HB55: HB55 Alapaha Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for an additional judge

The Alapaha Judicial Circuit, which covers a group of south Georgia counties, currently has two superior court judges under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2). This bill increases that number to three. The Governor would appoint the new judge to a term starting January 1, 2026 and running through December 31, 2028. Voters would then choose a successor in the nonpartisan judicial election held in 2028, with that winner taking office in January 2029 for a four-year term, and all later successors elected the same way. The bill also spells out routine details: candidates must specify which judgeship seat they are running for, the new judge has the same powers and pay as the circuit's other judges, the circuit's judges can divide up their workload and pick a chief judge, the circuit can hire an extra court reporter, and the counties in the circuit must provide office space and supplies. The appointment provision takes effect when the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without signature; the rest takes effect January 1, 2026.

• Amends Georgia's law on the number of superior court judges (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2) to add a third judgeship to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit.
• Directs the Governor to appoint the new judge for a term from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, until a successor is elected.
• Requires the seat to be filled afterward through the 2028 nonpartisan judicial election, with the winner serving a four-year term starting in 2029.
• Requires candidates for Alapaha Circuit judgeships to publicly name which incumbent's seat they are running to succeed.
• Gives the new judge the same pay, powers, and jurisdiction as the circuit's existing judges, paid by the state and the circuit's counties.
• Authorizes the circuit's counties to provide courtrooms, office space, equipment, and staff, and allows hiring of an additional court reporter.

Residents and litigants in the Alapaha Judicial Circuit's counties, the Governor's office, candidates for judicial office in the circuit, current and future superior court judges there, county governments that fund court facilities and salaries, and voters who will elect the seat's permanent occupant in 2028.

Adding a third judge is meant to help the circuit handle its caseload with an additional judge appointed right away rather than waiting for an election, while county governments take on added costs for the new judge's office space, staff, and pay.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2 to set the Alapaha Judicial Circuit's judge count at three.
• Section 2 sets the appointed judge's term from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028, with a successor elected in 2028 and later successors elected every four years.
• Section 3 requires judicial candidates in the circuit to designate the specific seat and incumbent they seek to succeed.
• Section 5 sets the new judge's qualifications, salary, expense allowance, and county salary supplements equal to the circuit's other judges.
• Section 7 allows the circuit's judges to divide their workload and choose a chief judge by majority vote or seniority.
• Section 9 authorizes hiring an additional court reporter for the circuit.
• Section 11 requires the circuit's counties to provide courtrooms, office space, equipment, and personnel, funded from each county's treasury.
• Section 13 sets the appointment provision effective upon the Governor's approval, with the rest of the Act effective January 1, 2026.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-05-13
2. 2025-05-13Act 171
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-25House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2025-03-20Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-03-20Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2025-03-13Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• Jaclyn Ford (R, HD-170)Primary sponsor
• James Burchett (R, HD-176)
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
• Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 12, 2025

   166 yea, 1 nay (6 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #27

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 20, 2025

   51 yea, 1 nay (0 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #254

3. PassedHouse voteMarch 25, 2025

   166 yea, 0 nay (9 not voting, 5 absent)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #314

• superior courts
• judicial appointments
• Alapaha Judicial Circuit
• court funding
• judicial elections