HB666: HB666 Clayton Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for a sixth judge

The Clayton Judicial Circuit, which covers Clayton County's superior courts, currently has five judges under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2). This bill would raise that number to six. The Governor would appoint the new judge to a term starting January 1, 2026 and running through December 31, 2028, after which a successor would be chosen in the 2028 nonpartisan judicial election for a regular four-year term. The bill spells out that the new judge has the same powers, pay, and qualifications as the circuit's other judges, and that the judges can divide up caseloads, jury duties, and courtroom business among themselves. It also lets the circuit hire an additional court reporter and allows Clayton County's county governments to provide courtrooms, office space, and staff for the new judge. The change takes effect immediately for purposes of appointing the judge, and on January 1, 2026 for everything else.

• Amends Georgia's law on the number of superior court judges (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2) to raise the Clayton Judicial Circuit's judge count from five to six.
• Directs the Governor to appoint the new sixth judge for a term from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.
• Requires the new judge's successor to be chosen in the 2028 nonpartisan judicial election and every four years after that.
• Gives the new judge the same powers, pay, and qualifications as the circuit's current superior court judges.
• Authorizes the circuit's judges to divide caseloads, set court calendars, and share jury-impaneling duties among themselves.
• Allows the circuit to appoint an additional court reporter and lets Clayton County's counties provide courtrooms, office space, and staff for the added judge.

Residents and litigants in the Clayton Judicial Circuit's superior courts, the Governor (who makes the appointment), the sitting and future superior court judges of the circuit, county governments in the circuit that fund facilities and staff, and court reporters serving the circuit.

Adding a sixth judge could speed up how quickly cases move through Clayton County's superior courts by spreading out caseloads. It also shapes how the new judgeship is filled: by gubernatorial appointment first, then by regular election, affecting who ultimately sits on that bench.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2 to change the Clayton Circuit's judge count from 5 to 6.
• Section 3 sets the appointed judge's term from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028, with a successor elected in 2028 for a four-year term.
• Section 4 gives the new judge full powers and jurisdiction equal to other superior court judges, including sitting on appellate courts.
• Section 5 sets the new judge's pay and qualifications equal to the circuit's other judges, including any county salary supplements.
• Section 7 lets the circuit's judges adopt rules for dividing work, with disputes resolved by majority vote or the chief judge.
• Section 9 authorizes appointment of an additional court reporter for the circuit.
• Section 11 authorizes county governments in the circuit to furnish courtrooms, office space, equipment, and personnel for the judges.
• Section 13 sets the effective date as immediate for appointing the judge, and January 1, 2026 for all other purposes.

1. 2025-03-03House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-27House Hopper (House)

• Demetrius Douglas (D, HD-078)Primary sponsor
• Yasmin Neal (D, HD-079)
• Rob Leverett (R, HD-123)
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)
• Robert Flournoy (D, HD-074)

• Clayton County courts
• superior court judges
• judicial appointments
• Georgia court system