House Bill 1375 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Hong of the 103rd, Clark of the 100th, Dunahoo of
the 31st, and Dubnik of the 29th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend an Act creating the State Court of Hall County, approved August 14, 1891 (Ga.
L. 1890-91, Vol. II, p. 939), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 13, 2008 (Ga.
L. 2008, p. 4069), so as to restate provisions related to the number, qualification, and
compensation or the judges of said court; to restate provisions related to the chief judge; to
provide for an additional judge for said court effective January 1, 2028; to provide for the
initial appointment and subsequent election of such additional judge; to provide a definition;
to repeal superseded provisions; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
An Act creating the State Court of Hall County, approved August 14, 1891 (Ga. L. 1890-91,
Vol. II, p. 939), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 13, 2008 (Ga. L. 2008, p.
4069), is amended by revising Section 2 as follows:
"SECTION 2.
(a) Until January 1, 2028, there shall be three judges of the State Court of Hall County, as
provided by existing law. The judges of said court in office prior to January 1, 2028, shall
continue to serve the terms of office to which they were elected or appointed and until their
successors are elected and qualified.
(b) Effective January 1, 2028, there shall be four judges of the State Court of Hall County.
The fourth judge added effective January 1, 2028, shall be appointed by the Governor for
an initial term of office ending on December 31, 2030, and until his or her successor is
elected and qualified. The successor to said judge shall be elected by the qualified voters
of Hall County at an election to be held and conducted jointly with the general primary
in 2030. The judge so elected shall serve a four-year term and until such judge's successor
is elected and qualified.
(c) The judges of said court shall have such qualifications and shall be subject to such
restrictions and discipline as provided in Chapter 7 of Title 15 of the O.C.G.A. Said judges
shall be vested with the power and authority of the judges of the state courts by Chapter 7
of Title 15 of the O.C.G.A.
(d) The judges of said court shall receive an annual salary equal to 90 percent of the gross
salary as defined in subsection (e) of this section which shall be payable from the funds of
Hall County at the same intervals as installments are paid to other county employees.
(e) For the purposes of subsection (d) of this section, the term 'gross salary' shall mean the
annual salary received by a judge of the superior court, from state funds only and any
applicable locality pay, paid by Hall County effective July 1, 2026, plus any increases in
said annual salary, on or after July 1, 2026.
(f) The judge who has served the longest period of time in office of said court shall be the
chief judge of the State Court of Hall County."
SECTION 2.
Said Act is further amended by repealing Section 2A.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.