

951 813 "';718
614 877 '606"

2,569

2,399

5,194

1,729

1,614

4,178

.. '2,01 6 ' f , 9 9 ' 5 " '6;9S6"

1,572

1,523

3,720

2,743

2,738

"606 . '1',273" ..

5,055 . ,,.;534"

5,192 3,852 6,703" .
3,677 4,856 3",005

1,778 2,702 . 2,129'
810 987 '3)18S

Northeastern
'ONocmrthueigrnee
Oconee Ogeechee '" Piltaulil

2,616 1,739 . '2;86S"

2,855 1,880
'i;786'

841 474 963

956 624 '980'"

1,775

1,899

1,265

1,256

1;<.ios "1,806"

4,174

4,285

2,322

2,534

. 5;694 'S,878

1,893

Piedmont

903 '2",4"54

RRoocmkdeale

.

2,452
6,325 '1 ;871"

2,414

709

5,968

1,542

1;888 '712'

715
1,450 '558

1,743
4,783 '" '1;165"

1,699

3,537

4,518

9,543

.. 1;330 .. "3;868"'"

3,466
8,929 3'/07"

1,064
3,639 1,2"39

South Georgia Southern
'Southwesiern

11,663
3,300 .. "2;154'

14,953
3,113
'i~16'5"

1,889

2,768

1,360

1,286

605 654..

9,774
1,940 '1;549'

12,185
1,827 1,51'1"

18,419
5,464 "3;245'

21,351
5,196 3',2"24'

4,158

Stone Mountain

3,014

Tallapoosa

1",647'" 'tiftorj' .

1,614 3,503 2,893

1,598 3,413 2,827

497 1,280 1,095

522 1,329 1,107

1,117 2,223 1,798

1,076 2,084 1,720

3,359 4,965 4,393

3,430 4,896 4,385

1,363 2,214 1,941

Toombs Waycross Western

188,083 184,212

1,297

1,270

54,839 378

53,540 369

133,244 919

130,672 901

303,304 2,092

297,065 2,049

126,686 874

Total Average

21

- - - - - - - - - - - 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 1994, 64 state courts operated in 65 counties. One state court serves Cherokee and Forsyth counties. Of the 91 authorized judgeships, 90 are filled; 44 are full-time and 46 are part-time. The 1994 General Assembly created a state court in Fayette County and added a state court judgeship in Fulton 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.
State court caseload information is presented on the following pages.
22

State Court Caseload, Calendar Year 1993 (number of defendants)

County

Misdemeanor Filed Disposed Open

Traffic Filed Disposed Open

Civil Filed Disposed Open

Total Filed Disposed Open

Appling Baldwin Bibb 'Bro~;k~

* *
5,.416
*

*

*

*

7,247 .. 2~!69.5

*

*

*
... .7,4~.9. *

* 5,544 ....8,.029.

*
*
. ...1.,.292..
*

* .1 !52.0
*

* * 2,526

*
14!2~7
*

*
* 1.4,3.1. ~
*

*
*
32,250
*

Bryan

240

62

170

5,883 5,541

527

48

35

92

6,171

5,638

789

.BuB.och Burke

*.

*

~

*

~.*

*

672

588

84

2,032 1,867

165

125

*

18

2,829 2,562

267

Candler Carroll'

*

*

*

*

*

*

51;3. . . 5~6

NlA

.. 5,17.1 1,88.8

NlA

*

*

620 . 643

NlA

*

. 6,3(J4

(),()~!.

NlA

Chatham

2,018 1,714

726

1,198 1,063

988

2,173 1,674 2,339

5,389 4,451 4,053

Chattooga

*

*

.Cherok.ee!Fo.rsyth~ ..1?,.69!. . . . NlA

NlA

Clarke

942

856

86

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

!'VA .. NlA . N/A

NlA

NlA

NlA

1.'.559 654

~A. 520

NlA

19,256

NlA

'"34 .. 1~596 '''',376

NlA 220

Clayton

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Clinch Cobb

*

*

*.

*

*

*

*

.*

*

*

7,846 9,228

NlA

69,663 63,123

NlA 22,258 22,851

NlA

99,767 95,202

NlA

Coffee
cCoo'w~eutmilY

*

*

...., ,665*' .... 849' ..... 156* ' .

8,662

8,b~i2

*
'570

*

*

*

*

*

.2'1 S* ..10',24*1 9,2'97*' 944

Decatur

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

DeKalb Dougherty"

8,.556 9!23.6

NlA

3,270 3,023

247

.3P.1. . . 2!55.4 ... NlA .... 5.5,.583... 4~!52.6

NlA

7,467 7,244

223

810

639 171

.68P1.0 ... 52!3.~ 6.... NlA

11,547 10,906

641

Early

369

342

24

1,543 1,498

57

14

8

13

1,926 1,848

94

.Effingh.al11
Elbert

~22

3~3 . . . 129

823

760

63

3!27.1 . .2!82.9

1,033

734

.4.4.2........ 279

299

90

. 201 68

78

. 4,072 .. 3,.42 3.... 649

22

1,946 1,562

384

Emanuel
.Evans Fulton

1.95

1.4:~.. . .. 1.7

*

~5~ ..

528

..n

*

.*

*

*

*

~~..

15 .. 8 ...

.!:'F

()~1

5.~

20,149 8,167

NlA

26,121 15,946

NlA 89,936 31,594 NlA 136,206 55,707

NlA

Glynn

13 ,987 13,187

NlA

424

389 NlA

14,411 13,576

NlA

.Gra.dy~.
Gwinne

t

t







,'.2,214653'

130 10,584

... N3i3A

177 .....3.8..... 23
5,592 5,379

15 NlA

....

11,752 7~Sj7'

151,,956237'

2N2lA5

Habersham

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

.H.all Houston

5,.908 5!22} 5!27.4

5,96.5 5!65.8 .3,.648.

887

721 ..1,3.51 .1 P.60 ... . 1.1,(jq2 ....1.0,27.3

2,111 1,926

540

13,248 13,445 1,294

793

747 861

16,152 16,118 2,695

jackson .Jeff Davis . . jefferson

*

*

*

*

*

.*

*

.*

321

.3.1.5

~

J8() . . 638

142

.. 46 ..... 41

5

*

*

*

*

. 994

153.

.*

jenkins

108

93

15

1,443 1,416

27

25

21

4

1,576 1,530

46

'LLoibnegrt.y.......... ...'**' .... .. ..,j,........*...... ...*

. .*. .. ... .. '*' .... ..... *, .... ... '*

;.c, ..

..... **, ...
*

Lowndes Melntosh
'MiHe~

24,509 21,272

'61'0292'

.. 1.39 118

3,237 236 11

5 !44.4 .. .. 1!432

879

869

431

.. 1.,.449. ......N..!R...

10

4

295 136
N!R ..NIR 4

24,940
6P.46
1,012

21,567
.4,l:l~~ 991

3,373
1 !68.5 21

Mitchell Muscogee 'Pierce'

452

393

59

'* 3,805'*" 3,408 3.9"7*

1,567
3,4"0'8*

1,476

91

3,364

326

'i' "*'

.. 22

10

12

2,041

1,879

162

..9.9.9*" .5..7'4*" ..4.2.5*' ....8.,.2.1'2*' ....7.,.3..46*" 1,148

Putnam
Richmond Rockdaie"
Screven
'SSpteaplhdeinngs

191
3,.962 1,253
277 1,205
515..

191 3!4~4. 1,130
262
1,145 395

NlA

655

655

NlA

N!R

498

22,060 .20!82.4. . .1.,.236..

887

86.27;28j 7,348 1,103

411

15

1,381

1,351

30

43

60

2,810 2,671

139

345

"Tio' 1;6i'857' .... .214174

N!R N!R

846

846

NlA

511

376 .....26!9~9 .... 2.4,7.99..... 2!11.0

407 219

8,947 8,885 2,184

27

16

1,701

1,640

61

179 166

4,360 3,995

365

127 . "47 ... 117'66 ',3'79 '38'"

Sumter

1,086 1,049

37

Tattnall Thomas
Tift

205

11:)7

.1.8

2,000

NlA

120

3,354 2,378

976

Toombs
Treuile~'

489. .. 451

3.8

408

403

5

Troup

3,782 3,576

206

Walker

4,205 3,221

984

m~.............

*

*

1,784
1?4.2 2,000 9,645
1!657 .. 2,143
NlA

1,755
1,70.5 NlA
6,827
1!6.1.0 2,091
5,652

.

9

63

.37

65

220

124

2,818

113

"is" 47...

84

52 ....

NlA

304

140

43

20

55

10

NlA

34

60

53

5.2 .. 32

6

12

121

183

76

64

2,933 2,847

66

... 2J9.1.2. .1J~.4!. .. 65

4,124

NlA

374

13,112 9,265 3,847

. .2!23. 0 ..... 2.,.n.~.. 117

2,569 2,500

69

4,086 9,349

389

4,345 3,297 1,048

*

23

State Court Caseload, Calendar Year 1993 (number of defendants)

Misdemeanor

County

Filed Disposed Open

Filed

............

..........

Washington Wayne .W..o.r.th

*

*

*

348

298

.5.0........ ..2,.625.

Traffic

Civil

Disposed Open Filed Disposed Open .......... ,

.2(3?1. . ......2.7.4

43 . .....2..3........20

Total

131,267 108,240 14,519 213,331 190,917 14,965 182,296 106,669 4,705

Total Filed Disposed Open
*
.3(01(; ...2P.~. 344
526,894 405,826 34,189

Note: 42 of 65 state courts submitted case load data as of December 31, 1994.
[*] Caseload data not submitted. [-J Misdemeanor and traffic filings combined. [NJA] Data elements not available. [N/R] Civil cases not heard.
1 Carroll County: misdemeanor and traffic data from 7/1/93 to 6/30/94. 2 Cherokee and Forsyth Counties, a combined court, reported filings only; misdemeanor and traffic are combined. 3 Coweta County: open cases from 1/1/93 to 12/31/93 only. 4 Grady County: disposition data from 1/1/93 to 12/31/93; prior open caseload not included.

24

- - - - - - - - - - - Juvenile Courts - - - - - - - - - - -
The purpose of Georgia's juvenile courts is to protect the well-being of children, provide guidance and control conducive to child 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. Recent legislation gives the superior court jurisdiction over juveniles who commit violent felonies. 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 53 full- and part-time juvenile court judges. In counties or circuits with no separate juvenile court judge, superior court judges hear juvenile cases. Juvenile court judges serve by appointment of the superior court judges of the circuit for four-year terms. (The juvenile court judge of Floyd County is the only elected juvenile court judge.) 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.
To assist the juvenile or superior court judge with juvenile cases, 32 associate juvenile court judges serve in 42 counties. Associate judges must be admitted to the State Bar or have graduated from law school. Legislation passed in the 1994 session of the General Assembly changes the qualifications of associate judges appointed after July 1, 1994, to the same as those for juvenile court judges.
Juvenile court caseload information is presented on the following pages.
25

Juvenile Court Caseload, Calendar Year 1993 (number of children)

County

Grand Totals Filed Disposed Open

Appling Atkinson Bacon
i3'~ke~ ..
Baldwin Banks Barrow Bartow
Ben Hill Berrien Bi bb Bleckley Bra.'ritley"

85 N!R N!R 35 N!R N!R 14 N!R N!R

6 N!R N!R

0

o0

140

130

10

8

7

1

8

8

0 15 15

0

9

9

0

0

o0

40

39

1

37 39

9

9

4

5

5

0 " . 0..... 0

0 0

1 2

1 2

0 19 22 0 14 14

3 0

0 0

o.......0..........6.2...... 67

o0

25

25

7 0

289 213 75 30 22

8 63 50 13 118 87 31 10

1

8

510

373

135

31 28

7

6

5

1 14 11

3 12

8

7

1

1

0

191182 17 58 58

0 61 67

0 66 84 26

3

1

0

64 .......5.3.........1.8..

379

392

43

497 334 163 238 201 37 198 185 13 267 230 37 122 95 27

1,322 1,045

277

1~1.... 1.5l?. 5.... 4.8 .... 4;8..... 0...... 9. 9

05352

.1.......1 .. 1

0 .....2.7..2... 266.

6.

43 23 20 134 104 30 22 21

1

8

6

2

4

3

1

211

157

54

1,965 1,850 115 132 130

2 212 211

1 187 150 27 710 600 110 3,206 2,941

255

66 63 14

4

.. 3'7' ....42 ...... 4.. 9

3 9

....

1 j ......

3 3......

'13

......02

1 ....;4

..

3 j 3. . . . . .

'03

0 o0

74

70

0 .. 0 0 ' .. 6'3 ........67..

17 8

Brooks
Bryan Btinodi

60 53

7 14 14

0

2

1

1 40 35

5 19 1 7

87 85 27 40 43

4 29 36

4 11 12

0

0

227 2;5" 20 .. 46 .... 48'" ..0 .... 43.... 4 2 2 .... ';3" '1:5' . '1" "0'

.oO

Burke

217 123 126

3. 1

3 12 12

6 53 51

7

0

o

B..u.t.t.s...........1..1.8......7.2... 46

16

8

8 ....2.1..... 14

7 60 60 . 0 . 0

o

Calhoun

***

*

****

*

Camden
Cand ler
Carro,"I'

154 143 13 15
590 580

11 107 103

4 23 23

0 79 70

0 ..3 .....3 ......0 . ....1.......1.......0.......3...... 5

10 157 132 25 221 221

0 194 188

9 83 74
ooo
6 274 272

Catoosa

**

Charlton ..... 42 43

..... * * * *
1 .. 1.0 .....1.0.....

***

*

6.......6 ......0 .... .23. 21 .. .2.

0

0

Chatham 1,619 1,185 434 397 202 195 430 414 16 384 310 74 13 11

Chattahoochee 13 23

3

4

5

1

0

0

0

2

2

0

3

3

2?.. C:hattooga.......

Cherokee

407

23

4

7

7

2'70137';69 .. 113

..

0 56

..

72 70

2

287'2i'86g ..

24 22

2

2'20170'~;6

....

429i

26 42

2

135

120

15

00

316i97

176

35

'320' . . '23'

0

285

187

142

0

215 .

154 .

61

*

9

446

413

33

o

20 .

24 .

o

2 1,436 1,393

43

*

*

*

0

81 ......80 .... 3

2 2,843 2,122

721

8

22

33

12

3

159

148

11

5 .. i;i3'O8i3 3';7

Clarke

653 627 26 450 436 14 133 133

0 195 188

7 31 28

3 1,462 1,412

50

Clay Clayton

17 14

3

8

8

0

4

4

0

9

9

0

0

0

0

38

35

3

'i)'04' i',;'54' '3;16S'" '38'6" 'i04 i,i34' "5i3' 'ii '4',356 '837' "651' 'Ui'i "i36'" '70' '248'" 3;51'6.. '(997 "i'i"'i.';

Clinch

42 42

0

0

0

0

4

4

0 14 13

1

1

1

0

61

60

1

Cobb

2,509 .1,,7.28. 781 839 601 236 .1,,818.1,572 .. 24;4 .1/169 807 262.... 1~4 .. 1,36.. 58 ... 6,429 ....4:,.~44.....1.,5.81.

COff~~ ........ i2'8 71 57 100 21 79 84 32 52 26

5 21

0

0

0

338

129

209

Colquitt
CCooolukm' bia
Coweta

**

**

**

429 456 49
213 .. "NiR'" N!R

128 37

1.3.0........7....1..4.7.. 146 N!R N!R 67 N!R

11 N!R

18 16

7

12 N!R N!R

465 438 27 35 35

0 122 122

o 386 356 30

.1.7......1.5...... 0 000
000

739.
329 1,008

*

763 . 74

0

o

951

57

CCrr'aiswpford

.....

j

15 88'"

16 188

11 0

1 35

1 35

157
0 '27'''' 2'7

9 11 11
o 74 '74

6
o

1

.1. . . . . . . .0. .

000

33 ...3.6....... 27

324

324

o

Dade

42 41

1 10

6

4 13 12

1 34 29

5

220

101

90

11

Dawson

*****

*

*

*

*

*

*

beK<.ilb ...... i,93.,.. .. 'NiA" "NlA"l ,OS'6'" NiA' NiA" "99' NlA NlA 1,2'72 NlA "Nip.;" i80" "NlANIA 6,530 .... "NiA NlA

Decatur

187 183

4 13 11

2 43 43

0 42 41

1

1

1

0

286

279

7

Dodge booly

96 93 .. 45 .. 22'

220628"21'

..

02

..

16 3

..



18 ..3

6

5

4

1

1

0

1

120

0 ..404'5 .... .,.. .. 02' .. 97

117

28

73.... .. '35

Dougherty 1,860 1,860 NlA 10

Douglas Eariy.. ..

486 i3g

..

199 i'3g

...

.2N8iA7....

1446

10 NlA 410 410 NlA 135 135 NlA 22 22 NlA 2,437 2,437

NlA

87 4

...

.N5iA9 .... 14io3..

92 10

51 160 81
NiA ......OO

..

N7I9;\

.....1.3O......

O9 "'NlA4

.

.

...

.9is4'83

....

.

.

468 ,,,,53 . . . .

.

.

4N8iA0'

Echols

9 18

7

2

3

0

0

0

Effingham

173167

6 50 50

0103103

i:ibe'ri'" "'j2'9"','27" 13...... 9 ......5 ...... 4.... 6S.... 61

0

3

3

0

0

0

0

'05'

15 13

14 j4......

21

....00

..



0 0

0 "'0

14

24

7

..

234i'16

.

.

.

...

334 '207 . . .

.

7 ....24

Emanuel

16 17

4

0

1

0

0

0

0 22 38

7

0

0

FEaviairniisri

........

83 2'g

.

.

..

83 '3i

..

10 31 ;3 .... 48

27 2

9

2

4 i.

...

1;26....

16 ,5

2 ......4

...

.

25 '34 . . . .

25 29.

...

4 ,8

0 ......0.

.

0 0

0

38

56

11

0

155

0'12'3

.

...

151 104.

.

.....

.5206

Fayette

224 218

6 161 153

8 311 302

9 159 143

Floyd

482417 65373305 68296274 22 103 89

Forsyth........ 30S .. 2'SO .... 2S 91 "'86 ....,.' ....,.70 iso .... 2'0 .... 50.... '39

16 37 36

1

14344280 64
'i'1' 1515.... 0

892

852

40

1,598 1,365

233

631 ...... 564...... 67

Franklin Fulton Gilmer

68 61 14

5

4

1 26 23

3 20 25 17

9

3

2

9,483 6,411 4,240 1,118 727 765 1,412 1,185 288 1,358 1,066 658 594 404 365

20 13 14 17 13

8

6

3

3 19 16 12

1

0

2

128 13,965
63

116 9,793
45

37 6,316
39

26

Juvenile Court Caseload, Calendar Year 1993 (number of children)

County

Delinquent

I

Unruly

I

Traffic

I

Deprived

I I Special Proceedings

Grand Totals

Filed Disposed Open Filed Disposed Open Filed Disposed Open Filed Disposed Open Filed Disposed Open Filed Disposed Open

Glascock

6

6

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

2

o0

0

7

7

2

Glynn

677 677 NlA 228 228 NlA 194 194 NlA 82 82 NlA

8

8 NlA

1,189 1,189

NlA

Gordon Grady

71.1./? 1.94 N!R 90 .1~1.. N!R ?:* 19.8 t";l/R 245 185~. o 8 N!R

8.1.:;

736

/?9

102 97

5

0

0

0

8

8

0 28 28

0

o

0

0

138

133

5

Greene

107114 23 16 15

4 27 30

6

0

2

0

4

3

0

154

164

33

(Jyyinr:t!'!~~ .... 7A~~ .. ..I'J!A.... !\VA ... 9.1.6 ...J\lI.A.....I'J(A..1,~?q ... NJ:A J\lI.A.....~~? ..!\VA ... NJ:A. ~.?2 ..!\VA. "VA

Habersham 108 101 20 23 25

7 59 56

3 80 77

7

o0

0

f>/?Q~ 270

I'J(A I'J(A.

259

37

Hall

718 542 176 385 346 39 495 451 44 215 171 44

2

0

0 1,815 1,510

303

Hancock

-? 5 .;3 .Q 9 9. .O.Q. ..9 ~ J.l.. ...q. ..9 9 Q. . ..1.4

1f>

~.

Haralson

68 68 13 30 21 11 10 10

1 31 34 35 11

8

4

150

141

64

Harris Hart
. Hea~d'

23 34 16 10 18

8 22 24 15

3

3 12

6

6

6

64

85

57

66 62 10 11 10
****

*' ..1 22 17 **

5 17 **

9 10
**

o

0 ...0........1..1.6....... 98

*

*

26 *

Henry

257240 17162160 2 52 51

1 25 19

6 44 42

2

540

512

28

Houston Irwin

1p29 ..1.'.011. 23 21

8 6.1.6 6.1.1

2

2

2

5 28(, .. 285 0 26 23

1 1.73 167 3 22 20

07 24

7 4

O 0

2!l()2. 77

'

.2,.0.8710"

...

..

14 7

jackson
j.;t~pe.r.... jeff Davis

131 122 36 39 39

2 56 52 10 40 37 16

0

.F 17 ~ ~ 1 . J J2 Q 4. . .36 37 .4 1

8574163029

92024

1 1215

0

0

10

1. 9

0

0

266

251

64

~?

.5?1?.

147

142

26

jefferson

70 70

0 27 27

0 15 15

0 35 35

0

0

0

0

147

147

0

Jenkins....

. ..23

n

q .. " J.~ 1.~

9

2

2

9.. .9

') .Q 0.. . 0 9. .. ?q

?9

9.

johnson

23 21

3 11 11

0

6

60

8

7

1

3

1

2

51

46

6

jones

82 56 27

6

6 0 29 22

7 19 22

3

4

4

5

140

110

42

~.alTl.'!~

9l} 9?

Q ;2?. 27

9 4~. 2.Q. 0 2? 4.11

q 18 .. 113

~

19;:: .1.97.... .;3.

Lanier

61 60

9

5

5 0 11 11

0 20 16

0

0

0

0

97

92

9

Laurens

243 222 21 108 105

3 78 69

9 74 30 44

1

1

0

504

427

77

Lee

85 1.01 .. 10 15 19 .0 2(; 33

0 11 11

0

2

2

{)

139

1.66

10

Liberty

383 349 114 197 212 45 121 126 10 180 209 52

0

1

0

881

897

221

Lincoln

21 22 14

0

1

0 19 24

2 11 11

1

0

0

0

51

58

17

Long

20 17

4: 9

9

0

9

9

0 21 21

4

0

O

()

59

56.... 8

Lowndes

485500140 84 82 26121104 65 45 11 12

5

5

1

740

702

244

Lumpkin

102 68 41 57 33 33 14 10

6 41 34

8

0

1

0

214

146

88

J\1.acon.

n . . ..8~ 95 17 .2.1..

5 .1.1 12

1.. 18 18

q0

0 .. 9.

.PL 1.?3

n

Madison

57 64

5

5

8

1 50 50

0 66 30 73

0

0

0

178

152

79

Marion

11 20

8 25 25

0 33 33

1 16 19

4

1

2

0

86

99

13

J\1cPllffi.e

110 109 24 25 25

1 33 3.L .. 7 16 .1')

1

99

0

1')L 1.95

33

Mcintosh

51 51

3 28 27

2 15 15 0 14 12

3

5

5

0

113

110

8

Meriwether 101 94

7 14 13

1 33 33

0 38 34

4 81 77

4

267

251

16

J\1.i lIc=r

1.2.. 12

0 11 11

0 10 10

0 11 J.l. ... 0

0

0

0

.. :*4

44

O.

Mitchell

91 70 21 32 19 13 14 14

0 26 22

4

0

0

0

163

125

38

Monroe

*

*

*

*

*

*

**

*

*

mery J\1ontgo

1.1.. 16

1

5.5

0. 3

3

0 3. 3

0

0 .o

0 ........2.5.

Morgan

39 33

9

6

9

0 27 27

5 39 41

3

7

2

4

118

Murray

176 122 82 92 67 44 38 31 11 47 31 48 22 15 17

375

*

27

1

112

21

266 202

tv1.usc::<;>ge.e ... 4/2.83 ..3,.500.. ..7831!12.4.950 174 523... 5()5 18 590 480 110 192 180..... 1.2..... 6/.1.2 .....5,.615. .1.'.097.

Newton

555 523 32 289 232 57 102 100

2 361 301 60 155 143 12 1,462 1,299

163

Oconee

68 69

()g.lethorpe ..... .24.....22

Paulding

188 144

16 22

6

4

66 108

22

2 58

..1. .... 3. .. 10

84 28 52

56

4 24 14 14

4

3

0

176

8 .... ..1. ....27 . .2.1..... ..7... 0 ..o........0....

65

45 11 28 23 44 16 12

9

392

164

36

53

18

308

158

Peach

103 87 47 11 10

1

7

6

2 41 29

8 12 11

0

174

143

58

.P.i.c.k.e.n.s. . . Pierce

47 33 26 49 26 30

7

5

55 55

6 19 16

3 39 41

3 5

33 24

22 . 14

22

4

.1 1

..5i'

02

'1133'78'

'13915' . 75
18

Pike

63 60

320

2 22 15

7 38 32

6

1

1

0

126

108

18

Polk

.. .2.36 ... 525

0 99 212 ..... 0.... 25 53

0 88 224

0

1 10

0 ... 4:*9 .....1.,924..

o

Pulaski

49 57

2

2

2

0

5

5

0

3

2

1

0

o0

59

66

3

Putnam

56 37 19

3

3

0

5

4

1 62 56

6

0

o0

126

100

26

RQu<iitbmlairni43*.. 48

3

22*.... 1

14(3 .. ;-2525*

*
3

**
oo0

*

84

88

8

Randolph

66 66

0

1

1

0 14 14

0 17 17

0

oo0

98

98

0

Richmond 1,683 1,533 150 285 267 18 297 155 13 93 80 142 173 116 57 2,531 2,151

380

go~kcJ~I.~

;39~ 7..'?? .4? 8.1 7? 6 .4?') 22.4 }? 4;3. .~3 J.O. 93 " .76..... 17.. ... .nQ

~~f>

1.13.

27

Juvenile Court Caseload, Calendar Year 1993 (number of children)

County

Delinquent

I

Unruly

I

Traffic

I Deprived

I I Special Proceedings

Grand Totals

Filed Disposed Open Filed Disposed Open Filed Disposed Open Filed Disposed Open Filed Disposed Open Filed Disposed Open

Schley

11 14

2

7

9

0770440

ooo

29

34

2

Screven

81 77

5 29 28

1 15 15

0 15 12

3

ooo

140

132

9

.. Seminole
sp~icii~g

.38 26 . 12 . 5
516 489 27 102

4. ...1.......1.......0.......1.......1.......0...... 1

92 10 95 92

3 410 407

3

o o

o o

.

o o

45 1,123

30 1,080

15. 43

Stephens

125 84 42 19 16

4 28 26

2 26 24

7

ooo

198

150

55

Stewart Sumter

,*. 34* ....4.2'*, .....19,* .....12 18

0 0 0 0 4...4 ......0 ......... 1. 1 . o

51

65

19

**

*****

*

*

Talbot

7 14 22

14022

1

668

1

8

17

27

39

.T.a.l.i.a.f.e.r.ro..

.4

4 . 0 .1.......1........0.......1.. . 1 0 . 0 0 15 ....0 0

0

6

6

15.

Tattnall

112 116 15 47 39

9 19 18

3 54 48 15

o

1

0

232

222

42

Taylor

1 10 14

o0

2

2

3

3 15 16 41

2

2

0

20

31

60

Telfair
T~~r~li

10849

77 84

37 6

19 5

20 5

2 13 1.3 0 15 15

0

8.. 6 10

o

0 ......0.........1.4.4.. . 116

0 11 11

0 19 19

0

139

134

49.
6

Thomas

323 286 37 69 41 28 76 74

2 88 86

2

2

2

0

558

489

69

Tift T~~~bs

377 330 46 1..2.0......9.3. 27 60 57 . 3 36. 17 19

o0

0

94 83 25

3

2

2

2

2

3 31 32 19 24 19 17

593

497

154

138

95 66

Towns

9

8

1

2

2

0

4

4

0

3

4

0

o0

0

18

18

1

!reutlen Troup

32 29. . .. 1 6

4

4

1 13 11

3 15. . . 1.3..1.3.. 2

2

2

66

59

35

826 703 123 259229 30119103 16399334 65 17 16

1 1,620 1,385

235

Turner !w.iggs Union

104 55 49 29 23

6 18 14

4 17

0

0

1

0

0

169

92

59

"539i"" .. "4317" 22j.

9
8

9 8

0

8

9

0

5

3

1 ";"8,.8 T2s;"3

6
"7

.

o0 00 00

8812 7662

2268

Upson

228 217 11 54 51

3 53 49

4 68 59

9

o0

0

403

376

27

Walker
W~lt(;ri

61"2338 .518185

8 50

100 ....9.6........4 238 181 57

114 101

108 89

6 12

56 56

43 49

13 .2.8......2..7.. 1
7 279 256 23

. 421 . 389
1,312 1,163

32 149

Ware

287 203 84 123 75 48 57 33 24 104 74 30 142 105 37

713

490

223

Warren

....1.0......1..2.. 7

1

1 0 ......8.... 3 16

2

5

0

0 .. 0.....0 ..... 21

Washington 153 146

8 30 30

0

0

0

0 16 16

0

o0

0

199

.. 21. ..... 23

192

8

Wayne

***

*

*

*

*

WWhebesetieerr

.... "361'''

17 30

o
4

o
3

o
3

o o

4 5

5 5

o o

0 3

0 3

0 0

o o

o o

oo............1.0...... 22

42

41

0 4

White

60 64 14 24 21

5 17 10

8 21 15

6

oo

o

122

110

33

Whitfield Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth

325 236 236 227 187

21 19

7

oo

66 58 12

1

1

40 139 120
o73 o 24 22

50 36 17 12 11

2

5

4

191 91 100 34 ..1.8......1..6..... 63 31

35 ....2.7..6....2.4..1..... 19

4 10

3 11

2

4

4

0

1 53 56

2

32 28 11 17

183 155
oo

3

3

4

4

oo

28 .1,1:50

939

358

o

38

25

22

o

98

88

14

o

124

111

22

o

316 .....1.5.1........1.6..5.

Total

51,87438,021 13,325 13,937 9,849 4,791 15,16410,779 5,73713,89910,183 3,780 5,303 3,572 1,201 100,177 72,534 28,913

Note: 150 of 159 counties submitted caseload data as of December 31, 1994.
[N/R] County submitted total disposition or open data but did not report data for specific casetypes.
[*1 Caseload data not submitted.
[N/A] Data elements not available.

28

- - - - - - - - - - - Probate Courts - - - - - - - - - - -
County probate courts exercise exclusive original jurisdictionin the probate of wills, administration of estates, appointment of guardians and involuntary hospitalization of incapacitated adults and other dependent individuals.
If 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 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 cases are transferred to the superior court.
In counties with population greater than 100,000, 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, DeKalb andBartow 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 population over 100,000, candidates must fulfill additional qualifications concerning age and practice of law.
Probate court caseload information is presented on the following pages.
29

Probate Court Criminal Caseload, Fiscal Year 1994 (docket entries)

County

Misdemeanor

Filed

Disposed

Traffic

Filed

Disposed

Total Case load

Filed

Disposed

Atkinson

*

Bacon

Baker' Banks
Barrow
Bartow ...................
Ben Hill

. . .813

88.

81

87

462 ............ .. 4.62

*

*

340 2,277
4m6 6(24.1.
*

........332 .. ............... 428

2,027

2,358

. 420 . 2,114

4,026

4,026

4,026

...6,2.41..
*

.. 6/7()3 .. .........6?03...

*

*

Berrien
.BI.eckl.ey' Brantley

*
77

*
.............. 77

615 1,455

...........6.15 1,455

. 615 . 1,532

. 615

.

1,532

Butts'

96

99

1,187

1,222

1,283

1,321

CCaalmhdoeunni















6

* 3













66*

7,424

* 6,692

........... 7,487

*
6,758

Catoosa

*

*

*

CChhaarttlatohnoochee ............. . *

;*: .

.

*.

*

Clay'

38

23

385

349

423

372

.C.o..lu..m..b.i.a.'.
Cook

*

.............. .3,96.0. *

... ... .3,1.94. *

3J9.60 ..
*

.. },1.94..... *

Crawford'

113

66

1,192

1,137

1,305

1,203

Crisp
bade
Dawson

*

70

86

.......... *

1,274

1,074

1,344

* 1,160

Dodge .

.

*

. . . . .*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dooly

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Douglas

*

*

Echols Fannin

.................. 107

.......... 94

787

726

.

.*

894

820

Fayette'

21

31

1,614

1,590

1,635

1,621

Floyd ... Franklin

*

*

5,530 ........ 3.,4:83 ...

*

*

..... . 5J53.0.

.. },483..
*

Gilmer Glascock'
Go~dori"'"

*

. 57

74

61 3,234

61 3,437

. . . . . . . . . . . .61 3,291

*
. 61 .
3,511

Grady

Greene

.

69 43

105
40 .............. 1/7.

.... ..... .1.1.56

69

.

1J75.0.

105 . .. 1,600...

Hancock

*

*

*

*

*

*

Haralson

134

105

2,528

2,195

2,662

2,300

Harris Hart'

*

*

75

61

*

*

188

197

*

*

263

258

Heard
fiel1ry
Irwin'

*

.

110

. . . . .1.5.3. . . .

19

19

.. 5(41.0 . 453

....5,.171. 453

......... 5!52.0. 472

..5.,942742

Jasper lohnson

.

*

*

Jones

63

44

1,087 2,880

1,087 1,968

1,087 2,943

1,087 2,012

Lamar

*

LL"aanuierre' ns

.

28
;42

28
{6i

......... 4;834617

367
.. 4,248

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.9.5. . . . 4,983

.. 4;339555

Lee Lincoln L~~pkjn





*

*

1,870

1,921

1,870

1,921

Macon' Madison
Marion





16

19

1,100

809

850

923

1,100

809

*

866

942

McDuffie
MMecirniwtoesthh"er 2
Monroe'

.

..........

136

..........
100

2,288
..i 90 ~44'3
6,361

2,288

.

90 1,422

7,331

2,288
........ ;,44930
6,497

2,288 90
. ;;422
7,431

Montgomery Morgan
tv1.urray'

*

88

88

4,068 ..... 1!25.3

4,414 1.'2.52.

4,068 . . 1!34:1 .

4,414 . . .1 ~340..

30

Probate Court Criminal Caseload, Fiscal Year 1994 (docket entries)

County

Misdemeanor

Filed

Disposed

Traffic

Filed

Disposed

Total Caseload

Filed

Disposed

Newton Oconee
~~~r:;fe2

Peach' p'ic~ens~ Pike
Polk
Pulaski ............ Quitman
Rabun
Randolph
~;'chfey'

Seminole

Stewart
T~fboi'

,

Taliaferro :r~yl.or2 Telfair
Terrell
TThoowmnsa"s

~mff
UTwni'igogns''

*

0
~~...

.

0
ifr

0

0
*

77
o

* *
.o
* 41

.

..*........

*

*

17

.

0

67

"'4432"

0
'13448

0
0
*
76
o
*
*

41

.

.

*

17
o
46
39
"4i'" o
... '4846

*

3,031

3,031

.. .;j~ .. ...........4.0.3...

665

*

*

3,031

3,031

..... i4l1io6 '46196:2'"

4,838

4,838

4,838

4,838

.2141.1 .

'" .2,;41.1

..

*

2/4.1.1
*

~,411 .
*

2,219

2,145

2,296

2,221

645................8.3.2..........

*

*

645

.

832 .

*

*

*
~~22? .. ......2.,.2..27*, *

..

2,227 . *

. 2,227'*, .

1,980

1,954

2,021

1,995

*

.

*.

*

...........7.2..2............ 783

1,283

1,283

739 1,283

*
800
1,283

1,511
o
254

1,607
.. 21o6

1,578 42
'297' .

1,653
.... '26339" ....

6,616

4,943

6,616

4,943

.

696
.'g':ji

696
651'

......... i",714:300'

740 }4:3

Upson

*

.W..a.l.to..n....................
Warren-

.1.2..5......... . 115

.

o

o

Webster
WWhheielteer

*

*

17.................1.7....... .

o

0

Whitfield

40

40

Wilcox

*

*

Wilkes

78

78

Wilkinson

43

36

* 7,14.5
376
784 941 12,632
1,157 559

.....6,.61.4. 255
780 .
546 12,632
* 1,140
480

*
........ 7/27.0 376
* 801 941 12,672
* 1,235
602

6?29. 255
* ....7.9.7.........
546 12,672
* 1,218
516

Total

3,032

2,844

134,587

127,095

137,619

129,939

Note: 60 of 95 probate courts with criminal jurisdiction submitted caseload data as of December 31, 1994.
[*1 Caseload data not submitted.
1 Reported three quarters. 2 Reported two quarters. 3 Data from calendar year 1993. 4 Reported one quarter.

31

Probate Court Civil Caseload, Fiscal Year 1994 (docket entries)

County

No

Administration

Probate

Year's

Habeas

Administration Necessary Common Solemn Guardianship Support Hospitalization Corpus

Total Civil

Licenses Marriage Pistol

Appling

*

*

Atkinson

*

*

BBacaokneri*o .

*
o

Baldwin'

10

4

.B.a.n..k.s...............1.2......

2

Barrow

27

4

Bartow

60

16

*

*

*

*

*

o

7

2

45

o . 28 .

2

97

o

241

*

*

*

*

o

o

8

12

1

68

3

.

9.

7

44

5

40

48

12

64

*

*

*

o

15

9

o

142

157

o

61 .

79

o

219

227

o

441

480

Ben Hill Berrien Bibb
'BBlreacnktleleyy'

.....*..... *
77
i"2i .

............ .

*.

*

*

25

19

.o,. .... "'01 '"

461

109

'j

5r

'

:

'

:

'

:

:

2 ij



*

*.

*

27

44

o

1
i

........ 'o0"

.. 0o

*

762

1,503

11

52

4()" "24'

Brooks
.Bryan. Bulloch

*
. .. y~ ....
33

*

*

4

...1...........3..6.. .....3..0...

4

.

8.

6

8

119

31

7

19

*

*

o

93

. 118

o

223

338

Burke

*

*

*

*

CBuatlthso' un

3,;

. 2.

3.

27

*

*

*

Camden

18

4

o

41

.C.a.n..d.le..r..............*............... *

*

Carroll'

64

4

3

274

Catoosa

*

*

*

*

Charlton
Ch~th~~{i'

... 25*9

*

*

48

45

786

*

*

7

3

20

5

*

66

31

*

*

.*.......... *

636

102

6 *
o
*
o
*
1,974

o

51

*

o

88

o

442

o

3,850

92
*
633
*
1,173
* *
2,751

Chattahoochee

*

*

*

Chattooga

Cherokee

68

.

*

*

*

*

13

16

205

99

Clarke

40

7

7

198

90

CClraayy'ton'

871 .

o
...... '23

1

7

1

1"4 '260"

"333'

Clinch'

12

4

o

18

19

*

o

452

o

424

1

11

........ 0 's27

o

56

Cobb

16.8 . . . .

Coffee

28

Colquitt

25

C::olurnb.ia~

1?

Cook

*

Coweta'

13

C r a w.f.o.r.d.'. . . . . . . . . . . .1. . . . .

Crisp

*

33

. . . .2.5. . . . . . . . . .8.4.6. . .

509

6

2

66

21

13

3

107

16

.6 *

8

121

33

*

4

3

76

34

2

1

15

10

*

. 2.4
o o o

1.,798. 128 189
243

*

5

19

2

o

*

o

154

255

o

31

34

Dade

*

pavvso.n . . . . . . . .. 12

Decatur

12

*

3

0

25

5

o

10

73

22

*

6

7

o

20

*

o

58 ...... 82.

o

137

204

DeKalb

709

66

207

1,170

1,613

185

627

23

4,600

4,211

Dodge Dooly Dougherty
po.uglas . Early

~

.

*

76

38

4

*

...................*....

*

*

*

*

*

20

4

212

104

9

1

141

73

3

1

25

4

*

*

*

7

116

21 ..........o...

1

11

.*

*

o

539

942

o

283

. 767

o

49

70

Echols

*

*

Effingham'

19

1

'Elb"ert ..

,.1

10

*

4 ,

"'6561'"

6285\242

17
~j'

*

*

o

182

165

o

140 '113'

Emanuel
Evans Fannin Fayette'
'FF'loorysdYth

26

10

0

.... .? ............... 1

O

18

9

0

11

3

2

i33j

1"35 .......... 57

70
..... 18.... 41 87
"2230i

21

3

36

6

.......1............ 3

14

5

15

69

16

0

59
'26

19 :':'

65
0

o

166

197

o

36

83

o

102

107

2

190

380

oo

426
'1'93

597
'50\'

Franklin

*

*

*

*

Fulton'

816

215

280

2,459

1,806

243

31

.Gil.m.er .

*

.

*

*

o

5,850

*
9,707

24 194
. 106
342 897 . 1,254 123
"if'
* 133 .
258
139
*
237
1,550
2,237
267 86
171 141 4,526
.
996 . 932
115
222
'22"5'
285 92
250 593 708
'73"4'
5,537

32

Probate Court Civil Caseload, Fiscal Year 1994 (docket entries)

County

No

Administration

Probate

Year's

Habeas

Administration Necessary Common Solemn Guardianship Support Hospitalization Corpus

Total Civil

Licenses Marriage Pistol

Glascock

1

o

o

Glynn'

48

5

14

G o.r d. .o.n. . . . . .

37

Grady

36

4

5

9

4

Greene

12

3

4

HGawbienrnsehtatm 3 11'28 .

. 18 . 20

1

3

Hall

70

13

5

Hancock
Ha~aison

....

3*4

*
o

Harris
'HHeaar.'trd' '

*

*

*

'3* .

2

*

*

Henry

41

10

12

2 140
..1.13... 65 24
523 37
261 *
58
28 *
121

1

o

49

40

29 ........4...

34

1

14

o

457

119

11

1

63

8

37

10

*

.5

7

*

*

106

32

o

o

19

o

34

o

30

o

23

o

66

o

12

o

32

o

. . . . . . . . . . . .*.

25

o

12 .

o

*

18

o

4 315 226 179
80 .1.'.31.5.
73 452
* 165
58
340

iHrwoiur1s3t'

o
"

n

'
.

-

.......

2'33 '

4 2

jackson?

5

5

}asper.......

6

jeff Davis

10

. 11

... 41

90
'i~'

52

3

31

5~~

1

47

13

1
o

,2341110

4

16

..3,.....

4 0

2

209

o

33

o

91

o

49

o

36

jefferson

*

*

*

*

jenkins

jailrison

*

jones

16

* ..........

*

*

8

2

39

33

5

10

*

o

113

Llaamnfaerr2

.... 0* ..

1

o

2

4

laurens

29

11

2

83

31

lee........... 10

liberty'

53

.......2........ 1 ........ 1~

16

5

o

52

243

o

..,. ..

6

41

3

~.

7

21

o

8

o

203

o

55

o

381

Lincoln

*

*

*

L.ong...... lowndes'

. ....5 .... 38

1o0 .

17 ... "578"

..6........ 3

55

8

4. 20

0

27

0

295

lumpkin

*

Macon'

9

Madison

*

Marion

12

McDuffie

21

MC"lntosh3

6

Meriwether'

10

*

1

....o....... 24

.

2

.

2

10

38 .

86

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

o

1

11

1

o

o

o

25

4

12

40

35 ..........4.....

11.

.o

. 127

o

1

20

4

5

o

o

36

o

o

35

2

o

15

o

62

Miller
Mitch~H
Monroe

.... 14* ..
8

*

*

*

6

2

49

9

4

7

o

91

5

2

42

13

3

1

o

74

~.~~~g?~~~y
Morgan

~....
9

Murray'

8

NMuesWcoiognee ....1..2.0....

*
9

*

*

1

42

3

o

14

. 1. 3\i ....

2..5~

504
~

6

o .... ,.i 0 79

22

7

4

o

58

213
~

...90'*'

1..89'*'

o

1,154

...... 'ok . "';..'

Oconee

9

4

2

44

13

{i . ~~~~t~f~~

3o 00

1496

18 20

Peach'

7

1

0

35

7

Pickens.' .......... 10

Pierce

*

3 ........2...... 43

2

*

*

*

4

12

3 5





06

2

0

3

35

o

88

o
0

'5s4i

o

52

o

98

Pike Polk
. Puf~;ki
Putnam

* ........2.8...
5
9

*

*

.3 .

o

122

o

4

34

1

4

63

13

.......3.......... 81

3

o

18

27

9

6

o

250

o

64

o

119

RQuaitbmuarni6* 3

o

* 21

Randolph

14

3

4

4

Richmond

105

48

29

138

Rockdale

28

S

6.

98

1

o

96

o

o

52

171

o

1,025

o

o

252

5 623
.......3.1..5.
200
92 .. ~,.~17..
104
871

6
355
. 405 .
208
167
. .~(68(). 75
898

197

332

51
* 838
......3.9.1...
68 97 45
'47
* *

113
1,165 513 79 203
.. 1i0089

136

287

*

31

28

359

609

. 133 .

230

474

95

*

. 43

33

774

405

*

.

80

49

42

. 148

220

52

46

64

151

164

159

138

197

,06i55

86
1,852.*

78
. 8"2'8*.

DO

233

...

38
i05

"35934

92

142

130

144

*

*

346

384

76

92

117

235

141 60
1,333 621

"i 72
105 1,113
598

33

Probate Court Civil Caseload, Fiscal Year 1994 (docket entries)

County

No

Administration

Probate

Year's

Habeas

Administration Necessary Common Solemn Guardianship Support Hospitalization Corpus

Total Civil

Licenses Marriage Pistol

Schley

*

Screven

*

SS'epmaldini'onlge'

12 23

*

*

*

6..............0...........3.6..

6

5

1

145

75

.1

. 10

20

61

*

0

71 ........5.4..6.. . .......1..0.0.

0

330

521

776

Stephens

*

*

*

*

*

Stewart ...........................

Sumter

24

7

*

8

91

.

.

27

5

16

.......... . .................

0

178

254

327

Talbot Taliaferro
Tati~~li'

*

*

* 23 4

*

*

*

*

1

41

23

*

*

*

........... .

.

3

19

0

114

174

131

Taylor'

6

2

2

17

2

2

9

0

40

37

27

Telfair
Terrell

13

3

1

.. Tj 0"3

39

4

1

33 lis





2 2











o0 '

63

106

107

'68 76;49

Thomas

21

4

1

89

20

6

482

0

623

434

247

Tift

11

i~~~b's'3'

28

Towns

7

Treutlerr' ............4....

Troup

47

5 19

4

80

26

0 .... '143

35

0 ........2.6...

7

6

0

152

415

305

0

238

238

272

3

0

34

10

0

o

0

54

52

178

6

1

5

3

4

o

0

23

. 82 .

48

13

11

163

40

21

48

0

343

318

606

Turner

4

4

0

23

16

1

2

0

50

76

79

Twiggs' Union

8 ........

1

11

0

1

20

3

31

9

......4......... 25

9

2

o

0

68

. 45 .

65

0

56

125

188

Upson Walker Walton

*
. . . 3. .1. . . . . 37

*

*

14 .

1. 1 ......1.7.1.. . .......7.4.

9

7

106

24

1. .8........... 47

32

42

*

*

*

0

366

. 315

. 663

9

266

280

469

Ware

27

14

9

132

33

13

18

0

246

410

326

WWaasrrhei'nn'gtor;

i '45'

.

1 3

1 .........9...

1

4

45

22

1 4

1 6

0 0

18 99

.. 11"235

19 183

Wayne

*

VWeVbsnteereler3*

*

*

0

'0'

*

*

8 ....... 'b' . . . . "0* '

*

*

O

.. a 1 " (

* "39'

'i6

White

7

6

9

41

4

7

13

0

87

227

125

Whitfield Wilcox Wilkes

...5..8...... *
10

. . . .1. .8. . . . 1

. .3. . . . . . . . ..2.5..7.

*

0

42

46 ........7........... 40

*

25

2

23

0

429

. ...4.6..5

607

*

0

103

85

67

Wilkinson

9

6

1

30

9

1

17

0

73

51

155

Worth

12

2

3

49 ..........2..7.. ...........3....... 11

0

1.0.7........ 176. ......... 307

Total

4,389

986

954 14,472

8,634

1,723

5,457

99

36,714

55,263

53,934

Note: 112 of 159 probate courts submitted caseload data as of December 31, 1994.
[*J Caseload data not submitted.
, Reported three quarters. z Reported two quarters. 3 Data from calendar year 1993. 4 Reported one quarter.

34

- - - - - - - - - - - Magistrate Courts - - - - - - - - - - -
Magistrate court jurisdiction encompasses civil claims of $5,000 or less; distress warrants and dispossessory writs; county ordinance violations; misdemeanor violations of bad check laws; preliminary hearings; and 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 up to 10 days imprisonment for contempt and!or fine up to $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 maj ority vote of the superior court judges.
Chief magistrates are elected in partisan, countywide elections to four-year terms, 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 initial40-hour course for certification. All magistrates must attend annual20-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 1994, 159 chief magistrates and 318 magistrates served in Georgia; 22 probate judges, three civil court judges and four juvenile court judges or associate judges were among this number.
Magistrate court caseload information is presented on the following pages. Submission ofdata is required by the Uniform Rules for the Magistrate Courts.
35

Magistrate Court Caseload, Fiscal Year 1994 (cases filed)

County

Warrants Issued

Bond & Commitment Criminal Cases
Hearings Filed Disposed

Civil Claims Filed Disposed

Total

Total

Other Civil Cases Warrants & Hearings &

Filed Disposed Filings Dispositions

Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin

698 447
...............4.3..0... * *

Banks Barrow Bartow

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.0. .9. . . . 2,095
*

Ben Hill Berrien
Bibb
Bleckley
Braritley'"

1.,.539 905
7,510
756
.... '345'

Brooks

543

Bryan
Builoch'

'2;187222""

562 5
259
* *
154
1,079

487

185

58

0

... ,34.9

,33.2.

*

*

*

*

.........1.3.......... 14

59

59

789
221
389
* *
.......2.6.9. 474

614

207

179

64

4.1.4........ 382

*

*

*

*

. 263

96

474

822

204

2,181

1,565

0

790

184

. ....2.9..3.... .... 1,55.0 ..... .1,,2.98 ....

*

*

*

*

*

*

. 98 ...... L2il7 ........ 5.29.

822

3,450

2,434

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

626
4,572
362
"i7Ci

. .64.4
o
2,527
.. 'i14719

527..... 699 437

589.... 355

2,224

3,403

4,745

.1i 7419 i20539 240534

.726

.726

194

130

2102

1,892

.16s5Ci2 3590

3f60.8 1,536

2!4.68 . 485

15,542

13,433

1,37541 7 1,62'2726"

416

115

102

663

337

316

282

1,637

1,137

",19a2s'

.....306 .... ..

31 0

334 .... 720

..U48123 ........ ..415638........ "317683 .... 31,;3)4650 ...... '1',776998

Burke'

477

149

CBuattsih' oun27

9
'*

...1.0..8.... *

Camden

1,145

545

.C.a.n..d.le.r.....................*......... *

Carroll

2,049

425

Catoosa

2,738

688

Charlton
Chaih~im'

'9;6i 2i 18'..

520 3,542

Chattahoochee

*

*

Cchheartotokoegea'"

1,783
'5;"50'

"1

561
;582

3 134
*
1,050
*
1,135
1,568 214
1,643
*
235
'2il"

3

331

384

182

122

993

658

108 .....1.6.6....... 78 .

116.

*

*

*

*

458

504

449

450

70

695

. 364 .

*

*

*

410

3,149

1,862

. .... * 876

* 1,523

*

*

*

*

*

774

1434

1,235

6,141

3,310

826

435

435

468

300

5,209

2,249

227
"3;465'

212 6,649

21.1. . . . . . . . . . . 8. .3. . . . . . . . . . .6.5. . .

4,926

9312

630

1,130 .. '26,722

...i i1,,S0'6233'

*

*

*

*

35

867

677

401

264.... 1',1'02' .... 884...... 1'669'

*

*

230

3,286

1,503

J;280 .... 8~20.2 .... '1,0"0

Clarke

7,144

3,491

1,038

971

1,573

1,350

2198

460

11 ,953

6,272

Clay clayton
Clinch

167

60

2

2

"";542' "0;977' '2;26'3 .... 2/3i.2

411

5

0

54

54

17

.i,5'02' 2,636...... ""1'192

212

212

166

19

240

135

'1'0;77'1 . .27;4"i9 .. .. 26,7'06"

126

789

343

Cobb Cofi~~' Colquitt

1.9,3.92. 4,554 2,251

.1.~,.376.
449
213

6( 19.5 576 4

.. 6,19.5 ....... 3A27.. . .. 2..622

59

1,724

1,390

4

2,047

124

....2,,317. 1066
753

14 .....3~f43.1.25!~.q7....

295

7,920 5,055

2,193 341

Columbia
Cook'

....1.r.71.7..

. .1.79.

.1 (37.2.

956

945

687

524....382 ..... 4 f55.8...... J,2.04 ..

1,098

12

385

2

365

374

206

226

2,054

614

Coweta

2,557

5

941

608

1,326

1,018

1282

725

6,106

2,356

Crawford'............ 280

Crisp

1,408

Dade

504

Dawson
'D~~'a'tur'..

..

..

..

..

..

.

460 807

DeKalb
tDJoodoglye'

19,076
1,402239'"

160 1,033
236 254 '165
39,038 . 57'

16
602
.. . 430
3,062 302 j ..

15
565 11 2,910
o

1 5.7. . . . . . . . . . .1.4. .7. . . . . .

79

723

659

688

53

53.2

. 375

569

3,421

2,826

111

95

52

. . . . . . .2.4.4. . . . . . . . . . .3.9. .0. . . . .

90

428

0

227

4,768

2,705

69

34

667
837 .
1,462 26,975

365
655 .
165 44,653

..

..

511
3Si'

208
"'157'

.. 2419 3 8 097 ......2,0991"s ...... i31045 ......

Dougherty
EDaorulYg' l a s

5,403
3,'877258'

4,838
'312356'

1,394
1600 .

1,240 138
.. '0'

3,641 847
. 585

2,396 988
.. liM

4978 1883
".2 99'

518

15,416

8,992

45

6,768

1,307

279" (609 .. . .. 1',0'68" ....

Echols

*

*

*

*

*

Effingham Elbert . . . .

. ....... '1(,629747" ...

419

339

540' 89"

.....18807"

298 521

*

*

224

463

498..........327

*

*

*

461

2,377

1,284

..;502',63.,.. ...... 1',i7s

Emanuel Evans Fannin Fayette
Floyd F'~rsythi Franklin Fulton Gilmer

1,159 446 614
1,066
4,.631 982 788
14,378 642

609

414

386

813

738

141 . . . . . . . 5. .7. . . . . . . . 37

337

34

124

195

146

266

171

709

575

428

588

497

2,292, . . . 1,208 249 ...... i71....

2,080
.... i'7"

.3.'2,1.7 ...... 2..~01.

205

205

520

309

327

568

511

25,200

31,651

22,067

8,536

4,274

69

291

...6.2...... 420

347

395
1.90. 106 519
3032 194 257
42501
150

312

2,781

2.2

1,030

101

1,181

491

2,748

..26~ ..... 12p88

194

1,552

131 13,826

1,922 97,066

8.9

1,50.3

2,045
,2,34 .. 542 2,125
6,637
.... ill'9"
1,489 65,367
5.67 .

36

Magistrate Court Caseload, Fiscal Year 1994 (cases filed)

County

Warrants Issued

Bond & Commitment Criminal Cases
Hearings Filed Disposed

Civil Claims Filed Disposed

Total

Total

Other Civil Cases Warrants & Hearings&

Filed Disposed Filings Dispositions

Glascock' Glynn' .Gord.o':!..... Grady Greene
.Gvvinnett Habersham 2 Hall
... Hancock'
'H~'r~'1~o~
Harris
'HHaeratrd
Henry
.Ho.ust()n Irwin jackson
jjaesffpDeravis ..

20

1

2

1

54

33

10

4

86

39

4,262

1,877

417

159

1,045

635

990

523

6,714

3,194

.. :~,751 .. . ~?4:.

1,364

437

.797.
3

..3,';7
297

lJS:Q3 1,135

1.,.o~0 1,005

1.012. 461

173 .... ()P~L .... f.,.l.~4.. ..

441

2,963

2,180

697

830

70

18

602

409

365

157

1,734

1,414

l.o,?81 . .. 4,802

19

84

.2M7.
474

810 .... 3A82 .....lj!4f>. . .....848~

12

620

107

283

966 . 25/5.99. .

o

1,396

13,4:24 . 203

3,128

6,671

2,822

2,074

1,950

2,160

2072

1,446

9,972

12,351

...... '386054' .

203 101

82. . . . . . . . . . . .8.2. . .

3

3

414

. 414 . 182

391

272

184

..1.3..2...........9.8.2...... 831

158

1,443

534

987

318

201

130

497

420

273

228

1,958

1,096

"638965"

522
..... "'74'"

112 58

119 43

425 328

312
iis.... ..

307 ........ 131

108

56

.1 !53.0 889

1.'~84 388

1,845

3,076

787

824

1,114

1,231

1039

148

4,785

5,279

5,.440 . .. 4,255

301

303

1 ,?1.0 1

1/5.63 1

1/.1.74 221

1.'.075 231

1.66.1 . . .. 1!41.4 .

196

132

10.-0.85.. . 719

il,3(~! . 667

2,309

448

2

1

599

818

576

905

3,486

2,172

...... }37i3i ...

166

15

... 594 j~i4

15

204

219

111

394 69i .... 69;:> :33'2

75 298

.... 2X70335 ....

475 1,983

jefferson'

756

495

............... Jenkins
j~h~son

375 468

35

jones

*

*

Lamar .................5.6.2..

Lanier

680

Laurens

2,923

210
2,069

Lee Liberty'

751

314

i;ioi 868

183

. . . . . . . . .0. . . . . . 20

*

.

.

0

732

84
iis

183 0
11 *
o o
732
84 88

633

633

372

552 . 390 . 257

271

257

193

*

*

*

:109

394

256.

229

173

44

1,166

1,111

1007

396

378

165

617 496 600

372

1,944

1,683

254

.1! 1.84

106

952

*

*

6.79 . 374
*

19.7 39
1,007

1!22?.. . ilOl ..

953

212

5,828

4,919

139

1,396

915

... 3<:/43,447 .,.,846

Lincoln Long
Lowndes

214 215
8;;; '1

58

4

4

82

126

o

j;S20 2;9i32 . f,332

256

256

120

119

164

160

32

62

2)i34 . . . . . . S48 ..... jj i 0 . 3 0 8 .

594

437

537

304

15,843 .. 5/68 .....

Lumpkin

629

471

220

Macon ................5.4..0..........1..3.0....

Madison

441

444

Marion

165

128

36
276

McDuffie Mcintosh . . . .

848

40

456

506 . . . . . .. 39896

Meriwether .M. .i l.l .e.r. . . . . . . . Mitchell Monroe'
MMoonrtggaonmery' .
Murray
MNueswcotognee

1,002
* *
513 178
s6i
* j;4go0

34

147

*

....*......

*

*

272

70

22

121

235

.. 201

*

*

.

807

1,54

0 8

150
0 120
o
141 96 147
* *
70
2 126
*
;/344

Oconee Oglethorpe
Pauiding

465

292

112

75

374

373

65

65

... S64 jio j49 f33

Peach

1,103

562

632

258

Pickens

560

12

288

134

Pierce'616

;30 28

30

Pike Polk Pulaski Putnam Quitman
. 'R~b~'~"""""""
Randolph Richmond Rockdale

464
*
375 811
*

209

23

8

.....*........... *

*

202

o

o

584

o

o

*

*

*

105

1

2,459

...... 1108.9

.

259

121

161

90

1,269

832

353

25..

270

403

221

108

10

1/~~.9

83

1,228

1.65.. 868

173

89

164

45

502

262

.1.,.1.89

936

822

524

.3/3.1.5

1.-(,41

245

250

65

33

912

777

817

817

412

221

2,378

1,219

*

..*............ *

.*

. . *.

*

*

*

*

*

*

603

336

318

200

1,504

878

111

111

16

16

426

151

367

263

286166 .f,356 .. 790

* 1,510 ... 9S8

*

*

334 )(,5;

0
t658

*

*

o
3'10

. i1,,058140

*
3,3is364 .

220

179

139

89

936

635

253

264

55

4if j99

j76

55 365

.... (974407

f,7i567i

627

340

394

49

2,756

1,209

320

270

131

.~~~ ijii07

77 17

1,929499 .... 349;34

288

288

72

68

847

573

*

*

*

291

172

124

*

*

*

74

790

448

689

689

446

310

1,946

1,583

*

*

*

*

*

*

81

38

47

48

6288

3,187

1237

535

37

Magistrate Court Caseload, Fiscal Year 1994 (cases filed)

County

Warrants Issued

Bond & Commitment Criminal Cases
Hearings Filed Disposed

Civil Claims Filed Disposed

Total

Total

Other Civil Cases Warrants & Hearings &

Filed

Disposed Filings Dispositions

..........

Schley

96

120

20

13

109

74

48

23

273

230

Screven Seminole Spalding Stephens" Stewart' Sumter

*
297 4,143
782 216 2,443

* 168 3,788
20 38 1,235

*

*

127

127

1,316

1,225

o

126

1.7.......... o

39

39

*

*

*

174 .........1.7..4....

1,735

1,590

48 ..........3.0..

3360

73

231

208

161

9

61 .......2.9............37

1,419

1,391

1128

16 1,128

*

*

646

. 499

.

10,554

6,676

1,174

363

. ...3..3.1.... . 83 .

5,029

3,793

Talbot .T.a.l.ia..fe.r.r.o.. Tattnall Taylor" Telfair'
Terrell

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

...*..

*

* '"

*

*

*

459

277

480

339

634

634

258

*............ *

68

1,831

*
1,318

152

41

7

0

51

51

16

16

226

108

381

27..........1..4.0........... 95

458 .......2.8.6...... 237

234

.1/2.1.6.

642

582

347

153

90

428

334

255

255

1,418

1,026

Thomas

2,858

Tift
Too~b~4' .

... .3,.034... . 589

Towns

302

Treutle.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

*

Troup

0

Turner

*

T"Uwj,i'giog'rsi'

'4s8o1i'

855
985 . 33
18
*
0
* 14939' .

1,151 825 388 0
9
* 20 "'0"'"

810

3,502

4 .. . 1,3.1.4..

324

204

16

51

...*.......... *

9

5,139

*

*

. 1'60" " ... " 2i '3949" .

3,034

. .1,.31.4. 118

55

* 2,859

*

a .

217
'i i

1846 1004
168 16
*. 3805
*
78
30

33

9,357

4,732

830

6/17.1 .. .3.,1.33.

36

1,349

511

9

369

98

.

*
o

'"
8,953

*
2,868

* 76 ... '0.....

*

813 730

.

*

508 253

.

Upson
Walker Walton'

1,230
.1,.351." 1,348

666
,,~41
675

389
. . . . .2. .4.5. . . . 529

309

1,007

245

.....7.8.9....

448

624

681

721

426 .....6.5.2...

513

1140

411

3,347

2,067

85

.3/03.1."" J,2~7" ..

871

3,641

2,507

Ware Warren Washington

2,254
......2.0.1.....
1,408

1,446 1
149

1,671 8
288

1,313 8
276

796 497 1,394

649

763

597

..4.9.7...... 199 .

o

1,322

532

375

5,484
90.5 3,622

4,005 506
2,122

Wayne
\\iebster' . Wheeler

895

432

321

274

760

786

459

473

2,435

1,965

. .50.

. .. 46...

o

133

65

4

o

....3.7.....

38

15

o

180

104

55

4

102

. 88

.

6

372

175

White
\\ihitfi.elcJ Wilcox Wilkes

649

596

314

279

314

222

148

148

1,425

1,245

4,,766..

137

.5.1..4....... " 514

2"839."" .. 2,839,,. 2176

1?87 "" .1.0/29.5" . 5,,2,77

*

*

*

*

*

*

'"

'"

*

*

418

145

79

8

683

683

378

378

1,558

1,214

Wilkinson Vvorth"

382

40

18

17

412

412

496

173

1,308

642

258

28

o

o

103 ..........103

47

32

408

163

Total

272,182 181,002

96,878

73,980 130,249

99,656 153,927

65,503 653,236 420,141

Note: 140 of 159 magi strate courts submitted caseload data as of December 31, 1994.
[*1 Caseload data not submitted.
1 Reported two quarters. 2 Data from 1/1/93 to 12/31193. , Reported three quarters. 4 Reported one quarter.

38

- - - - - - - - - - - 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 Columbus-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 possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. Although first established under various names (city courts, mayor's courts, municipal courts, police courts, recorder's courts), 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.
39

JUDKCKAL AGENCKES
----------- Judicial Council -----------
Since its creation by statute in 1973, the Judicial Council has served as the statelevel 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 promote efficiency in the courts.
Twenty-four representatives of the appellate and trial courts serve on the Judicial Council. The chief justice and presiding justice of the Supreme Court act as the chairperson and vice chairperson, respectively. The chief judge and another judge 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 council membership.
The full council meets at least twice each year, as it did in December 1993 and June 1994, to consider committee 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. Data obtained by the districts was analyzed by the AOC and results were submitted to the council for evaluating requests for additional superior court judgeships.
In considering additional judgeship requests, the Judicial Council seeks a balanced distribution of superior court caseload to promote speedy and fair trials. Recommendations are based on clear and convincing information showing necessity of additional judicial personnel.
The council compares the situation of the requesting circuit 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 1994, the council recommended to Gov. Zell Miller and the General Assembly the creation of 16 new superior court judgeships. Circuits recommended are listed in the council's order of priority:
1. Ogeechee (3rd judgeship) 2. Cobb (8th judgeship) 3. Conasauga (4th judgeship) 4. Alcovy (3rd judgeship) 5. Stone Mountain (10th judgeship) 6. Macon (5th judgeship) and Western (3rd judgeship) 8. Douglas (3rd judgeship) 9. Coweta (5th judgeship)
40

10. Augusta (7th judgeship) 11. Northern (3rd judgeship) 12. Middle (3rd judgeship) 13. Chattahoochee (6th judgeship) 14. Atlanta (16th judgeship) 15. Piedmont (3rd judgeship) and Southern (5th judgeship) The council voted down a request to reconnnend creation of a state court in Camden County. In 1993 and 1994 no new judgeships were created by the General Assembly. In the five years previous, the General Assembly had created five or more judgeships each year from the council's reconnnended lists.
- - - - - - - Administrative Office of the Courts - - - - - - -
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) provides fiscal, connnunications, 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. Five issues of the Georgia Courts Journal were 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, is a digest of court-related legislation. The Legislative Log is 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, distributing 2,800 copies to judicial branch personnel. The directory is available at minimal cost to attorneys and others.
The Twentieth AnnualReport on the Work ofthe Georgia Courts was compiled by the connnunications 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 them in gauging public opinion about court activities and identifying matters of concern.
Other connnunications efforts included coordinating media relations and information releases on Judicial Council activities.
41

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 judiciary and the General Assembly and initiates proj ects to fulfill its legislatively prescribed duty to serve the courts. The research staff provides information to national organizations, other states and the public on topics such as the use of video technology, retirement and fringe benefits, night court, and others.
The research staff supervises yearly collection of caseload and other data from the trial courts. Calendar year 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 make recommendations on the need for additional superior court judgeships. Caseload-projection reports were made for several local jurisdictions. Also, four studies were completed regarding the creation of a state court or the need for a full-time state court judgeship.
The calendar year 1993 salary survey was compiled for personnel from all trial courts. Information on salary, staffing and funding is collected in the survey. Superior court clerks, probate judges and magistrates submitted additional information on county retirement and health plans. Magistrate court budgets were also included. Information concerning inflation and the compensation of appellate and superior court judges was prepared for the State Bar Commission on Judicial Compensation. In several local jurisdictions considering the creation or alteration of court administrative positions, job description and compensation information was provided.
A survey of courts using contracted private probation services was conducted on behalf of the County Probation Advisory Council. Another survey assessed the impact of substance abuse on the courts.
Caseload information was provided to the Supreme Court Office of Dispute Resolution and several court administrators to determine if revenues generated by court fees would support new alternative dispute resolution programs funded under OCGA 15-23-1, et seq.
The staff participated with Georgia Courts Automation Commission staff in developing Georgia-specific criminal codes for the SUSTAIN software system.
Detailed data concerning family court systems in other states and the organization of Georgia courts with family law jurisdiction were provided to the State Bar Commission on Family Courts.
Staff participated in discussion on 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. Along with the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education, the AOC assisted the
Municipal Courts Training Council and the Georgia Magistrate Courts Training Council in planning their continuing education programs and maintaining educational certification records. On behalf of the Municipal Courts Training Council,
42

staff requested that the Judicial Qualifications Commission determine whether a

mayor can serve as both mayor and municipal court judge under the Code of Ethics.

The AOC serves as secretariat to the Board of Court Reporting and assisted the

board in making long-range plans for continuing education, administering certifi-

cation tests, producing rules revisions and developing a Code of Professional Ethics.

The AOC also gave assistance to the chief justice of the Supreme Court and other

judicial organizations.

The Council of Superior Court Judges was assisted with ongoing revision of the

Superior Court Benchbook.

The AOC provided liaison services to the Council of State Court Judges and assisted in tracking legislation, staffing committees and distributing manuals.
With the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education, AOC

Duties of the Administrative Office of the Courts
(OCGA 15-5-24 and Orders of the Supreme Court)

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, Probate Judges Handbook and supplements; 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 Georgia State-Federal Judicial Council (comprised of federal district court and appellate judges, Supreme Court justices and judges of the Court of Appeals, superior courts and state courts) received assistance in coordinating its annual meeting. (For more information on the council, see page 56.)
Staff assistance was provided to the National Association of Women Judges in recruiting a host committee and planning its 1995 conference to be held in Atlanta.
The AOC also provided computer expertise and other technical support to members of the judiciary both through its own staff and through its contract with the Department of Administrative Services.
Planning and coordinating the Georgia Conference on Substance Abuse and the Courts held in October 1993 was a significant AOC function. The conference brought together judges and other court personnel from 25 circuits to learn

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 info~ation 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 oflitigation.
5) 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.
7) Prepare and publish an annual report on the work of the courts and on the activities of the Administrative Office of the Courts.
8) Receive grants from any source, public or private, and expend funds and perform services in accordance with the terms of any grant.
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.

about and discuss diversion programs and other alternatives for drug offenders. Recommendations from the conference have been incorporated into a charge for a Supreme Court Committee on Substance Abuse and the Courts. The confer-

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.

ence was sponsored by the Georgia Supreme Court and

43

funded through a grant from the State Justice Institute. Matching funds were provided from the Governor's Office. A final conference report will be published in fiscal year 1995.
Staff support to commissions Georgia Courts Automation Commission. The AOC provided substantial staff
support and direction to the Georgia Courts Automation Commission. Establishing objectives, obtaining funding and providing administrative, clerical and fiscal support are among the functions performed. (For more information on the commission, see page 52.)
Supreme Court Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias. The AOC provided an assistant executive director, administrative and technical support to the Supreme Court Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Court System, organizing public hearings, contracting for a court-watch project, and beginning research. The Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias is charged with: 1) determining how the public and the courts perceive 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 court 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.
During fiscal year 1994, the commission conducted research and held six regional public hearings and forums to gather testimony and information from professionals and the public. These hearings began in October 1993. In February, the commission recommended that orientation and continuing education for judges and court personnel include a component of cultural diversity and sensitivity training.
The commission, named in May 1993, is a racially and ethnically diverse group of professionals selected from government officials, the appellate and trial courts, the legal and academic communities, and court and civic leaders. The term of the commission expires in January 1996.
Supreme Court Committee for Gender Equality. The AOC continued to provide an executive director for the Supreme Court Committee for Gender Equality. (For more information on the committee, see page 63.)
State Bar Commission on Judicial Compensation. The State Bar Commission on Judicial Compensation also received extensive staff support. The commission reviewed salary levels of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and superior court judges. Findings and recommendations were presented to the State Bar. As a result, a permanent judicial compensation commission will be created. Efforts by the State Bar and the commission resulted in passage of legislation authorizing salary increases for appellate court justices and judges and superior court judges effective July 1, 1994.
Liaison functions The AOC served as liaison for the judicial branch with policy-making groups. The chair of the Judicial Council was represented by the director of the AOC on
44

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 Georgia Commission on Family Violence. During fiscal year 1994 the commission, created by recommendation of the Commission on Gender Bias, completed the first section of a handbook for establishing circuit-wide community task forces on family violence. This handbook was distributed to the chief judge of each judicial circuit, district attorneys, solicitors, shelter directors and task forces.
A staff member represented the chief justice of the 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, which provides research on the criminal justice system using existing data from state agencies.
The AGC assisted the Superior Court Clerks Training Council in planning their continuing education programs and maintaining educational certification records.
The AGC participates in the Law-Related Education Consortium, which is composed of criminal justice professionals and educators who promote law-related curriculum in public schools.
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.
Fiscal support services The AGCcoordinates 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 16 judicial branch agencies.
In fiscal year 1994, the AGC managed 63 separate funding sources, including 30 state fund allocations, 12 federal grants and 21 fee or other revenue sources.
- - - - - - - - - Board of Court Reporting - - - - - - - - -
The Board of Court Reporting certifies and licenses all court reporters who serve the judicial branch. Court reporters are prohibited from serving without board certification. The board operates under authority of the 1974 Georgia Court Reporting Act to assist the judiciary by 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.
Certification and permits The state court reporters certification exam is a skills test in one of three methods
of takedown: machine shorthand, manual shorthand or Stenomask. Certificates are renewed each year.
45

The board held tests twice during the fiscal year. Fifty-five individuals were certified for the first time, two individuals upgraded their certificates. At the end of the fiscal year 1,164 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. Eight temporary permits were issued during the year.
Twelve permits were issued upon sponsorship of a judge. Reporters working under judicial temporary permits are restricted to the sponsor's court and may not freelance. These permits may be revoked by the board only with the approval of the issuing judge. By rule, 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 25 certificates to reporters who met the accreditation requirements ofthe National Court Reporters Association or the National Stenomask Verbatim Reporters Association.

Formal complaints

The board investigates complaints against court reporters, including fee

disputes, and administers disciplinary action when warranted. Complaints alleged

practices such as improper charges for takedown, exclusion of arguments of counsel

from transcript, delay in producing transcript, failure to produce transcript and

previous conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. Of the

11 complaints received during the year, 10 were dismissed. In the remaining case,

a hearing was held which resulted in public

reprimand of the official reporter for abandon-

Court Reporters: 1993 and 1994

ment of a transcript. The Board of Court Reporting has the authority to resolve fee disputes.

Officially registered

1993 1,186

1994 1,164

Related activities Continuing education for court reporters be-

Certificates and permits issued

came mandatory January 1, 1994. The Court

New certificates

70

55

Reporters Training Council, created by board

Upgraded certificates

13

2

rule on July 1, 1993, developed rules and bylaws.

Board temporary permits

3

8

After 1994, reporters are required to earn 10

Judicial temporary permits

11

12

hours of course credit per calendar year. A 12-

National accreditation certificates 16

25

month grace period to make up delinquent hours

is allowed before license revocation. Numerous

Takedown Methods: 1994

Grandfathered

103

Machine shorthand

641

Stenomask

396

Shorthand notes

24

Total

1,164

training opportunities are available in subjects pertinent to court reporters.
In keeping with its charge to promote professionalism, the board adopted Guidelines for Professional Practice and a Code ofProfessional Ethics as part of its rules. A new mechanism enables reporters to ask for advisory opinions on

matters of ethical concern.

46

- - - - - - - Council of Juvenile Court Judges - - - - - - -
(Annual report for fiscal year 1994, 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 1994 included 53 part- and full-time juvenile court judges, 54 superior court judges exercising juvenile court jurisdiction and 32 associate juvenile court judges.
Council staff provide support to juvenile courts through legal research services, legislative tracking and specialized programs to assist in protecting the best interests of children and the state.
Council policies are set by the executive committee comprised of the president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer andimmediate past president. Eleven standing committees-benchbook, education/certification, uniformrules, legislative, guardian ad litem, court organization, grants/unruly and delinquent services, indigent defense, information systems, permanency planning and past presidents-make recommendations to the executive committee. Designated judges act as liaisons to the following agencies: Council of Superior Court Judges; Department of Human Resources (Division of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse and Division of Family and Children Services); Department of Children and Youth Services; Department of Education; Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the Governor's Dill Task Force; and the Georgia Courts Automation Commission.
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 juvenile courts. The system is installed in 10 juvenile courts and at 20 Department of Children and Youth Services offices.
Purchase of Services Program The Purchase of Services program provides funding for community-based
treatment alternatives for juveniles on probation. Its primary goals are to reduce formal court involvement, recidivism and the disproportionate incarceration and commitment 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, 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 fifteenth year of operation, the program is funded through a $200,000 federal grant from the Children and Youth Coordinating Council and from state appropriations.
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.
47

During fiscal year 1994, PHC staff assisted with 152 citizen panels in 53 counties. In these 53 counties, an estimated 11,000 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 the Department of Family and Children Services and other agencies to identify 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.
New foster care review panels were established in Haralson County. In addition, two new field staff positions were created to replace personnel on loan from the Department of Human Resources. There are now nine PHC field representatives who assist local citizen review panels.
In March 1994, the council sponsored the Seventh Georgia Conference on Permanency Planning, Permanency Now: Children Can't Wait. More than 250 citizen review panel volunteers, social workers, court staff and judges from throughout the state attended.
- - - - - - - Council of Magistrate Court Judges - - - - - - -
The Council of Magistrate Court Judges, created by statute, furthers the improvement of the magistrate courts and the administration of justice, assists magistrates throughout the state in the execution of their duties and promotes and assists in their training.
All chief magistrates and magistrates in Georgia are members of the council. The 28-member executive committee is comprised of six officers, two representatives from each of the ten judicial administrative districts and two members-atlarge. The committee carries out the administrative duties of the council.
The council held four meetings during the year. Topics covered included professionalism, the warrant issuance artificial intelligence program, dispossessory proceedings, ordinance violations, a legislative viewpoint of the justice system, the anti-stalking law, the state e-mail system, the fee and fine accounting system, warrant forms on WordPerfect, constitutional criminal procedure, and legislation and its effect on magistrate courts.
Meetings featured a luncheon speaker and forum for judges to discuss common problems and experiences. At the January meeting, the council sponsored a breakfast for legislators.
Legislative efforts focused on a retirement bill and a salary bill; neither passed. The council also monitored and responded to proposed legislation affecting magistrate courts.
Five issues of the Georgia Magistrate Court Newsletter were published during the year. A new feature was added to the newsletter with the creation of the internal affairs/legal research committee. This committee reviews appellate cases each
48

month and notes those that could affect the magistrate courts. A synopsis of pertinent cases is published in the newsletter.
In addition, the benchbook committee prepared and distributed a revision of the magistrates benchbook.
- - - - - - - Council of Probate Court Judges - - - - - - -
The Council of Probate Court Judges, created to further improvement of the probate courts and administration of justice, is composed of judges and retired judges of the probate courts. The council has developed uniform rules and forms, a probate benchbook and a probate handbook.
The council met four times during fiscal year 1994. Three meetings were held jointly with the County Officers' Association of Georgia. Judicial training at each meeting was conducted by the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education (ICJE). Topics at the April and November meetings included estate administration, HIV disclosure in probate court, alternative dispute resolution rules, uniform traffic citation software and a legislative update. At the January meeting, seminars on retirement planning and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 were presented. A seminar on stress management was given at the June meeting. Six probate judges attended seminars at the National Judicial College to become trainers for traffic jurisdiction. This program, Traffic Court Practice, was presented to 40 probate judges in June.
During the 1994 session of the General Assembly, the council and the County Officer's Association of Georgia worked to pass a salary bill which was signed into law. Other legislation dealt with fiduciary and probate law and retirement issues. The council also worked with the Department of Vital Records and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia to seek a compromise on the matter of fees collected for the handling of vital records; no decision was reached on this issue.
In fiscal year 1994, the council created a newsletter committee. Three issues were published containing information on matters of probate law and news of interest to the membership.
- - - - - - - - Council of State Court Judges - - - - - - - -
The Council of State Court Judges was created 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 1994 the council continued its educational efforts and increased the activities of the executive committee through quarterly meetings.
49

- - - - - - - Council of Superior Court Clerks - - - - - - -

The Council of Superior Court Clerks, composed of 159 superior court clerks, was

created by an act of the General Assembly in 1990. It's purpose is to further the

improvement of superior court clerks throughout the state in the execution of their

duties and to promote and assist in their training. In fiscal year 1994, the council

dedicated its resources to fulfilling this mission.

The council began publishing The Record, a quarterly publication featuring

articles aboutrecords management, technology, business administration, courtmanage-

ment, general jurisprudence and other topics of interest to superior court clerks.

In addition, the council provided on-going technical support. Publications

uee included the

Update, a newsletter about the changes in the Georgia Uniform

Commercial Code; Intangible Recording Tax Laws in Georgia, a review of statutes,

policies and procedures applicable to collection and distribution of intangible

recording tax; and other publications related to records management and admin-

istrative procedures.

The council, in partnership with the Institute of Continuing Education, also

began planning and promoting the first statewide offering of the records manage-

ment phase of the Court Executive Development Program. The course, designed by

the Institute for Court Management (rCM), prepares individuals for management

and leadership positions in the courts. It will be held November 16 and 17,1995.

Council officers and members attended rCM and National Association for Court

Management meetings and conferences, as well as other national and state activities.

- - - - - - - Council of Superior Court Judges - - - - - - -

The Council of Superior Court Judges, created in 1985, operates to further the improvement of the superior courts of Georgia and the administration of justice. All superior court judges and retired superior court judges are eligible for council membership.
The executive committee is authorized to manage the projects and policies of the council. It is composed of three officers elected by the entire council, the immediate past president and 10 administrative judges who represent the 10 judicial administrative districts. Central office staff assist the council and its committees in matters relating to court services and administration, uniform court rules, preparation of jury instructions, legislation and coordinating information and activities involving the 10 district court administrators on issues of statewide concern.
The council holds two meetings each year in conjunction with its continuing education programs. Twenty standing committees study and address matters relating to the purposes and objectives of the council. Some committees provide support to judges on matters including continuing education, benchhook, courts automation.compensation and retirement and indigent defense. Other committees serve as a liaison with court-related officials, agencies and organizations such as
50

superior court clerks, district attorneys, the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education (ICJE) and the State Bar of Georgia. Council representatives fill appointed seats on panels such as the Governor's Task Force on Correctional Institutions and Populations, the Supreme Court Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Court System and the State Bar Commission on Family Courts.
During fiscal year 1994, the council approved amendments to the Uniform Rules for the Superior Courts relating to entry of appearance and pleadings, enactment of local rules and court-mandated programs in domestic relations cases. Work on a strategic plan for the superior courts was initiated as thelong-range planning committee held sessions to develop mission statements and future directions.
During the 1994 legislative session, the council supported a bill providing for a three percent maximum annual cost-of-living increase for retired judges under the Senior Judges Retirement Act. This measure was adopted by the legislature. A proposal to lower from 65 to 60 the age at which judges can receive full benefits with 16 years' service did not pass.
Superior court judges' continuing education seminarswere heldin August 1993 and January 1994. One hundred fifty-four judges attended the summer program and 116 participated in the winter program. Superior court judges served as faculty for these and other seminars conducted by ICJE. Six new judges appointed by the governor joined the council.

Sentence Review

Sentence review panels evaluate convicted offenders' sentences to assure that

a given sentence is not excessive in relation to other sentences for similar crimes

throughout the state. In comparing sentences, the panel considers the nature of the

crime and the defendant's prior criminal record. Each sentence review panel is

composed of three superior court judges. Panel members, including a substitute,

are appointed and chairpersons are designated by the council president for three-

month terms.

Cases subject to panel jurisdiction are those sentences

totaling 12 or more years set by a superior court judge without a jury. Exceptions include sentences set in misdemeanor cases and murder cases where a life sentence

Sentence Review Panel Caseload Summary

has been applied. The panel may reduce or suspend sentences, but is prohibited from increasing punishments.
The panel reviews 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. Panel actions are not reviewable and orders are binding on the defendant and the superior court that imposed the sentence.
The panel affirmed 1,627 cases and reduced 45 cases

10- Year Comparison of Cases Reviewed

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

Cases Cases Percent Affirmed Reduced Reduced

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

1,627

45

4.5% 3.7% 2.5% 3.7% 3.8% 2.5% 3.9% 2.2% 1.9% 2.7%

in fiscal year 1994, a total caseload of 1,627. The reduc-

tion rate for the year was 2.7 percent.

51

- - - - - Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution - - - - -
In October 1992, the Georgia Supreme Court created the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution to develop and oversee a comprehensive statewide alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system. The commission, comprised of judges, lawyers, legislators and citizens, is charged with the following responsibilities: to administer a statewide ADR program; to oversee the development and ensure the quality of all court-annexed or court-referred ADR programs; to certify court programs; to develop criteria for training and qualifications of neutrals (third-party participants who act as mediators, arbitrators and case evaluators); to establish standards of conduct for neutrals.
The Supreme Court also created the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution to implement the policies of the commission. During fiscal year 1994, the Office of Dispute Resolution created content guidelines, approved and certified court programs and registered approximately 600 neutrals. The Office of Dispute Resolution also offered training and technical assistance.
For the fourth year, a Georgia Bar Foundation grant helped support ADR. In fiscal year 1994, $75,000 was distributed to local programs by the Office of Dispute Resolution. Permanent funding for ADR programs was legislated through a filing fee surcharge of up to $5.00 in participating counties (OCGA 15-23-1-13).
- - - - - - Georgia Courts Automation Commission - - - - - -
The Georgia Courts Automation Commission (GCAC), formerly the Electronic Data Processing Committee (EDP) of the Judicial Council, 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 Officeofthe Courts (AOC)assists the GCACstaff by providing project direction, support and fiscal coordination for the commission. Additional assistance and technical support is provided by the Computer Services Division of the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS). In fiscal year 1994, GCAC held monthly meetings to provide policy guidance and coordination for automation projects undertaken by or for the courts and related criminal justice agencies.
Automated case-management and inquiry Primary efforts in fiscal year 1994 were directed toward tailoring and piloting
. an automated case-management software system, SUSTAIN, for use in Georgia courts.
52

A statewide license for this system was purchased in fiscal year 1993 using a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. SUSTAIN has been tested in a local county court, and the software is offered at no charge to any court. The software system operates on IBM and compatible personal computers or networks and can be adapted to meet the needs of individual courts. Its features include docketing, case assignments, indexing, scheduling, calendar preparation, notice preparation, accounting and statistical reporting. Data collected and managed by the system can be forwarded to state computers electronically, reducing paperwork and eliminating duplicate data entry. Electronic transfer of information also improves the timeliness and accuracy of these records.
The 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. Expansion of ADI was hampered in fiscal year 1994 by security concerns and lack of access by authorized court users to secure terminals on the Georgia Online (GO) Network.
Automated tools Georgia Jury, a jury-management software system that includes jury-selection,
check-writing and summons-producing capabilities, has been distributed to 66 courts and is fully operational in 38 counties. This software package, written and made available to the courts by DOAS, runs on a personal computer using DOS. Georgia Jury is available to other courts upon request.
A contract between the Code Revision Commission and the Michie Company allows judicial and executive branch subscribers 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), rules of court and Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions. The number of judicial branch subscribers reached 400 during the year. Subscription requests are processed by the AOC and forwarded to the vendor.
Automated tracking and reporting takes place in 16 traffic courts using the Uniform Traffic Citation Package. This software system, developed by DOAS, tracks traffic tickets and reports convictions to the Department of Public Safety's driver history database through anyone of four electronic means. Electronic reporting of convictions reduces paperwork and provides timely, accurate statewide data on traffic offenders, including Dill and habitual offender records.
State funding was awarded for GCAC through a supplemental appropriation to the AOC. Improvement funds appropriated to GCAC for fiscal year 1995 will enhance court automation efforts.
- - - - - - - Georgia Indigent Defense 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,
53

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 programs; 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 and other administrative services; and 4) to prepare budget reports and management information required for implementation of the Georgia Indigent Defense Act.
The council monitors the implementation of Supreme Court guidelines for the operation of local indigent 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 stateappropriated funds.
During fiscal year 1994, monetary assistance was provided to 106 counties for operation of their indigent defense programs. These grants, totaling $1.75 million, were funded from state appropriations, the Georgia Bar Foundation and the Sheriff's and Clerk's Trust Account Program.
The council provides significant in-kind assistance to local programs. The Felony Trial Division provides representation at the request of the superior court judges of Fulton County to indigent defendants in the Fulton County municipalities, excluding Atlanta.
The Mental Health AdvocacyDivision 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 IndigentDefense Resource Center provides research assistance to attorneys across the state and offers CLE (continuing legal education) accredited seminars to lawyers.
The Multicounty Public Defenders Office (MPD) is a statewide trial resource center for attorneys handling death penalty cases. MPD assists lawyers by providing 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.
The council also responds to inmate requests for assistance. A speakers bureau and job bank for attorneys are maintained by the council. The council also offers volunteer opportunities for undergraduate and law students.
54

----- Georgia Magistrate Courts Training Council -----

(Annual Report for calendar year 1994, 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 annual20-hour recertifi-

cation training requirement. In 1994, the recertification program included a new

series of topics on professionalism: sexual harassment, gender bias, fairness and

consistency in setting bonds, disciplinary procedures, personal conduct and a

Judicial Qualifications Commission update.

In calendar year 1993, the training council 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 2O-hour requirement. Three

20-hour recertification programs were

Georgia Magistrate Courts Training Council:

held.

1994 Seminars

The training council now allows

recertification credit to be earned by

Seminar

Location

Attendees

attending programs other than the traditional 20-hour programs and has dropped its requirement for a traditional course at least every other year.
In conjunction with the Council of Magistrate Court Judges, the council began a mentor judges program. The

40-Hour Certification

Athens

40

20-Hour Recertification

Savannah

142

20-Hour Recertification

Duluth

78

20-Hour Recertification

Macon

98

40-Hour Certification

Athens

46

Mediation Fundamentals

Gainesville

32

Bench Skills

Chattanooga

19

Constitutional Criminal Procedure Savannah

27

Institute of Continuing Judicial Educa-

Total

482

tion assigns new judges to mentor judges.

No more than two judges are assigned to each mentor. A one-day training

Other methods of certification

session for potential mentors was held in September.
The council contracted with the

Attending out of state seminars

2

Serving as instructor

2

Attending other than MCTC-sponsored seminars

1

National Judicial College, the Ameri-

Total

5

can Judicature Society and Alternative

Dispute Resolution Associates for instate programs on bench skills, constitutional criminal procedure and

458 magistrates were certified in 1994 (24 judges attended more than one program)

mediation fundamentals. In addition,

55

the council sponsored 10 attendees to the Court Technology Conference in Nashville, TN.
Two artificial intelligence programs were developed under a contract with Georgia College in Milledgeville. This software will be used to train magistrate court personnel in the issuance of bad check citations and search warrants.
The following publications were distributed: the Magistrates Benchbook (to new magistrates) or its update (to sitting magistrates), the Georgia Magistrate CourtHandbookby Judge WayneM. Purdom, the Magistrate Court Guide by Judge Johnny W. Warren and the Georgia Law Enforcement Handbook published by the Harrison Company.
- - - - - - Georgia State-Federal Judicial Council - - - - - -
The State-Federal Judicial Council fosters a cooperative relationship between the state and federal judiciaries of Georgia. Council membership includes all federal judges in Georgia, justices of the Georgia Supreme Court, judges of the Georgia Court of Appeals and judges of the superior courts. The executive committee is comprised of the chief judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals; three U.S. District Court judges named by the chief judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals; one U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge named by the chief judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals; the chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court; the chief judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals; five superior court judges named by the chief justice of the Supreme Court; the president of the Council of Superior Court Judges; and the president-elect and immediate past-president of the State Bar of Georgia.
The council holds an annual meeting, planned by the executive committee. In 1994, the program focused on Judicial Misconduct and Attorney Misconduct. For the first time, members of the bar were invited to attend the annual meeting, and the program was approved for judicial and legal continuing education credits.
- - - - - 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 1994. This recordnumber placed ICJE among the top continuing judicial education agencies in the country.
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
56

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 training for new judges and 12 hours of continuing education annually. Magistrate court judges fulfill an initial 40-hour training requirement (attorney magistrates are exempt) and annually attend 20-hours of recertification training. 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 1994, the Institute offered programs for judges of the superior,
state, juvenile, probate, magistrate and municipal 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 below.

Institute of Continuing Judicial Education: Fiscal Year 1994 Instructional Activities

Date

Program

Location Attendees

july 14-15

judicial ethics for non-lawyer judges Americus

19

July 21-23

Magistrates 20-hour recertification Columbus

70

August 2-4 Superior court judges

summer seminar

St. Simons

154

August 11-13 Magistrates 20-hour recertification Decatur

80

August 11-13 Probate court clerks seminar

Hiawassee

5

August 25-27 Municipal court judges

12-hour recertification

jekyll Island

118

Aug.29-Sept. 3 Magistrates 40-hour recertification Athens

65

Sept. 10-11 Municipal court judges

12-hour recertification

Athens

77

Sept. 20-22 Municipal court judges

20-hour certification

Athens

35

Sept. 22-24 Georgia Association of

Independent juvenile Courts

Personnel fall seminar

Columbus

108

Sept. 27-29 juvenile court judges fall seminar Augusta

69

Oct. 6-7

Administrative law judges,

Georgia executive branch

agencies annual seminar

Athens

54

Oct. 20-22 State court judges fall seminar

Amicalola Falls 55

Nov. 17-19 Superior court clerks fall seminar Savannah

125

Nov. 17-19 Probate court judges fall seminar Savannah

107

jan.12

Superior court clerks winter seminar Atlanta

34

Jan. 12

Probate court judges winter seminar Atlanta

34

Jan. 13-14

Municipal court judges

faculty development

Greensboro

16

jan. 18-21

Superior court judges winter seminar Athens

116

jan. 19-20

Court administrators seminar

Athens

10

Feb. 6-11

Magistrates 40-hour certification Athens

46

Feb. 7-9

Municipal court judges

20-hour recertification

Athens

17

March 7-9

Municipal court judges

faculty development

Athens

16

March 9-11 Magistrate court judges faculty

development

Hilton Head

21

Date

Program

Location Attendees

March 28-30 Workers' compensation

administrative law judges

annual seminar

St. Simons

23

April 6-8

judicial secretaries annual

seminar

Savannah

202

April 15

Updating your jury list

Teleconference 209

April 20-21 Municipal court judges,

WordPerfect & CD ROM

technology

Athens

11

April 20-22 Probate court judges spring seminar Athens

184

April 25-26 juvenile court clerks

annual seminar

jekyll Island

69

April 26-28 Superior court clerks spring

seminar

jekyll Island

156

April 26-29 juvenile Court Probation Officers

Faculty Development

Pine Mountain 21

May 16-18 juvenile court judges spring

seminar

jekyll Island

79

May 18-20 State court judges spring seminar Jekyll Island

79

May 25-27 Georgia Association of

Independent Juvenile Courts

Personnel spring seminar

Augusta

72

june 1-3

Magistrate court judges 20-hour

recertification

Savannah

142

june 7

Probate court clerks traffic seminar jekyll Island

27

june 8-10

Probate court clerks summer

seminar

jekyll Island

56

june 14

Superior court clerks summer

seminar

jekyll Island

35

june 14

Probate court judges summer

seminar

jekyll Island

35

june 15-17 Probate court judges traffic seminar jekyll Island

26

june 23-24 Municipal court judges 20-hour

certification

Augusta

35

Quarterly

WordPerfect

Athens, Macon 34

Quarterly

CD ROM introduction/review

Athens

51

57

Other ICJE initiatives during fiscal year 1994 included the following: The Georgia Jury Commissioners satellite teleconference was telecast from Athens to 10 sites across the state. A specialized, experimental effort focusing on judicial practice for Department of Labor Administrative Law Judges was completed. Assistance was given to the Georgia Supreme Court Committee for Gender Equality in designing an educational emphasis for the upcoming year's activities. A record-keeping relationship was initiated with the Court Reporters Training Council, which began implementing its mandatory continuing education rule on January 1. A four-year, cyclical, long-range curriculum plan for juvenile court judges was established and implemented. Judges and Humanities Studies continued, expanding this year beyond superior court judges to include a session on Shakespeare's Macbeth for probate court judges and judicial secretaries. Selected superior court judges were introduced to Islamic Law during an intensive day-long session. Faculty training and course development continued. As in past years, this effort primarily involved faculty for the regionally delivered magistrate court and municipal court recertification courses. Both judicial and support personnel were introduced to "Georgia Law on ~ Disc," a computerized version of state statutes, appellate cases and court rules. Courses were conducted using fixed and portable computer labs in Athens, Columbus, Decatur and Macon. The Georgia Court Futures Study Project carried on in abbreviated form through articles on court futures developments in the Georgia Courts Journal, along with training exercises delivered at conference activities for court reporters and superior court clerks. Two videotapes, "Inside the Municipal Court: The Faces of Justice" and "Inside the Municipal Court: Highlighted Cases," were completed. Several nationally based specialty courses were procured for in-state delivery. These included "Judicial Ethics for Non-Lawyers" from the American Judicature Society and "Traffic Court Practice" from the National Judicial College.
Administration The ICJE fiscal year 1994 operating budget of $1,035,954 was allocated as
follows: $20,000 for nationally based training of superior court judges; $324,600 for administration and training of magistrate court judges and staff; $110,285 for administration and training of municipal court judges and staff; $502,250 for general administration and omnibus recurring product operations of the ICJE; and $78,819 for on-site services, MCLE fees and special projects. Of 46 applications for financial aid to attend national courses, 38 were approved.
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; one member of the State Bar of
58

Georgia, one from the Judicial Council; and ex officio members, including the immediate past chairperson of the Institute board of trustees and the board of trustees of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the deans of our four accredited law schools. A liaison member representing the Supreme Court and an advisory member also serve on the board.
- - - - - - - Judicial Administrative Districts - - - - - - -
Regional court administration for the superior courts is organized through the Judicial Administration Act of 1976. Ten judicial administrative districts are served by an administrative judge selected by the superior court judges and senior judges of that district. Each district also employs a district court administrator.
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. Assignment of senior judges and other judges to serve in the district or elsewhere was handled by district personnel.
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.
District staff assist chief judges and clerks in jury management projects, including automated jury selection, revision of jury boxes and orientation sessions for jury commissioners.
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.
- - - - - - - Judicial Nominating Commission - - - - - - -
The Judicial Nominating Commission, created by executive order, solicits nominations of qualified individuals to fill vacant or newly created judgeships. The governor selects new judges from a list of candidates prepared by the commission.
Qualifications for all judges are specified either in the state constitution or in pertinent statutes. Nominations are sought from leaders of the civic and legal communities. Commission members evaluate candidates based on a standard
59

questionnaire and a legal article or brief submitted by the candidate. The commission also interviews attorneys familiar with candidates and candidates themselves.
The commission held 10 meetings in fiscal year 1994 to consider candidates for one vacancy on the Supreme Court, one vacancy on the Court of Appeals, five superior court vacancies (in the Brunswick, Dublin, Chattahoochee, Ocmulgee and Southern Judicial Circuits), three state court vacancies (in Gwinnett, Chatham and Muscogee Counties) and one vacancy on the Richmond County Civil and Magistrate Courts.
Since 1973, the commission has acted on a total of 233 judgeships, including 16 Supreme Court vacancies, 16 Court of Appeals vacancies, 133 superior court seats, 58 state court posts, two municipal court judgeships and three 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. Appointed members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
- - - - - - - Judicial Qualifications Commission - - - - - - -
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 commission. 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 1994, the commission held 11 meetings and disposed of four formal complaints by submitting findings and recommendations to the Supreme Court. At the beginning of the year, four complaints were pending from fiscal year 1993. During fiscal year 1994, the commission received and acted upon 142 new matters, including 120 complaints and 22 requests for opinion. At year end, 14 complaints remained pending.
The 124 judges named in the 120 new complaints (two named two judges, and one named three) included one Supreme Court justice; five Court of Appeals judges (one judge was named in two complaints); 41 superior court judges; five senior judges; 11 state court judges; four probate court judges; 40 magistrate judges; nine juvenile court judges; two municipal court judges; three traffic court judges; two recorders court judges; and one pro tempore judge.
60

Including carryovers from fiscal year 1993, the commission handled 110 complaints as follows: 36 dismissed as appropriate for appeal as a matter of law, unsupported or without merit; 48 dismissed after minimal investigation; one dismissed after a conference with the judge; one judge resigned (under two separate complaints); three judges were privately reprimanded; 12 judges were admonished or cautioned by letter to avoid recurrence of the action giving rise to complaint; two judges were suspended and publicly reprimanded; one judge was suspended until satisfying training requirements; and five complaints were withdrawn.
Twenty-four requests for advisory opinions were disposed of as follows: 13 formal opinions were issued; the commission declined to give an opinion in one case; seven informal opinions were issued; and one opinion regarding a clarification of administrative procedures was issued.
In one formal proceeding, counsel for the judge proposed an agreed-upon disposition consisting of a private reprimand and a written assurance of the judge's intent to comply fully with the Code of Judicial Conduct in all future matters. The commission accepted the recommendation of its counsel to dispose of the matter on the basis proposed; the agreed-upon sanctions were imposed.
In a second formal proceeding, the Supreme Court approved the recommendation of the commission that the respondent be given a public reprimand and a 90-day suspension from office without pay. The reprimand was issued by the chief judge of the circuit and the 90-day suspension was served.
In a third formal proceeding, the judge was privately reprimanded. The fact of the reprimand, but not the content, was made public.
In a fourth formal proceeding, the judge agreed, after imposition of additional terms and conditions by the commission, to admit the charges as filed, to receive a public reprimand and to accept a 90-day suspension without pay.
Known sources of complaints for the fiscal year included the following: 79 litigants or their relatives, 20 judges, seven auxiliary judicial personnel, one bar group, eight attorneys, three anonymous, five nonlitigants, two public officials and seven others.
In addition to the complaints filed and disposed of during fiscal year 1994, the commission processed approximately 592 requests for complaint forms, handled numerous telephone inquiries from both judges and the public and conferred privately with four judges about repeated instances of conduct not warranting disciplinary action. The commission also revised and updated previously published summaries and opinions. These were distributed along with the revised Code of Judicial Conduct and amended Rules of the JQC to the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, all superior and state court judges, various state and county law libraries and other judicial personnel.
The seven-member 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
61

Bar of Georgia and two citizens selected by the governor. A director, investigator and secretary serve as staff. During fiscal year 1994, a new chairperson and vice chairperson took office.
Synopses of fiscal year 1994 JQC opinions follow.
Synopses of Judicial Qualifications Commission Opinions: Fiscal Year 1994
Opinion 185. Regular or exclusive representation of indigent criminal defendants by a part-time judge, whose judicial responsibilities include issuance of criminal warrants or trial of criminal cases, might destroy the appearance of impartiality and integrity essential to the administration of justice and, therefore, is inappropriate. Opinion 186. It is inappropriate for a Georgia judge to be in charge of a fund-raising campaign or to solicit funds from other judges, all of whom are graduates of a single law school's masters program in jurisprudence, in order to establish a "chair" at that school in honor of the professor who founded this unique academic degree program for judges. Opinion 187. A part-time associate judge of juvenile court should not preside in cases prosecuted on behalf of the Department of Family and Children Services by an attorney associated in law practice with that judge. Opinion 188. While disqualification can be sought under the general reasonableness standards of the Code, automatic disqualification is not required where the divorced husband of a judge's niece, or any member of this attorney's law firm, appears as counsel. Opinion 189. It is permissible for a sitting judge to serve as a member of the Georgia editorial board of Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company and receive an honorarium for performing specified duties in connection with such service. Opinion 190. Subject to restrictions and limitations stated in the Opinion, it is appropriate for a sitting state court judge to serve as member of the advisory board to the Gwinnett Branch of the Justice Center of Atlanta, despite the fact that the judge routinely refers appropriate cases to the agency for mediation. Opinion 191. A private, personal political contribution by a judge of a sum which is statutorily required to be publicly disclosed does not constitute a "public endorsement" of the candidate prohibited by Canon 7A(l)(b). Opinion 192. A part-time juvenile court judge, who simultaneously represents the county Board of Education, is not automatically disqualified to preside in all juvenile matters that occur on or near school property. Opinion 193. It would be inappropriate for a law clerk for a superior court judge to organize and operate a research-for-hire business as such activity would likely lead to violations of Canon 2. Opinion 194. It would not be inappropriate for the chief judge of each judicial circuit, at the request of the State Commission on Family Violence, to convene a meeting to decide how best to form a circuitwide task force. Opinion 195. It is not inappropriate for a part-time magistrate to simultaneously be employed as the clerk of the recorder's court of the same county in which the judge presides as a part-time magistrate. Opinion 196. The mayor of a city may not simultaneously serve as the judge of that city's municipal court. Opinion 197.Inlightofthe languageofCanon5B(1) of the 1994 Code of Iudicial Conduct, continued service by a full-time judge on the Board of Directors for the Georgia affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (" ACLU") is inappropriate.
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- - - - Supreme Court Committee for Gender Equality - - - -
The Supreme Court Committee for Gender Equality was established in 1993 to implement the recommendations of the Georgia Commission on Gender Bias in the Judicial System. The committee is charged with 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.
During fiscal year 1994, the Supreme Court granted changes to committee membership as follows: 1) deleted the categories or groups represented in the membership, with all appointments made by the Supreme Court; 2) added a member jointly recommended by Georgia NOW and the League of Women Voters; and 3) added the executive directors of the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. The committee now has 15 members.
The Supreme Court also agreed that the committee serve as a clearinghouse to direct gender-based complaints to the appropriate disciplinary body. The committee devised an intake form and a list of disciplinary or oversight bodies to whom complaints should be referred.
The committee approved a model policy for the handling of sexual harassment complaints. After Supreme Court approval, the model policy will be made available for consideration and adoption by local courts. The policy, which would apply to all judicial and nonjudicial employees, sets forth the process for filing, investigation and resolution of sexual harassment complaints. The committee also endorsed distribution of the Court Conduct Handbook. The handbook addresses behaviors that are forms of gender, race and ethnic bias and is published by the State Bar Committee on the Involvement of Women and Minorities in the Profession.
Also during the year, the Council of State Court Judges, the Council of Juvenile Court Judges, the Council of Probate Court Judges, the Council of Magistrate Court Judges and the Georgia Indigent Defense Council adopted the Model Sexual Harassment Policy developed by the committee. The policy was also distributed to the superior and state court clerks for their consideration.
The committee prepared an Executive Summary of the original 400-page report "Gender and Justice in the Courts" and distributed it to all members of the General Assembly. In addition, 1500 copies of the Georgia State Law Review containing the complete report were reprinted. The committee also contracted to produce an edited video of testimony given at the public hearings held by the Commission on Gender Bias. The 50-minute tape containing segments on sexual assault, domestic violence, sentencing, child custody and visitation, judicial selection, sexual harassment and court conduct is available for training purposes.
Working in cooperation with the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, the committee identified and purchased a training program for judges on civil and criminal domestic violence. Another program dealing with race and gender issues was purchased in cooperation with the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias.
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-----Judicial Personnel Changes: Fiscal Year 1994 - - - - -
SUPREME COURT justice Hugh P. Thompson, appointed March 1, 1994 - Dec. 31, 1994.
SUPERIOR COURTS Brunswick judicial Circuit judge E.M. Wilkes III, appointed Sept. 28, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1994. Chattahoochee judicial Circuit judge john D. Allen, appointed Oct. 27, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1994. Dublin judicial Circuit judge H. Gibbs Flanders, appointed Sept. 27, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1994. Eastern judicial Circuit judge Michael Karpf, appointed August 5, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1994. Northeastern judicial Circuit judge C. Andrew Fuller, appointed july 29,1993 - Dec. 31, 1994. Ocmulgee judicial Circuit judge Hulane Evans George, appointed May 25,1994 - Dec. 31, 1996.
STATE COURTS Brooks County judge Daniel M. Mitchell jr., appointed Oct. 11,1993 - Dec. 31, 1994. Chatham County judge Penny [. Haas, appointed Oct. 7, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1994. Gwinnett County judge Melodie Snell Conner, appointed Oct. 28,1993 - Dec. 31,1994. jeff Davis County judge Nathan B. Deaton, appointed Sept. 29, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1994. Mcintosh County judge O. Dale jenkins, appointed Oct. 11, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1994. Muscogee County judge Andrew Prather II, appointed jan. 21, 1994 - Dec. 31, 1994.
JUVENILE COURTS
Appling County judge [. Alexander johnson, appointed Dec. 1, 1993 - Oct. 31, 1998.
DeKalb County judge Gregory A. Adams, appointed june 24, 1994 - june 24, 1998.
Seminole County judge Ronnie joe Lane, appointed june 16, 1994 - june 15, 1998.
PROBATE COURTS Echols County judge Donald R. Fender, elected Dec. 6, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1996.
CHIEF MAGISTRATES
Cobb County judge D. Victor Reynolds, appointed May 16, 1994 - Dec. 31, 1996.
Dooly County judge Mary A. Sanders, appointed March 3, 1994 - Dec. 31, 1996.
Echols County judge Donald R. Fender, elected Dec. 6, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1996.
Hancock County judge W. Elmer Harper, appointed june 1, 1994 - Dec. 31, 1995.
Montgomery County judge john E. Morrison, appointed june 6, 1994 - Dec. 31, 1996.
Upson County judge Danny C. Bentley, appointed Oct. 22, 1993 - Dec. 31, 1996.
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