SB532: SB532 Proceedings; defendant notices of certain proceedings and pleadings when such defendant failed to file pleadings; provide

This version of Senate Bill 532, offered as a substitute by the House Committee on Judiciary, no longer deals with notices to defendants in court proceedings. Instead, it amends Georgia's law on the number of superior court judges (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2) to add a twelfth judgeship to the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit. The Governor would appoint the new judge for a term starting January 1, 2027 and running through the end of 2028. Voters would then elect a successor at the 2028 nonpartisan judicial election, with future successors elected every four years. The bill spells out that the new judge has the same powers, pay, and qualifications as the circuit's other judges, allows the circuit's judges to divide up caseloads and select a chief judge, permits an additional court reporter, and lets Gwinnett-area county governments supply courtroom space and staff. The appointment provisions take effect once the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without a signature; most other provisions take effect January 1, 2027.

• Amends O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2 to raise the number of superior court judges in the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit from eleven to twelve.
• Directs the Governor to appoint the new judge for a term from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028.
• Sets up election of a permanent successor at the 2028 nonpartisan judicial election, with four-year terms and elections every four years after that.
• Gives the new judge the same powers, pay, qualifications, and duties as the circuit's existing superior court judges.
• Authorizes the circuit's judges to divide caseloads, select a chief judge by majority vote, and appoint an additional court reporter.
• Allows the counties in the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit to provide courtrooms, office space, equipment, and staff for the judges, paid from county funds.

The bill affects superior court judges, court staff, and litigants in the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit, the Governor's office (which makes the initial appointment), voters in the circuit who will elect a successor, and the county governments that fund and staff the courts.

Adding a twelfth judge could speed up case processing and reduce court backlogs in the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit, one of Georgia's busiest, while shifting some costs, such as salary, courtroom space, and staffing, onto the state and Gwinnett-area county governments.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2 to set the Gwinnett Circuit's judge count at twelve.
• Section 3 has the Governor appoint the new judge for a term from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2028, with a successor elected in 2028 for a four-year term.
• Section 5 sets the new judge's qualifications, compensation, and salary the same as other superior court judges in the circuit.
• Section 7 keeps the existing method for selecting a chief judge by majority vote among the circuit's judges, serving two-year terms.
• Section 10 authorizes the circuit's judges to appoint an additional court reporter.
• Section 12 lets county governments in the circuit provide courtrooms, office space, equipment, and personnel, funded by county treasuries.
• Section 14 sets the effective date for appointing the judge as upon the Governor's approval, with other provisions effective January 1, 2027.

1. 2026-03-25House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2026-03-10House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-09House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-06Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
5. 2026-03-06Senate Third Read (Senate)
6. 2026-03-06Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
7. 2026-03-06Senate Tabled (Senate)
8. 2026-03-04Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)Primary sponsor
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

   47 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #691

• superior courts
• Gwinnett County
• judicial appointments
• court funding