25 LC 62 0117/AP
House Bill 722 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Stephens of the 164
th
, Petrea of the 166
th
, and Franklin of the 160
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend an Act establishing the State Court of Bryan County (formerly the City Court of
1
Pembroke), approved January 10, 1938 (Ga. L. 1937-38, Ex. Sess., p. 714), as amended,2
particularly by an Act approved May 1, 2023 (Ga. L. 2023, p. 3851), so as to establish the3
position of chief judge; to provide for a new part-time associate judge; to provide for the4
initial appointment of such associate judge by the Governor; to provide for the elections and5
terms of office of the judges of the court; to provide for compensation of the judges; to6
provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and7
for other purposes.8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9
SECTION 1.10
An Act establishing the State Court of Bryan County (formerly the City Court of Pembroke),11
approved January 10, 1938 (Ga. L. 1937-38, Ex. Sess., p. 714), as amended, particularly by12
an Act approved May 1, 2023 (Ga. L. 2023, p. 3851), is amended by revising Section 1.1 as13
follows:14
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"SECTION 1.1.
15
There shall be one full-time chief judge of the State Court of Bryan County, who shall be16
the present judge of said Court at the time of the effective date of this Act, and one17
associate judge of such court. The chief judge shall serve the remainder of the term of18
office to which he or she was elected. Future successors of the chief judge shall be elected19
at the general election conducted immediately prior to the expiration of the term of office,20
and they shall take office on the first day of January following their election and serve for21
a term of office of four years and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Said22
chief judge shall have and may exercise all powers, duties, jurisdictions, privileges, and23
immunities of the present judge of the State Court of Bryan County and shall serve in a24
full-time capacity as permitted by O.C.G.A. Section 15-7-20. The compensation of the25
chief judge shall be set by local act of the governing authority of Bryan County. The chief26
judge of the state court shall receive all legally required benefits. The governing authority27
of Bryan County may supplement such judge's salary. All of the expenditures authorized28
herein are declared to be an expense of court and payable out of the county treasury as29
such."30
SECTION 2.31
Said Act is further amended by revising Section 1.2 as follows:32
"SECTION 1.2.33
The new position of associate judge of the state court shall be a part-time position, and such34
judge shall not be permitted to engage in the practice of law in the State Court of Bryan35
County. The associate judge as provided by this Act shall be appointed by the Governor36
for a term beginning January 1, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2028, and until a37
successor is elected and qualified. A successor to the associate judge shall be elected in38
the manner provided by Code Section 21-2-138 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated39
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for the election of judges of the state courts in 2028 for a term of four years beginning on
40
January 1, 2029, and until the election and qualification of a successor. The associate41
judge shall take office on the first day of January following the date of election. Said42
associate judge shall have and may exercise all powers, duties, jurisdictions, privileges, and43
immunities of the present judge of the State Court of Bryan County. The compensation of44
the associate judge shall be set by local act of the governing authority of Bryan County. 45
The associate judge of the state court shall receive all legally required benefits. The46
governing authority of Bryan County may supplement such judge's salary. All of the47
expenditures authorized herein are declared to be an expense of court and payable out of48
the county treasury as such."49
SECTION 3.50
Said Act is further amended by adding a new section to read as follows:51
"SECTION 1.3.52
Each judge of the State Court of Bryan County shall have such qualifications and shall be53
subject to such restrictions and discipline as provided in Chapter 7 of Title 15 of the54
Official Code of Georgia Annotated."55
SECTION 4.56
Said Act is further amended by adding a new section to read as follows:57
"SECTION 1.4.58
The full-time judge of the State Court of Bryan County shall be the chief judge of said59
court. The chief judge shall have responsibility for the administration of the operations of60
the State Court of Bryan County, including, but not limited to, budgeting, scheduling, and61
the policies, rules, and standing orders of the State Court of Bryan County."62
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SECTION 5.
63
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law64
without such approval.65
SECTION 6.66
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.67
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