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Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears Delivers 2007 State of the Judiciary Address - click here to read

 

  Georgia's Judiciary  

 

 

Court
Number of Judges
Length of Term
Elected by Whom?
Seven
Six Years - Staggered
Popular vote, statewide nonpartisan election
Twelve
Six Years - Staggered
Popular vote, statewide nonpartisan election
189 in 49 Judicial Circuits
Four Years
Popular vote, district-wide nonpartisan election
71 covering all 159 Georgia counties
Four Years
Popular vote, county-wide nonpartisan election
120 covering all 159 Georgia counties
Four Years
Not elected - Appointed by Superior Court Judges
159
Four Years
Popular vote, county-wide election
159
Four Years
Popular vote, county-wide election

Want to learn more about a specific branch of the judiciary? Simply click on the name of the court above!

Judicial Accountability in Georgia - Who's Watching?

A common misperception is that once a judge is elected, he or she is free to rule with little accountability. This is not true. Here are a few examples of how Georgia judges are held accountable:

  •  Georgia Judges are elected by popular vote and are held accountable by voters
  • The Appeals Court process provides the unique opportunity for a "second opinion" serving as a safeguard against overzealous individual judicial action
  • Judicial Disciplenary Boards

 

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