HB 750: Forsyth County; State Court; add a judge

Forsyth County currently has two judges on its State Court, a court that handles civil and criminal cases below the felony level. This bill amends the 1996 law that created the court, as later amended in 2002, to expand the bench to three judges effective July 1, 2026. The bill spells out how the new seat gets filled. The Governor would appoint the first person to hold the third judgeship, serving from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028. After that, the seat becomes an elected position: Forsyth County voters would choose the judge in a nonpartisan election held alongside the 2028 general primary, and every four years after that, under Georgia's election law for judicial races (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-138). The elected judge serves a four-year term and continues until a successor is elected and qualified.

• Increases the number of judges on the State Court of Forsyth County from two to three, effective July 1, 2026.
• Directs the Governor to appoint the first person to fill the new third judgeship, for a term running through December 31, 2028.
• Establishes that future holders of the third judgeship will be chosen by Forsyth County voters in nonpartisan elections starting in 2028.
• Sets the elected term for the third judge at four years, with the judge continuing in office until a successor is elected and qualified.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with these changes.

Forsyth County residents and voters, who will eventually elect the new judge; the Governor, who makes the initial appointment; the person appointed or later elected to the new judgeship; and litigants and attorneys with cases in the State Court of Forsyth County.

Adding a third judge could allow the State Court of Forsyth County to handle its caseload with more judicial capacity, potentially affecting how quickly cases move through the court. It also creates a new elected judicial office that Forsyth County voters will fill starting in 2028.

• Section 1 revises subsection (a) of Section 3 of the 1996 Act creating the State Court of Forsyth County to set the number of judges at three, effective July 1, 2026.
• Section 1 adds a new subsection (e) specifying that the Governor appoints the third judge initially, serving from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.
• The new subsection (e) establishes that successors to the third judge will be elected by Forsyth County voters in nonpartisan elections held with the 2028 general primary and every four years afterward, per O.C.G.A. § 21-2-138.
• The elected third judge serves a four-year term and remains in office until a successor is elected and qualified.
• Section 2 repeals any laws that conflict with the Act.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 520
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2025-04-04House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended (House)
7. 2025-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
8. 2025-03-31Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)

• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)Primary sponsor
• Carter Barrett (R, HD-024)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)
• David Clark (R, HD-100)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)
• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 21, 2025

   158 yea, 0 nay (9 not voting, 13 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #293

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2025

   49 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #339

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   47 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 7 absent)

   Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute: Senate Vote #862

• Forsyth County courts
• state court judges
• judicial appointments
• local elections
• Georgia courts