25 LC 48 1401/AP
House Bill 180 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Smith of the 18
th
, Scoggins of the 14
th
, Kelley of the 16
th
, Hong of the
103
rd
, Gunter of the 8
th
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 9 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
probate courts, so as to modify certain requirements for probate judges; to provide for related2
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:4
SECTION 1.5
Chapter 9 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to probate courts,6
is amended by revising Code Section 15-9-4, relating to additional judicial eligibility7
requirements in certain counties, as follows:8
"15-9-4.9
(a) No individual elected judge of the probate court in any county provided for in this10
Code section shall engage in the private practice of law.11
(b)(1)
Except as otherwise provided by subsection (c) of this Code section, in any county12
of this state having a population of more than 90,000 persons according to the United13
States decennial census of 2010 or any future such census and in which the probate court14
of such county meets the definition of a probate court as provided by Article 6 of this15
H. B. 180
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chapter, no individual shall be judge of the probate court unless at the time of election16
qualification, in addition to the qualifications required by law, he or she:17
(A) Has has attained the age of 30 years,;18
(B) Has has been admitted to practice law for seven years; and preceding election,19
(C) Is is a member in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia, and has been duly20
reinstated to the practice of law in the event of his or her disbarment therefrom.21
(2) In addition to and not in lieu of the affidavit required to be filed at qualification22
pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 15-9-2, each individual23
offering as a candidate for the office of judge of the probate court in any county of this24
state to whom paragraph (1) of this subsection is applicable shall file a supplemental25
affidavit with the officer before whom such individual has qualified to seek the office of26
judge of the probate court prior to or at the time of qualifying as a candidate. The27
supplemental affidavit shall affirm that the individual meets all the qualifications required28
by subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) of this subsection.29
(c) A judge of the probate court holding such office on or after June 30, 2000, shall30
continue to hold such office and shall be allowed to seek reelection for such office. 31
Notwithstanding the requirement that in certain counties the judge of the probate court be32
admitted to practice law for seven years preceding election, no decision, judgment, ruling,33
or other official action of any judge of the probate court shall be overturned, denied, or34
overruled based solely on this requirement for qualification, election, and holding the office35
of judge of the probate court."36
SECTION 2.37
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.38
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