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House · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session

HB 1215: Middle Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for a third judge

Last action May 11, 2026 · Effective Date

House Bill 1215 adds one new superior court judge each to the Atlanta, Clayton, Middle, Northeastern, and Gwinnett Judicial Circuits in Georgia, to be appointed by the Governor and later elected by voters.

Read the full bill text

These buttons carry the bill's own text, not the summaries below. Copy for LLM, View as markdown, and Send to AI use the Markdown version: the text as filed, then the summaries under a heading that names them as ours. View raw is the text alone.

The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.

In plain language

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2) sets a fixed number of superior court judges for each judicial circuit in the state. This bill increases that number for five circuits: the Atlanta Judicial Circuit goes from 20 to 21 judges, the Clayton Judicial Circuit from 5 to 6, the Middle Judicial Circuit from 2 to 3, the Northeastern Judicial Circuit from 5 to 6, and the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit from 11 to 12. The Governor would appoint each new judge to serve from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028. After that, each seat becomes an elected position, filled at the 2028 nonpartisan judicial election for a four-year term starting January 1, 2029, and every four years after that. The bill also sets how the judges in the Middle and Gwinnett circuits choose a chief judge, lets circuit judges split up caseloads and jury duties, allows each circuit to hire an extra court reporter, and lets county governments provide courtroom space and staff for the new judges. Most provisions take full effect January 1, 2027, though the appointment process can begin once the Governor signs the bill.

What the bill does

  • Adds one new superior court judgeship each to the Atlanta, Clayton, Middle, Northeastern, and Gwinnett Judicial Circuits, changing the totals in O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2.
  • Directs the Governor to appoint each new judge for a term running from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028.
  • Requires the new judgeships to become elected offices starting with the 2028 nonpartisan judicial election, with four-year terms beginning January 1, 2029.
  • Sets up a chief judge election process for the Middle Judicial Circuit and the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit, with two-year terms decided by majority vote of the circuit's judges.
  • Authorizes each affected circuit to appoint an additional court reporter and lets county governments supply courtrooms, office space, and staff for the new judges.
  • Sets the effective date as January 1, 2027 for most purposes, though the Governor can begin the appointment process as soon as the bill is signed.

Who it affects

The bill affects superior court judges, litigants, and court staff in the Atlanta, Clayton, Middle, Northeastern, and Gwinnett Judicial Circuits, the Governor's office (which makes the appointments), voters in those circuits (who will elect successors), and the county governments that fund courtroom facilities and staff.

Why it matters

Adding judges to these five circuits means more judicial capacity to hear cases, which can affect how quickly civil and criminal cases move through court. Local governments in the affected counties would also take on new costs for courtroom space, equipment, and staff to support the additional judges.

Key provisions

  • Section 1-1 (Part I) amends O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2 to raise the judge counts for the Atlanta Circuit (20 to 21), Clayton Circuit (5 to 6), and Middle Circuit (2 to 3).
  • Sections 1-3 and 1-7 set the appointment term (January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2028) for the new judges and create a chief judge election process for the Middle Circuit.
  • Section 2-1 (Part II) raises the Northeastern Circuit's judge count from 5 to 6, with the same appointment and election timeline as Part I.
  • Section 3-1 (Part III) raises the Gwinnett Circuit's judge count from 11 to 12 and Section 3-7 sets up a chief judge election process for that circuit.
  • Sections 1-10, 2-9, and 3-10 authorize each of the five circuits to appoint an additional court reporter.
  • Sections 1-12, 2-11, and 3-12 let county governing authorities furnish courtrooms, office space, equipment, and personnel for the new judges, paid from the county treasury.
  • Section 4-1 sets the effective date: appointments can begin upon the Governor's approval, but all other provisions take effect January 1, 2027.

From the bill

“One additional judge of the superior courts is added to each of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit, the Clayton Judicial Circuit, and the Middle Judicial Circuit, thereby increasing to 21, six, and three, respectively, the number of judges of each such circuit.”

States the core change: one new judge added to each of the three circuits in Part I.

“The chief judge of the Middle Judicial Circuit shall be elected from among the judges by majority vote of the total number of judges voting.”

Explains how the Middle Judicial Circuit will choose its chief judge under the new law.

Discussed in meetings (10)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

  1. House Judiciary Committee, February 5, 2026

    From 1:22:08 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair presented HB 1215 as adding a judge to the Middle Judicial Circuit. There was no substantive discussion. The committee approved the bill by voice vote, with no opposition heard.

  2. House Rules Committee, February 9, 2026

    From 0:45:55 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1215 would add a third superior court judge to the Middle Judicial Circuit at the Judicial Council's request. The sponsor said the governor had included funding in the budget. No substantive questions were asked. Later, the committee placed the bill on the February 9 floor calendar after a motion and second, with no opposition voiced.

  3. House floor session, February 9, 2026 (legislative day 15)

    From 1:19:40 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 481

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1215 would add a third superior court judge to the Middle Judicial Circuit to help with its increased workload. The sponsor said the Judicial Council recommended the position and the governor included funding in the budget. There were no questions or other speakers. The House passed the bill 166 to 0.

  4. Senate Judiciary Committee, March 23, 2026

    From 1:58:40 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair presented a substitute for HB 1215 combining proposed new judgeships for the Middle, Northeastern and Gwinnett judicial circuits. The chair said the measure would provide a single bill to carry judgeships ultimately funded through the budget process, rather than settle which positions would receive funding. The chair noted that Clayton and Fulton also sought judgeships but were not included in the substitute. No members asked substantive questions. The chair declared the substitute approved unanimously.

  5. Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026

    From 1:18:19 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: A member selected HB 1215 for the floor calendar. No substantive explanation or debate followed. The committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.

  6. Senate floor session, March 31, 2026 (legislative day 39, part 1)

    From 5:26:50 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1215 combined requests for additional superior court judges in the Middle, Northeastern and Gwinnett circuits to move civil and criminal cases faster. An amendment proposed adding judges in the Atlanta and Clayton circuits. Its Atlanta presenter said that circuit ranked fourth in the Judicial Council's review by a decimal point and had workload sufficient for 26 judges, compared with 20 currently. A second presenter said a corrected clerical error showed Clayton had the state's highest workload, but the correction came too late for the qualifying list. That presenter also cited Clayton's responsibility for airport crimes and anticipated World Cup-related demands. Another amendment made the additional positions subject to funding. The Senate adopted the funding condition without objection and the Atlanta-Clayton amendment 28-20. The bill passed by substitute as amended, 47-3.

  7. House floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, AM)

    From 1:44:48 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub)

    Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1215 originally added a judge to the Middle Judicial Circuit and that the Senate added judgeships for the Atlanta and Clayton circuits. A member asked about Gwinnett, and the sponsor acknowledged that circuit was also included. A second member clarified that the Senate committee version covered the Middle, Northeastern and Gwinnett circuits, while a Senate floor amendment added Atlanta and Clayton. The sponsor confirmed that the provisions for Middle, Atlanta and Clayton were subject to funding being approved. The House agreed to the Senate substitute, 172 to 0.

Status timeline

  1. 2026-05-11Effective Date
  2. 2026-05-11Act 450
  3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
  4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
  5. 2026-04-02House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
  6. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
  7. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
  8. 2026-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
Show full history (16 actions)
  1. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
  2. 2026-02-10Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
  3. 2026-02-09House Passed/Adopted (House)
  4. 2026-02-09House Third Readers (House)
  5. 2026-02-06House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
  6. 2026-02-06House Second Readers (House)
  7. 2026-02-05House First Readers (House)
  8. 2026-02-05House Hopper (House)

Sponsors

  • Butch Parrish (R, HD-158)Primary sponsor
  • Mack Jackson (D, HD-128)
  • Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
  • Brian Prince (D, HD-132)
  • Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)

Votes

  1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 9, 2026

    166 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 7 excused)

    PASSAGE: House Vote #485

  2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

    28 yea, 20 nay (1 not voting, 5 excused)

    ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT BY THE SEN FROM THE 39TH AS AMENDED: Senate Vote #882

  3. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

    47 yea, 3 nay (0 not voting, 4 excused)

    PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE: Senate Vote #883

  4. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2026

    172 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 excused)

    Agree to Senate Substitute: House Vote #837

Topics

  • superior courts
  • judicial appointments
  • Middle Judicial Circuit
  • Gwinnett Judicial Circuit
  • court funding

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HB1215: Middle Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for a third judge | Georgia Commons