HB 1365: Atlanta Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide twenty-first judge

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2) sets how many superior court judges each judicial circuit has. The Atlanta Judicial Circuit currently has 20. This bill would raise that number to 21 by amending the statute. The Governor would appoint the new judge to a term beginning January 1, 2027 and ending December 31, 2028. After that, voters would choose a successor at the nonpartisan general election in 2028, and every four years after that, following the same election process used for other superior court judges. The new judge would have the same powers, duties, pay, and expense allowance as the circuit's other judges, and could employ court staff the same way they do. The bill would take effect for appointment purposes once signed by the Governor, and for all other purposes on January 1, 2027.

• Amends Georgia's superior court judge count statute (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2) to raise the Atlanta Judicial Circuit's judges from 20 to 21.
• Directs the Governor to appoint the new judge for a term running from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028.
• Sets up regular elections for the seat starting with the 2028 nonpartisan general election, with four-year terms afterward.
• Gives the new judge the same powers, jurisdiction, and immunities as the circuit's existing superior court judges.
• Sets the new judge's pay, expense allowance, and any local salary supplements equal to those of the circuit's other judges.
• Preserves existing local laws about the Atlanta Judicial Circuit except where this bill expressly changes them.

The bill affects the Atlanta Judicial Circuit's superior court system, including the judges currently serving there, the Governor who will appoint the new judge, county governments that fund local salary supplements, court staff who may be hired by the new judge, and voters in the circuit who will eventually elect the seat's occupant.

Adding a 21st judge would give the Atlanta Judicial Circuit more capacity to hear cases, potentially easing caseloads for existing judges. It also creates a new elected judicial office that voters in the circuit will fill starting in 2028, and a new appointment for the Governor to make in 2027.

• Section 1 changes the number of Atlanta Circuit superior court judges in O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2 from 20 to 21.
• Section 2 confirms the practical effect: the Atlanta Judicial Circuit's judge count rises to 21.
• Section 3 has the Governor appoint the first judge to serve January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2028, followed by election at the 2028 nonpartisan general election and every four years after.
• Section 4 gives the additional judge the same powers, jurisdiction, and immunities as other superior court judges, and lets any judge in the circuit handle any case.
• Section 5 keeps existing local laws about the Atlanta Judicial Circuit intact except where this Act specifically changes them.
• Section 6 sets the additional judge's compensation, expense allowance, and local salary supplements equal to those of the circuit's other judges.
• Section 7 makes the Act effective for appointment purposes upon the Governor's approval, and for all other purposes on January 1, 2027.

1. 2026-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-03-04House Passed/Adopted (House)
3. 2026-03-04House Third Readers (House)
4. 2026-02-24House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
5. 2026-02-20House Second Readers (House)
6. 2026-02-19House First Readers (House)
7. 2026-02-18House Hopper (House)

• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)Primary sponsor
• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)
• Charles Martin (R, HD-049)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   160 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 15 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #641

• Atlanta Judicial Circuit
• superior courts
• judicial appointments
• Georgia courts
• judicial elections