House Bill 1365
By: Representatives Jones of the 25th, Silcox of the 53rd, Martin of the 49th, Jones of the 47th,
Evans of the 57th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Code Section 15-6-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
number of judges of superior courts, so as to provide for a twenty-first judge of the superior
courts of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit; to provide for the appointment of such additional judge
by the Governor; to provide for the election of successors to the judge initially appointed; to
prescribe the powers of such judge; to provide for the powers and duties of such additional
judge; to preserve existing local Acts regarding such judicial circuit; to provide for the
compensation of such additional judge; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective
date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Code Section 15-6-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the number of
judges of superior courts, is amended by revising paragraph (3) as follows:
"(3) Atlanta Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <del>20</del> <ins>21"
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SECTION 2.
An additional judge of the superior court is added to the Atlanta Judicial Circuit, thereby
increasing to 21 the number of judges of said circuit.
SECTION 3.
The additional judge of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit appointed pursuant to this Act shall be
appointed by the Governor for a term beginning January 1, 2027, and expiring
December 31, 2028, and until a successor is elected and qualified. A successor to the initial
judge shall be elected in a manner provided by law for the election of judges of the superior
courts of this state at the nonpartisan general election in 2028, for a term of four years
beginning on January 1, 2029, and until the election and qualification of a successor. Future
successors shall be elected at the general election each four years thereafter for terms of four
years and until the election and qualification of a successor. The successor shall take office
on the first day of January following the date of the election. Such elections shall be held
and conducted in a manner provided by law for the election of judges of the superior courts
of this state.
SECTION 4.
Said additional judge of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit shall have and may exercise all powers,
duties, dignity, jurisdiction, privileges, and immunities of the present judges of the superior
courts of this state. Any of the judges of the superior court of said circuit may preside over
any case therein and perform any official act as judge thereof. The additional judge is
authorized to employ court personnel on the same basis as other judges of the Atlanta
Judicial Circuit.
SECTION 5.
Except as expressly stated, this Act shall not be construed to alter or repeal any provision of
any local Act relating to the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to
limit or restrict the inherent powers, duties, and responsibilities of superior court judges
provided by the Constitution and statutes of the State of Georgia.
SECTION 6.
The compensation, salary, and contingent expense allowance of said additional judge of the
Atlanta Judicial Circuit shall be the same as that of the other judges of the superior court of
the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Any salary supplements or locality pay provided by the county
of said circuit shall also be applicable to the additional judge provided for in this Act.
SECTION 7.
This Act shall become effective for the purposes of appointing the additional judge upon its
approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval and for all other
purposes on January 1, 2027.
SECTION 8.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.