HB515: HB515 Augusta Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for a sixth judge

The Augusta Judicial Circuit currently has five superior court judges under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2). This bill would raise that number to six by amending the statute that sets how many judges each circuit gets. The new judge would first be appointed by the Governor for a term starting January 1, 2026 and running through the end of 2028. After that, the seat would be filled through the state's regular nonpartisan judicial elections, starting in 2028 for a four-year term beginning in 2029. The bill spells out that the new judge has the same powers, pay, and duties as the circuit's existing judges, lets the circuit's judges divide up caseloads and jury duty among themselves, allows hiring an extra court reporter, and lets the circuit's counties provide office space and staff for the new judge. Most provisions take effect January 1, 2026, though the appointment process can begin as soon as the Governor signs the bill.

• Amends Georgia's superior court staffing law (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2) to raise the number of judges in the Augusta Judicial Circuit from five to six.
• Has the Governor appoint the new judge for a term running from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.
• Requires the seat to be filled afterward through the state's nonpartisan judicial elections, starting in 2028 for four-year terms.
• Gives the new judge the same pay, powers, and duties as the circuit's other superior court judges, funded by both the state and the circuit's counties.
• Lets the circuit's judges divide caseloads, set court calendars, and jointly manage jury impaneling, with disputes settled by majority vote or the chief judge.
• Authorizes the circuit to hire an additional court reporter and lets the counties provide office space, equipment, and staff for the new judge.

The bill affects residents and litigants in the Augusta Judicial Circuit, the circuit's existing superior court judges, the Governor's office (which makes the initial appointment), county governments that help fund and house the courts, and any future candidates for the new judicial seat.

Adding a sixth judge could speed up how quickly civil and criminal cases move through the Augusta Judicial Circuit's superior courts by spreading the workload across more judges, while also creating new costs for the state and the circuit's counties, which help pay judicial salaries and provide court facilities.

• Section 1 changes the number listed for the Augusta Circuit in O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2 from five judges to six.
• Section 2 formally adds the sixth judgeship to the circuit.
• Section 3 has the Governor appoint the new judge through 2028, then requires election of successors starting with the 2028 nonpartisan judicial election.
• Section 4 gives the new judge the same statewide judicial powers and authority as any other superior court judge.
• Section 5 sets the new judge's qualifications, salary, and expense allowance to match the circuit's other judges, paid by the state and the circuit's counties.
• Section 7 lets the circuit's judges jointly set dockets, calendars, and workload division, with majority or chief-judge rule in disputes.
• Section 9 authorizes hiring an additional court reporter for the circuit.
• Section 13 sets the effective date: the appointment process can begin once the Governor signs the bill, with all other provisions effective January 1, 2026.

1. 2025-03-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
3. 2025-02-21House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-20House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-19House Hopper (House)

• Mark Newton (R, HD-127)Primary sponsor
• Brian Prince (D, HD-132)
• L.C. Myles (D, HD-126)
• Karlton Howard (D, HD-129)
• Lynn Heffner (D, HD-130)

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