HB557: HB557 Northeastern Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for a sixth judge

The Northeastern Judicial Circuit currently has five superior court judges. This bill amends Georgia's law on the number of superior court judges (O.C.G.A. 15-6-2) to raise that number to six. The Governor would appoint the new, sixth judge for a term running from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028. After that, the seat would be filled through the state's regular nonpartisan judicial elections, starting in 2028 for a term beginning in 2029, and every four years after that. The new judge would have the same powers, pay, and qualifications as the circuit's other judges. The circuit's judges would be allowed to split up casework, jury duties, and court scheduling among themselves, and the circuit could hire an extra court reporter. Counties in the circuit could provide office space and staff for the new judge. The appointment provisions take effect once the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without a signature; the rest of the law takes effect January 1, 2027.

• Amends Georgia's law on superior court judgeships (O.C.G.A. 15-6-2) to increase the Northeastern Judicial Circuit's judges from five to six.
• Directs the Governor to appoint the new sixth judge for a term from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028.
• Sets up a process for electing the judge's successors at the 2028 nonpartisan judicial election and every four years afterward.
• Gives the new judge the same powers, pay, and qualifications as the circuit's existing judges, funded jointly by the state and the circuit's counties.
• Allows the circuit's judges to divide up dockets, jury trials, and other court business among themselves and to appoint an extra court reporter.
• Authorizes county governments in the circuit to provide courtrooms, office space, equipment, and staff for the judges.

This bill affects residents, attorneys, and litigants in the Northeastern Judicial Circuit's counties, the circuit's current and future superior court judges, the Governor's office, county governments that fund and staff the courts, and court reporters working in the circuit.

Adding a sixth judge could ease caseloads and speed up civil and criminal proceedings in the Northeastern Judicial Circuit. It also gives the Governor a near-term appointment power, shifts some costs onto the circuit's county governments, and changes how future judicial elections in the circuit will be organized.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. 15-6-2 to change the Northeastern Circuit's judge count from five to six.
• Section 3 has the Governor appoint the new judge for a term from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2028, with a successor elected in 2028 for a four-year term starting in 2029.
• Section 4 gives the new judge full judicial powers, including the ability to preside over cases in other circuits and sit on appellate courts as allowed by law.
• Section 5 sets the new judge's pay and qualifications equal to the circuit's other superior court judges, funded by the state and circuit counties.
• Section 7 lets the circuit's judges divide dockets and duties among themselves, with disputes resolved by majority vote or the chief judge.
• Section 9 authorizes the circuit to appoint an additional court reporter.
• Section 11 lets county governments in the circuit provide courtrooms, office space, equipment, and personnel, treated as court expenses paid from county funds.
• Section 13 sets the effective date: immediately for the appointment process, and January 1, 2027 for all other purposes.

1. 2026-02-03Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-02House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
3. 2026-02-02House Third Readers (House)
4. 2026-01-28House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
5. 2025-02-24House Second Readers (House)
6. 2025-02-21House First Readers (House)
7. 2025-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)Primary sponsor
• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)
• David Clark (R, HD-100)
• Emory Dunahoo (R, HD-031)
• Derrick McCollum (R, HD-030)
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 2, 2026

   167 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #467

• superior courts
• judicial appointments
• Northeastern Judicial Circuit
• court staffing
• local government