25 LC 61 0261S
Senators Still of the 48th and Dolezal of the 27th offered the following
substitute to HB 750:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend an Act to create the State Court of Forsyth County, approved April 15, 1996 (Ga.1
L. 1996, p. 4558), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 1, 2002 (Ga. L. 2002,2
p. 5579), so as to add a judge to the court; to provide for the selection of a chief judge; to3
provide for duties of the chief judge; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting4
laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
An Act to create the State Court of Forsyth County, approved April 15, 1996 (Ga. L. 1996,8
p. 4558), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 1, 2002 (Ga. L. 2002, p. 5579),9
is amended by revising subsection (a) of and adding new subsections to Section 3 to read as10
follows:11
"(a) Effective July 1, 2026, there shall be three judges of the State Court of Forsyth County12
who shall be selected as provided in this section."13
"(e) The third judge of the State Court of Forsyth County shall be appointed by the14
Governor for an initial term of office beginning on July 1, 2026, and continuing through 15
December 31, 2028, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. All future16
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successors to said judge shall be elected by the qualified voters of Forsyth County at a17
nonpartisan election to be held and conducted jointly with the general primary in 2028 and18
quadrennially thereafter pursuant to Code Section 21-2-138 of the O.C.G.A. The judge19
thus elected shall serve a four-year term and until his or her successor is elected and20
qualified.21
(f)(1) There is hereby created the position of chief judge of the State Court of Forsyth22
County. The chief judge shall be the judge who has served the longest continuous period23
of time in office as a judge of said court.24
(2) The duties of the chief judge shall include:25
(A) Regularly meeting with all judges of the court to discuss issues affecting the26
courts, to collaborate on best practices regarding case management and sentencing, and27
to improve operational efficiencies;28
(B) In consultation with the chief judge of the Superior Court of Forsyth County,29
managing the available courtroom space, including any courtrooms in ancillary30
facilities, in order to maximize secure courtrooms for criminal trials and other criminal31
proceedings, including assigning judges to a particular courtroom on a permanent or32
temporary basis;33
(C) In consultation with the chief judge of the Superior Court of Forsyth County,34
annually identifying present and projected courtroom and administrative space and35
other facility needs to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners after consultation36
with all of the judges of the court;37
(D) Working with the court administrator, the county manager of Forsyth County, the38
local governing authorities, and the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners to39
eliminate duplication of functions and achieve greater operational efficiencies;40
(E) Preparing and presenting the court's budget to state and local authorities after41
conferring with all of the judges of the court;42
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(F) After consulting with all of the judges of the court, establishing criteria and43
qualifications for the employment, discipline, and dismissal of employees assigned to44
the courts and each judge;45
(G) Devising and implementing a personnel system that ensures fair and lawful46
treatment of all court personnel, including judicial staff, while preserving the authority47
of each judge to manage and direct his or her selected employees in accordance with48
applicable guidelines;49
(H) Managing assignments for visiting state court judges; and50
(I) Performing all other duties required by law or that are necessary or convenient for51
performing the duties set forth in this subsection.52
(3) The chief judge shall be permitted to obtain assistance from the other judges of the53
court and from judicial staff to perform the duties set forth in this subsection."54
SECTION 2.55
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.56
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