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

25 LC 47 3315/AP House Bill 625 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Silcox of the 53rd, Panitch of the 51st, Olaleye of the 59th, Schofield of the 63rd, Holland of the 54th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend an Act creating a State Court of Fulton County by cons olidation of the existing1 Civil Court of Fulton County and the Criminal Court of Fulton County, approved March 24,2 1976 (Ga. L. 1976, p. 3023), as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 24, 19943 (Ga. L. 1994, p. 3944), and by an Act approved May 14, 2003 (Ga. L. 2003, p. 3518), so as4 to provide an additional judge for the State Court of Fulton Co unty; to provide for the5 appointment of the initial additional judge and the election of successors; to provide for terms6 of office of said additional judge and successors to such judge; to provide for the powers and7 privileges of said additional judge; to provide for the compens ation and expenses of said8 additional judge; to provide for related matters; to repeal con flicting laws; and for other9 purposes.10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:11 SECTION 1.12 An Act creating a State Court of Fulton County by consolidation of the existing Civil Court13 of Fulton County and the Criminal Court of Fulton County, approved March 24, 1976 (Ga.14 L. 1976, p. 3023), as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 24, 1994 (Ga. L.15 H. B. 625 - 1 - 25 LC 47 3315/AP 1994, p. 3944), and by an Act approved May 14, 2003 (Ga. L. 200 3, p. 3518), is amended16 by adding at the end of subsection (b) of Section 6 a new paragraph to read as follows:17 "Two additional judges are added to the State Court of Fulton County, thereby increasing18 to 12 the number of judges of said court. Such judges shall be appointed by the Governor19 as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act for a term beginning on the date20 of such appointment and expiring December 31, 2026, and until successors are elected and21 qualified. Successors to the initial judges shall be elected in a manner provided by law for22 the election of judges of the state courts of this state at the nonpartisan general election in23 May 2026, for a term of four years beginning on January 1, 2027, and until their successors24 are elected and qualified. They shall take office on January 1 following the date of the25 election. Such elections shall be held and conducted in a manner provided for by law for26 the election of judges of the state courts of this state. Said additional judges shall have and27 may exercise all powers, duties, dignity, jurisdiction, privile ges, and immunities of the28 present judges of the State Court of Fulton County. The compen sation, salary, and29 contingent expense allowances of said additional judges shall b e the same as that of the30 other judges of the State Court of Fulton County. Any salary su pplements heretofore31 enacted by Fulton County shall also be applicable to the additional judges provided for in32 this Act."33 SECTION 2.34 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.35 H. B. 625 - 2 -