HB625: HB625 Fulton County; State Court; provide additional judge

The State Court of Fulton County currently has ten judges under the 1976 law that created it by merging the county's old Civil Court and Criminal Court. This bill amends that law to add two more judgeships, bringing the total to twelve. The Governor would appoint the initial two judges as soon as practical after the law takes effect, and those appointees would serve until December 31, 2026. Successors would then be chosen in the nonpartisan general election in May 2026, serving four year terms starting January 1, 2027. The new judges get the same powers, jurisdiction, and pay as the court's existing judges, including any local salary supplements Fulton County has approved for the other judges.

• Adds two new judgeships to the State Court of Fulton County, increasing the total number of judges from ten to twelve.
• Directs the Governor to appoint the initial two judges as soon as practical after the law takes effect, serving until December 31, 2026.
• Requires successors to those initial judges to be elected at the May 2026 nonpartisan general election for four year terms starting January 1, 2027.
• Grants the new judges the same powers, duties, jurisdiction, and immunities as the court's current judges.
• Gives the new judges the same compensation, salary, and expense allowances as other State Court of Fulton County judges, including any county salary supplements.

Fulton County residents and litigants who use the State Court of Fulton County, the two new judges and candidates who may run for the seats in 2026, the Governor who makes the initial appointments, and Fulton County government, which funds judicial salaries and supplements.

Adding two judges could let the State Court of Fulton County handle more cases and potentially reduce backlogs or wait times for civil and criminal matters. It also creates two new elected judicial offices that Fulton County voters will decide in the 2026 nonpartisan election.

• Section 1 amends Section 6(b) of the 1976 Act creating the State Court of Fulton County to add two judgeships, increasing the total to twelve.
• The Governor appoints the initial two judges as soon as practical after the effective date, with terms expiring December 31, 2026.
• Successors are elected at the nonpartisan general election in May 2026 for four year terms beginning January 1, 2027.
• The new judges receive the same powers, jurisdiction, privileges, and immunities as the court's other judges.
• The new judges receive the same compensation, salary, and contingent expense allowances as other judges, including any existing Fulton County salary supplements.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-05-13
2. 2025-05-13Act 208
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-04House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)Primary sponsor
• Esther Panitch (D, HD-051)
• Phil Olaleye (D, HD-059)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Betsy Holland (D, HD-054)
• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2025

   172 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #148

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2025

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #291

• Fulton County courts
• state court judges
• judicial elections
• local government law