HB1365: HB1365 Atlanta Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide twenty-first judge

The Atlanta Judicial Circuit's superior courts currently have 20 judgeships set by Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2). This bill would add a 21st judgeship to that circuit to help handle its caseload. The Governor would appoint the first person to fill the new seat for a term beginning January 1, 2027 and ending December 31, 2028. After that, voters would elect a successor at the 2028 nonpartisan general election for a four-year term starting January 1, 2029, with elections repeating every four years after that. The new judge would have the same powers, duties, and authority to hire court staff as the circuit's existing judges, and would receive the same pay, expense allowance, and any local salary supplements. The bill keeps existing local laws about the circuit intact and would take effect for appointment purposes once signed, and for all other purposes on January 1, 2027.

• Amends Georgia's superior court judgeship law (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2) to raise the Atlanta Judicial Circuit's number of judges from 20 to 21.
• Directs the Governor to appoint the first judge to the new seat for a term from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028.
• Requires the new judgeship to be filled by election starting with the 2028 nonpartisan general election, with four-year terms afterward.
• Gives the additional judge the same powers, jurisdiction, and authority to hire court personnel as the circuit's current judges.
• Sets the additional judge's pay, expense allowance, and any local salary supplements equal to those of the circuit's other judges.
• Preserves existing local laws affecting the Atlanta Judicial Circuit except where this Act expressly changes them.

The bill directly affects the Atlanta Judicial Circuit's superior court system: the Governor, who makes the initial appointment; the person appointed or later elected to the new judgeship; other judges and court staff in the circuit; and residents and litigants whose cases are heard in that circuit's superior courts.

Adding a judge could mean cases in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit move through the court system faster, since one more judge would be available to hear filings, trials, and hearings. It also creates a new elected judicial office that voters in the circuit will eventually choose in 2028.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2 to change the Atlanta Circuit's judge count from 20 to 21.
• Section 2 formally adds the additional superior court judge to the Atlanta Judicial Circuit.
• Section 3 sets the appointment term (January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2028) and establishes the 2028 election and future four-year election cycle for the seat.
• Section 4 grants the new judge the same powers, jurisdiction, and staffing authority as existing circuit judges.
• Section 5 preserves existing local Acts governing the Atlanta Judicial Circuit unless this Act expressly overrides them.
• Section 6 sets the new judge's compensation, expense allowance, and local salary supplements equal to those of other circuit judges.
• Section 7 makes the Act effective immediately for appointment purposes upon the Governor's approval, and effective January 1, 2027 for all other purposes.

1. 2026-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-03-04House Passed/Adopted (House)
3. 2026-03-04House Third Readers (House)
4. 2026-02-24House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
5. 2026-02-20House Second Readers (House)
6. 2026-02-19House First Readers (House)
7. 2026-02-18House Hopper (House)

• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)Primary sponsor
• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)
• Charles Martin (R, HD-049)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   160 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 15 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #641

• superior courts
• Atlanta Judicial Circuit
• judicial appointments
• judicial elections
• court system