--- title: SR 536. Boggs, Chief Justice Michael P.; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr536 cite_as: SR 536, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr536 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr536.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr536/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71968 date: 2025-04-04 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/sr535.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr537.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr536.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 536 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-04-04 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - John Kennedy - Russ Goodman - Matt Brass - Randal Mangham - Randy Robertson - Larry Walker - Kim Jackson - Max Burns - Blake Tillery - Greg Dolezal - Steve Gooch - Ricky Williams - Lee Anderson - Brian Strickland - Chuck Payne - Drew Echols - Bo Hatchett - Harold Jones - Shawn Still - Donzella James - Gail Davenport - RaShaun Kemp - Bill Cowsert - David Lucas - Derek Mallow - Sonya Halpern - Emanuel Jones - Kay Kirkpatrick text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR536/2025 upstream_id: 2019406 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia Supreme Court - judicial resignation - Chief Justice Michael Boggs - Georgia Senate resolution --- # SR 536. Boggs, Chief Justice Michael P.; recognize ## Text 25 LC 112 3294 Senate Resolution 536 By: Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Goodman of the 8th, Brass of the 6th, Mangham of the 55th, Robertson of the 29th 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 S. R. 536 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3294 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 SENATE that the members of this body30 recognize and commend Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs for his efficient, effective, unselfish,31 and dedicated public service to the State of Georgia and extend the most sincere best wishes32 for continued success in his future endeavors.33 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed34 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to Chief Justice35 Michael P. Boggs.36 S. R. 536 - 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 Senate resolution honors outgoing Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs for his career in state government and on the Supreme Court of Georgia as he resigns effective March 31, 2025. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or obligations. It recounts the career of Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs, from his upbringing in Waycross and legal education at Mercer University School of Law, through service in the Georgia General Assembly, his time as a superior court judge and Court of Appeals judge, and his appointment to the Supreme Court of Georgia in 2016 by Governor Nathan Deal. The resolution notes that Boggs was elected chief justice by his colleagues in 2022 and has announced his resignation from the court effective March 31, 2025. The Senate formally recognizes and commends him for his public service and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send him a copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs for his public service to the State of Georgia. - Recounts his educational, legal, legislative, and judicial career, including service in the Georgia General Assembly and on the Supreme Court of Georgia. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Chief Justice Boggs. - Does not change any Georgia statute, create funding, or impose any legal requirement on any person or agency. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs and the Secretary of the Senate, who must distribute a copy of it. It has no legal effect on the general public, courts, or state agencies. ### Why it matters Because this is a ceremonial resolution, it carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It marks the Senate's formal acknowledgment of a sitting chief justice's resignation and career but does not alter court operations, judicial procedures, or any Georgia law. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses detail Boggs's biography, including his education at Georgia Southern College and Mercer University School of Law. - The whereas clauses describe his legal career in Waycross and his election to the Georgia General Assembly in 2000. - The whereas clauses note his judicial appointments, including to the Court of Appeals in 2012 and the Supreme Court of Georgia in 2016, and his election as chief justice in 2022. - The resolved clause formally commends Boggs for his service and wishes him success in future endeavors. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to Boggs. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-04-04) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-04-04) - Sponsors: John Kennedy, Russ Goodman, Matt Brass, Randal Mangham, Randy Robertson, Larry Walker, Kim Jackson, Max Burns, Blake Tillery, Greg Dolezal, Steve Gooch, Ricky Williams, Lee Anderson, Brian Strickland, Chuck Payne, Drew Echols, Bo Hatchett, Harold Jones, Shawn Still, Donzella James, Gail Davenport, RaShaun Kemp, Bill Cowsert, David Lucas, Derek Mallow, Sonya Halpern, Emanuel Jones, Kay Kirkpatrick - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71968 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr536.md?full=1