---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-7-25. Service by retired judge or judge emeritus.
collection: code
id: 15-7-25
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-7-25 (2025)
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date: 2025
status: active
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publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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heading_path: COURTS / STATE COURTS OF COUNTIES / JUDGES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-7-25. Service by retired judge or judge emeritus.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution of this state, a retired judge or judge emeritus of a state court shall be authorized to serve as judge of a state court upon the call of the judge of such court. When serving in such capacity, the retired judge or judge emeritus of the state court shall exercise the same jurisdiction, power, and authority as the regular judge of the court, as provided by general or local law. When serving in such capacity, the retired judge or judge emeritus shall receive the amount of compensation and payment of expenses as provided by subsection (d) of Code Section 15-1-9.2, with such expenses being borne by the governing authority responsible for funding the operation of the requesting court.

(b) A retired judge or a judge emeritus of a state court shall be vested with the same authority as an active judge of this state for the purpose of performing marriage ceremonies.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution of this state, a judge of a state court shall be authorized to serve as judge of any other state court, but only upon the call of the judge of such other state court. When serving in a state court other than his own, the judge shall exercise the same jurisdiction, power, and authority as the regular judge of the court, as provided by general or local law.

(d) Any retired judge or judge emeritus of a state court may issue arrest warrants and search warrants in the same manner as an active judge of state court if the retired judge or judge emeritus is authorized in writing to do so by an active judge of the state court of the county wherein the warrants are to be issued.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-7-25, enacted by Ga. L. 1983, p. 1419, § 2; Ga. L. 1985, p. 1105, § 3; Ga. L. 1990, p. 343, § 2.

## Cross References

Service by judges in counties outside county of appointment or election, § 15-1-9.1. Warrants for arrest generally, § 17-4-40. Issuance of search warrants generally, § 17-5-21. Issuance of marriage licenses generally, § 19-3-30 et seq.