--- title: HR 823. Boggs, Chief Justice Michael P.; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr823 cite_as: HR 823, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr823 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr823.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr823/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71814 date: 2025-03-27 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr822.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr824.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr823.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 823 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-27 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Steven Meeks - James Burchett - Jon Burns - Lauren McDonald - John LaHood - Chuck Efstration text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR823/2025 upstream_id: 2016140 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia Supreme Court - chief justice - legislative commendation - judicial retirement --- # HR 823. Boggs, Chief Justice Michael P.; commend ## Text 25 LC 112 3538 House Resolution 823 By: Representatives Meeks of the 178th, Burchett of the 176th, Burns of the 159th, McDonald III of the 26th, LaHood of the 175th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs has long been recognized by the citizens of this2 state for the vital role he has played in leadership and his deep personal commitment to the3 welfare of the people of Georgia; and4 WHEREAS, a native of Waycross, Chief Justice Boggs earned his undergraduate degree in5 political science and psychology from Georgia Southern College before obtaining his Juris6 Doctor from the Mercer University School of Law, where he disti nguished himself as a7 member of the Moot Court Board, the ABA/Law School Division moot court competition8 team, and the Order of Barristers; and9 WHEREAS, after beginning his legal career in Atlanta, he returned to Waycross to establish10 a general civil trial practice, focusing on personal injury, domestic relations, and real estate11 matters while serving concurrently as a county attorney, special assistant attorney general,12 and counsel to the regional Development Authority; and13 WHEREAS, in 2000, he was elected to the Georgia General Assembl y a s a S t a t e14 Representative, where he served with distinction on the Judicia ry, Public Safety, and15 H. R. 823 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3538 Government Affairs committees; chaired the Probate Law and Elections Law subcommittees;16 and was honored as the Outstanding Freshman Member of the Gener al Assembly by the17 Legislative Alumni Association in 2002; and18 WHEREAS, Chief Justice Boggs began his judicial career as a sup erior court judge,19 founding and presiding over his circuit's felony drug court program before being appointed20 to the Court of Appeals of Georgia in 2012; and21 WHEREAS, on December 7, 2016, Governor Nathan Deal appointed hi m to the Supreme22 Court of Georgia, where he was subsequently re-elected without opposition in 2018 and23 2024, and in 2022, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as chief justice; and24 WHEREAS, after years of exemplary service, Chief Justice Boggs has announced his25 resignation from the Supreme Court of Georgia effective March 3 1, 2025, marking the26 conclusion of his tenure on the state's highest court; and27 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this28 remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately honored.29 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that30 the members of this body recognize and commend Chief Justice Mi chael P. Boggs for his31 efficient, effective, unselfish, and dedicated public service to the State of Georgia and extend32 the most sincere best wishes for continued success in his future endeavors.33 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized34 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Chief35 Justice Michael P. Boggs.36 H. R. 823 - 2 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution formally commends Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs of the Supreme Court of Georgia for his career in public service as he resigns effective March 31, 2025. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor from the Georgia House of Representatives. It recounts Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs's background, from growing up in Waycross and attending Georgia Southern College and Mercer University School of Law, through his time as a state representative starting in 2000, his service as a superior court judge and Court of Appeals judge, and his appointment to the Supreme Court of Georgia in 2016. The resolution notes that Boggs was re-elected without opposition in 2018 and 2024 and became chief justice in 2022. It states that he has announced his resignation from the Supreme Court effective March 31, 2025. The House resolves to recognize and commend him for his public service and directs the Clerk of the House to provide a copy of the resolution to him. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs for his public service to the State of Georgia. - Recites his educational and legal career history, including his time as a state representative, superior court judge, and Court of Appeals judge. - Notes his 2016 appointment to the Supreme Court of Georgia and his 2022 election as chief justice. - Acknowledges his resignation from the Supreme Court effective March 31, 2025. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Chief Justice Boggs. ### Who it affects This resolution directly concerns Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs of the Supreme Court of Georgia. It does not impose duties or create rights for the general public, state agencies, or other Georgians beyond the Clerk of the House, who must distribute a copy of the resolution. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal effect on Georgians generally; it is a symbolic gesture marking the end of Chief Justice Boggs's tenure on the state's highest court. Its main practical effect is directing the House Clerk to send him an official copy as a keepsake. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses detail Boggs's biography: his education at Georgia Southern College and Mercer University School of Law, his legal practice in Waycross, and his election to the General Assembly in 2000. - The whereas clauses describe his judicial career, including founding a felony drug court, serving on the Court of Appeals from 2012, and joining the Supreme Court of Georgia in 2016. - The resolving clause commends Boggs for his service and wishes him success in future endeavors. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a copy of the resolution available to Chief Justice Boggs. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-27) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-27) - Sponsors: Steven Meeks, James Burchett, Jon Burns, Lauren McDonald, John LaHood, Chuck Efstration - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71814 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr823.md?full=1