| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 47 3316 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Bill 482 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representatives Kelley of the 16 |
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| 4 | 4 | | th |
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| 5 | 5 | | , Silcox of the 53 |
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| 6 | 6 | | rd |
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| 7 | 7 | | , Evans of the 57 |
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| 8 | 8 | | th |
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| 9 | 9 | | , and Smith of the |
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| 10 | 10 | | 18 |
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| 11 | 11 | | th |
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| 12 | 12 | | |
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| 13 | 13 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 14 | 14 | | AN ACT |
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| 15 | 15 | | To amend Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, |
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| 16 | 16 | | 1 |
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| 17 | 17 | | relating to general provisions regarding superior courts, so as to provide for superior court2 |
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| 18 | 18 | | judicial officers in certain judicial circuits; to provide for the appointment, qualifications,3 |
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| 19 | 19 | | terms, duties, and employment status of such judicial officers; to provide for related matters;4 |
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| 20 | 20 | | to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5 |
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| 21 | 21 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 |
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| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 1.7 |
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| 23 | 23 | | Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to8 |
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| 24 | 24 | | general provisions regarding superior courts, is amended by adding a new Code section to9 |
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| 25 | 25 | | read as follows:10 |
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| 26 | 26 | | "15-6-37. |
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| 27 | 27 | | 11 |
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| 28 | 28 | | (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in any judicial circuit of this state with 1512 |
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| 29 | 29 | | or more judges of the superior court, as provided for in Code Section 15-6-2, the governing13 |
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| 30 | 30 | | authorities of the counties that make up such circuit are authorized to provide funding for14 |
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| 31 | 31 | | up to five judicial officers to serve in the superior courts of such circuit.15 |
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| 32 | 32 | | H. B. 482 |
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| 33 | 33 | | - 1 - 25 LC 47 3316 |
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| 34 | 34 | | (b) In the event that a county or counties provide funding for judicial officers as provided16 |
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| 35 | 35 | | for in subsection (a) of this Code section, the chief judge of the circuit, after consulting17 |
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| 36 | 36 | | with a majority of the superior court judges in such circuit, may appoint qualified18 |
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| 37 | 37 | | individuals as judicial officers in the superior courts of such circuit. Judicial officers shall19 |
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| 38 | 38 | | have all of the qualifications provided for in Code Section 15-6-4 for superior court judges;20 |
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| 39 | 39 | | provided, however, that such judicial officers shall not be elected.21 |
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| 40 | 40 | | (c) Judicial officers appointed pursuant to this Code section shall have all powers and22 |
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| 41 | 41 | | duties of a judge of the superior court; provided, however, that judicial officers shall not23 |
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| 42 | 42 | | preside over any case or matter related to a serious violent felony as such term is defined24 |
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| 43 | 43 | | in Code Section 17-10-6.1, and provided, further, that the chief judge of a circuit, after25 |
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| 44 | 44 | | consulting with a majority of the superior court judges in such circuit, may place such26 |
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| 45 | 45 | | additional limitations on the use of such judicial officers in the circuit.27 |
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| 46 | 46 | | (d) Judicial officers appointed pursuant to this Code section shall be appointed to terms28 |
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| 47 | 47 | | not to exceed two years; provided, however, that a judicial officer may be reappointed to29 |
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| 48 | 48 | | succeed himself or herself.30 |
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| 49 | 49 | | (e) Judicial officers appointed pursuant to this Code section shall be employees of the31 |
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| 50 | 50 | | county or counties that make up the judicial circuit in which they are appointed. Such32 |
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| 51 | 51 | | judicial officers shall not be considered state employees for any reason, and the counties33 |
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| 52 | 52 | | that make up such circuit shall be responsible for the compensation, benefits, travel, and34 |
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| 53 | 53 | | other expenses for such judicial officers."35 |
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| 54 | 54 | | SECTION 2.36 |
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| 55 | 55 | | All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.37 |
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| 56 | 56 | | H. B. 482 |
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| 57 | 57 | | - 2 - |
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