HB722: HB722 Bryan County; State Court; provide for a chief judge and an associate judge

The State Court of Bryan County, formerly the City Court of Pembroke, currently operates under a 1938 law that has been amended several times, most recently in 2023. This bill changes the court's leadership structure by designating the current judge as chief judge and creating a new associate judge position. The chief judge continues serving out their current elected term, with future chief judges elected at general elections for four-year terms. The new associate judge position is part-time, cannot practice law in the same court, and will initially be filled by a gubernatorial appointment for a term running from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028. After that, the associate judge would be elected for four-year terms starting in 2029. Both judges' pay is set by local act of Bryan County's governing authority, and the chief judge is given specific administrative authority over the court's budgeting, scheduling, and rules. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Creates a chief judge position for the State Court of Bryan County, held by the current sitting judge for the rest of their elected term.
• Establishes a new part-time associate judge position that is barred from practicing law within the State Court of Bryan County.
• Directs the Governor to appoint the first associate judge for a term from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.
• Sets up future elections for both the chief judge and associate judge, with the associate judge's first election in 2028 for a term starting in 2029.
• Gives the chief judge formal responsibility for court administration, including budgeting, scheduling, and setting policies and rules.
• States that both judges' pay is set by local act of Bryan County's governing authority, which may also supplement their salaries.

This bill affects the sitting and future judges of the State Court of Bryan County, the Governor's office (which makes the initial associate judge appointment), Bryan County's governing authority (which sets judicial pay), and residents of Bryan County who use the state court system.

Bryan County would gain a second judge to help handle the state court's caseload, with the Governor filling that seat right away rather than waiting for an election. The chief judge would also formally control the court's day-to-day administration, clarifying who runs scheduling and budgeting decisions.

• Section 1 rewrites Section 1.1 to establish a full-time chief judge role, held by the current judge, elected to four-year terms going forward.
• Section 2 rewrites Section 1.2 to create the part-time associate judge position, barred from practicing law in the same court, initially appointed by the Governor for a term from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028.
• Section 2 also sets a 2028 election for a successor associate judge under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-138, for a four-year term beginning January 1, 2029.
• Section 3 adds Section 1.3 requiring both judges to meet qualifications and follow discipline rules under Title 15, Chapter 7 of Georgia law.
• Section 4 adds Section 1.4 giving the chief judge responsibility for the court's administration, including budgeting, scheduling, and policies.
• Section 5 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.

1. 2025-05-01Effective Date 2025-05-01
2. 2025-05-01Act 60
3. 2025-05-01House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-13House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)Primary sponsor
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
• Lehman Franklin (R, HD-160)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 13, 2025

   169 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #273

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2025

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #277

• Bryan County courts
• state court judges
• local government
• judicial appointments