---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2. Number of judges.
collection: code
id: 15-6-2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2 (2025)
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date: 2025
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---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-6-2. Number of judges.

The number of judges for each of the superior courts for each of the judicial circuits shall be as follows:

(1) Alapaha Circuit .......................................................... 3

(2) Alcovy Circuit ............................................................ 5

(2.1) Appalachian Circuit .................................................. 3

(3) Atlanta Circuit ......................................................... 20

(4) Atlantic Circuit .......................................................... 5

(5) Augusta Circuit .......................................................... 6

(5.1) Bell-Forsyth Circuit .................................................. 3

(6) Blue Ridge Circuit ...................................................... 4

(7) Brunswick Circuit ....................................................... 5

(8) Chattahoochee Circuit .................................................. 7

(9) Cherokee Circuit ........................................................ 4

(10) Clayton Circuit ......................................................... 5

(11) Cobb Circuit ........................................................... 11

(11.1) Columbia Circuit .................................................... 3

(12) Conasauga Circuit ..................................................... 4

(13) Cordele Circuit ......................................................... 3

(14) Coweta Circuit ......................................................... 4

(14.1) DeKalb Circuit ..................................................... 10

(15) Dougherty Circuit ..................................................... 4

(15.1) Douglas Circuit ...................................................... 4

(16) Dublin Circuit .......................................................... 3

(17) Eastern Circuit ......................................................... 6

(17.1) Enotah Circuit ....................................................... 3

(18) Flint Circuit ............................................................ 4

(19) Griffin Circuit .......................................................... 5

(20) Gwinnett Circuit ..................................................... 11

(21) Houston Circuit ........................................................ 4

(22) Lookout Mountain Circuit ........................................... 4

(23) Macon Circuit .......................................................... 5

(24) Middle Circuit .......................................................... 2

(25) Mountain Circuit ...................................................... 3

(26) Northeastern Circuit................................................... 5

(27) Northern Circuit ....................................................... 3

(28) Ocmulgee Circuit ...................................................... 5

(29) Oconee Circuit .......................................................... 3

(30) Ogeechee Circuit ....................................................... 4

(31) Pataula Circuit ......................................................... 2

(31.1) Paulding Circuit ..................................................... 3

(32) Piedmont Circuit ....................................................... 4

(32.1) Rockdale Circuit ..................................................... 2

(33) Rome Circuit ............................................................ 4

(34) South Georgia Circuit ................................................. 3

(35) Southern Circuit ....................................................... 5

(36) Southwestern Circuit ................................................. 3

(37) Reserved

(38) Tallapoosa Circuit ..................................................... 2

(39) Tifton Circuit ........................................................... 3

(40) Toombs Circuit ......................................................... 2

(40.1) Towaliga Circuit ..................................................... 2

(41) Waycross Circuit ....................................................... 4

(41.1) West Georgia Circuit ................................................ 4

(42) Western Circuit ........................................................ 4

## History

Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 15; Ga. L. 1982, p. 428, §§ 1, 5; Ga. L. 1982, p. 434, § 1; Ga. L. 1982, p. 436, § 1; Ga. L. 1982, p. 439, §§ 1, 4; Ga. L. 1982, p. 501, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1983, p. 761, § 3; Ga. L. 1984, p. 22, § 15; Ga. L. 1984, p. 434, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 451, § 5; Ga. L. 1984, p. 469, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 472, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 160, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 163, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 417, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 423, § 4; Ga. L. 1987, p. 279, § 9; Ga. L. 1987, p. 331, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 410, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1145, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 223, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 234, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 180, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 188, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 196, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 200, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 203, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 205, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 471, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 474, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 489, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 497, § 2; Ga. L. 1991, p. 276, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 278, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 280, §§ 1, 12; Ga. L. 1991, p. 288, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 328, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1668, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1786, § 3; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2067, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2776, §§ 1, 12; Ga. L. 1995, p. 1077, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 220, §§ 2, 3; Ga. L. 1999, p. 40, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 49, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 67, §§ 13, 14; Ga. L. 2000, p. 205, § 1; Ga. L. 2001, p. 1060, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 2002, p. 405, §§ 3-2, 3-3; Ga. L. 2002, p. 851, § 1; Ga. L. 2005, p. 964, § 1-1/HB 97; Ga. L. 2006, p. 1024, § 1-1/HB 1073; Ga. L. 2007, p. 695, § 1-1/HB 118; Ga. L. 2008, p. 491, § 1-1/HB 1163; Ga. L. 2012, p. 166, § 1-1/SB 356; Ga. L. 2013, p. 570, §§ 1-1, 2-1/HB 451; Ga. L. 2014, p. 189, §§ 1-1, 2-1/HB 742; Ga. L. 2015, p. 919, § 2-2/HB 279; Ga. L. 2016, p. 183, § 1/HB 804; Ga. L. 2017, p. 191, § 1/HB 138; Ga. L. 2019, p. 4, § 1/HB 21; Ga. L. 2019, p. 504, § 1/HB 28; Ga. L. 2020, p. 338, § 1-1/HB 786; Ga. L. 2021, p. 5, § 4-2/SB 9; Ga. L. 2022, p. 181, § 1/HB 56; Ga. L. 2022, p. 214, § 1/HB 624; Ga. L. 2022, p. 395, § 1/SB 395, p. 395, § 1/SB 395; Ga. L. 2023, p. 117, § 1/HB 77, effective July 1, 2023; Ga. L. 2023, p. 126, § 1/HB 243, effective July 1, 2023; Ga. L. 2023, p. 245, § 1/SB 66, effective May 1, 2023; Ga. L. 2024, p. 134, § 1/HB 992, effective July 1, 2024; Ga. L. 2024, p. 485, § 1/HB 906, effective July 1, 2024; Ga. L. 2024, p. 738, § 3/HB 158, effective January 1, 2025; Ga. L. 2024, p. 961, § 3-2/SB 424, effective July 1, 2024; Ga. L. 2025, p. 161, § 1/SB 88, effective July 1, 2025; Ga. L. 2025, p. 164, § 1/SB 145, effective April 30, 2025; Ga. L. 2025, p. 506, § 1/HB 55, effective May 13, 2025.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2021, p. 5, §§ 1-1 through 3-4/SB 9, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for creation of the Columbia Judicial Circuit, which circuit shall be composed of Columbia County, provided for the transfer of pending litigation from the Superior Court of Columbia County at such time as it was a part of the Augusta Judicial Circuit, and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2022, p. 181, §§ 2–12/HB 56, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for the appointment of an additional judge to the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuits as authorized by paragraph (6) and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2022, p. 214, §§ 2–12/HB 624, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for the appointment of an additional judge to the South Georgia Judicial Circuit as authorized by paragraph (34) and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignity, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2022, p. 395, §§ 2–12/SB 395, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for the appointment of an additional judge to the Mountain Judicial Circuit as authorized by paragraph (25) and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2023, p. 117, § 1/HB 77, purported to amend paragraph (5) of this Code section, but actually amended paragraph (15).

Ga. L. 2023, p. 117, §§ 2–12/HB 77, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for the appointment of an additional judge to the Dougherty Judicial Circuit as authorized by paragraph (15) and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2023, p. 126, §§ 2–12/HB 243, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for the appointment of an additional judge to the Coweta Judicial Circuit as authorized by paragraph (14) and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2023, p. 245, §§ 2–12/SB 66, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for the appointment of an additional judge to the Atlantic Judicial Circuit as authorized by paragraph (4) and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2024, p. 134, §§ 2–12/HB 992, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for the appointment of an additional judge to the Houston Judicial Circuit as authorized by paragraph (21) and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2024, p. 485, §§ 2–12/HB 906, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for the appointment of an additional judge to the Tifton Judicial Circuit as authorized by paragraph (39) and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2024, p. 738, § 1/HB 158, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: “On and after January 1, 2025, the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit shall be known and may be referred to as the DeKalb Judicial Circuit. Any reference in local law to the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit shall be deemed to refer to the DeKalb Judicial Circuit.”

Ga. L. 2024, p. 961, §§ 1-1 through 2-5/SB 424, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for creation of the West Georgia Judicial Circuit, which circuit shall be composed of Carroll County and Heard County, provided for the transfer of pending litigation from the Superior Courts of Carroll County and Heard County respectively, at such time as each was part of the Coweta Judicial Circuit, and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2024, p. 961, §§ 1-1 through 2-5/SB 424, which moved the Counties of Carroll and Heard from the Coweta Judicial Circuit to the newly created West Georgia Judicial Circuit, became effective January 1, 2025, while the amendment to this Code section is effective July 1, 2024.

Ga. L. 2025, p. 161, §§ 2–12/SB 88, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for the appointment of an additional judge to the Douglas Judicial Circuit as authorized by paragraph (15.1) and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2025, p. 164, §§ 2–12/SB 145, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for the appointment of an additional judge to the Augusta Judicial Circuit as authorized by paragraph (5) and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2025, p. 164, § 13/SB 145, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: “This Act shall become effective for the purposes of appointing the additional judge upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval, and for all other purposes on January 1, 2026.” This Act was signed by the Governor on April 30, 2025.

Ga. L. 2025, p. 506, §§ 2–12/HB 55, not codified by the General Assembly, provided for the appointment of an additional judge to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit as authorized by paragraph (1) and provided for terms, election of successors, powers, duties, dignities, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and other similar matters.

Ga. L. 2025, p. 506, § 13/HB 55, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: “This Act shall become effective for the purposes of appointing the additional judge upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval, and for all other purposes on January 1, 2026.” This Act was signed by the Governor on May 13, 2025.

## Amendments

The 2020 amendment, effective July 29, 2020, for purposes of making the initial appointments of the judges to fill the superior court judgeships created by this Act, and effective January 1, 2022, for all other purposes, substituted “11” for “10” in paragraph (11), substituted “4” for “3” in paragraph (18), and substituted “4” for “3” in paragraph (30).

The 2021 amendment, effective July 1, 2021, substituted “5” for “8” in paragraph (5); and added paragraph (11.1).

The first 2022 amendment, effective May 2, 2022 for the purpose of appointing the additional judge to the Blue Ridge Circuit and for all other purposes on January 1, 2023, substituted “4” for “3” in paragraph (6).

The second 2022 amendment, effective May 2, 2022 for the purpose of appointing the additional judge and effective July 1, 2022 for all other purposes, substituted “3” for “2” in paragraph (34).

The third 2022 amendment, effective July 1, 2022, substituted “3” for “2” in paragraph (25).

The first 2023 amendment, effective July 1, 2023, substituted “4” for “3” in paragraph (15).

The second 2023 amendment, effective July 1, 2023, substituted “8” for “7” in paragraph (14).

The third 2023 amendment, effective May 1, 2023 for the purpose of appointing the additional judge to the Atlantic Judicial Circuit and for all other purposes on July 1, 2023, substituted “5” for “4” in paragraph (4).

The first 2024 amendment, effective July 1, 2024, substituted “4” for “3” in paragraph (21).

The second 2024 amendment, effective July 1, 2024, substituted “3” for “2” in paragraph (39).

The third 2024 amendment, effective January 1, 2025, added paragraph (14.1) and substituted “Reserved” for “Stone Mountain Circuit ..... 10” in paragraph (37).

The fourth 2024 amendment, effective July 1, 2024, substituted “4” for “8” in paragraph (14) and added paragraph (41.1).

The first 2025 amendment, effective July 1, 2025, substituted “4” for “3” in paragraph (15.1).

The second 2025 amendment, effective April 30, 2025, substituted “6” for “5” in paragraph (5).

The third 2025 amendment, effective May 13, 2025, substituted “3” for “2” in paragraph (1).