HB 1057: Gwinnett County; State Court; provide eighth judge January 1, 2027 and ninth judge January 1, 2028

The State Court of Gwinnett County currently has seven judges under a 1977 law that has been amended several times since. This bill increases that number in two steps. Starting January 1, 2027, an eighth judge is added to the court. Starting January 1, 2028, a ninth judge is added. For each new seat, the Governor appoints the judge to an initial term (the eighth judge's term runs through December 31, 2028, and the ninth judge's term runs through December 31, 2030), after which the seat becomes an elected position filled at the general election before the term expires, serving four-year terms. The new judges get the same pay, powers, and court resources as the existing judges. The Governor may appoint the eighth judge before January 1, 2027, and the ninth judge as early as July 1, 2027, but neither may take office before their respective effective dates.

• Adds an eighth judge to the State Court of Gwinnett County effective January 1, 2027, initially appointed by the Governor through December 31, 2028.
• Adds a ninth judge to the same court effective January 1, 2028, initially appointed by the Governor through December 31, 2030.
• Sets future judges for both new seats to be chosen by election, serving four-year terms once the initial appointed terms end.
• Gives the new judges the same pay, powers, and authority as the court's current judges.
• Authorizes Gwinnett County's government to provide the new judges with courtroom space, offices, equipment, and staff, paid for out of the county treasury as a court expense.
• Allows the Governor to appoint the eighth judge before January 1, 2027, and the ninth judge no earlier than July 1, 2027, though neither can take office ahead of the set dates.

Judges and staff of the State Court of Gwinnett County, Gwinnett County's government and taxpayers who fund court facilities and personnel, the Governor's office which makes the initial appointments, and residents and litigants whose cases go through the state court.

Adding two judges over two years is meant to expand the court's capacity to handle its caseload. It also creates two new elected judicial offices in Gwinnett County over time and commits county funds to housing and staffing the additional judges' courtrooms.

• Section 1-1 (Part I) rewrites Section 13(a) of the 1977 Act to raise the court from seven to eight judges effective January 1, 2027, with the new judge initially appointed by the Governor through December 31, 2028.
• Section 2-1 (Part II) further amends Section 13(a) to raise the court from eight to nine judges effective January 1, 2028, with that judge initially appointed by the Governor through December 31, 2030.
• Both new judgeships shift to election by the public at the general election before each term expires, followed by four-year terms.
• Section 3-1 sets the general effective date as upon the Governor's approval, but delays Part I's effect until January 1, 2027 and Part II's effect until January 1, 2028, while letting the Governor make early appointments (the ninth judge appointment no earlier than July 1, 2027).
• Section 3-2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 647
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-16Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-16Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-02-09Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-06House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Dar'shun Kendrick (D, HD-095)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
• Samuel Park (D, HD-107)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 6, 2026

   163 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #480

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 16, 2026

   48 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #719

• Gwinnett County courts
• state court judges
• local judicial appointments
• Georgia courts