Georgia judicial elections
Judges in Georgia participate in nonpartisan elections or partisan elections. Judicial elections are held in Georgia in even-numbered years and take place on the primary date. Judges must run for re-election for subsequent terms.[1]
Georgia is one of 12 states that uses nonpartisan elections to select judges and does not use retention elections for subsequent terms. To read more about how states use judicial elections to select judges across the country, click here.
| Supreme Court | Court of Appeals | Superior Court | Probate Court | State Court |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan election - six-year terms | Nonpartisan election - six-year terms | Nonpartisan election - Four-year terms | Nonpartisan or Partisan election - Four-year terms | Nonpartisan election - Four-year terms |
Elections
- Georgia Supreme Court elections, 2024
- Georgia intermediate appellate court elections, 2024
- Georgia Supreme Court elections, 2022
- Georgia intermediate appellate court elections, 2022
- Georgia Supreme Court elections, 2020
- Georgia intermediate appellate court elections, 2020
- Georgia Supreme Court elections, 2018
- Georgia intermediate appellate court elections, 2018
- Georgia local trial court judicial elections, 2018
- Georgia judicial elections, 2016
- Georgia judicial elections, 2014
- Georgia judicial elections, 2012
- Georgia judicial elections, 2010
Election rules
Primary election
Most court elections in Georgia are nonpartisan. Counties may choose to hold partisan elections for probate court positions. There are only judicial primaries for partisan elections.[1][2]
Runoff election
If no candidate receives a majority of the votes in the election (at least 50%+1 of the vote), a runoff election will be held between the two candidates with the most votes.[3]
Terms
Taking office
Elected judges
Justices and judges elected in Georgia take office on January 1st following election.[4]
Appointed judges
Appointed judges are sworn in at a time arranged by the Governor and appointee, and serve until the first election at least six months after their appointment. The judge would then be able to run for election to the bench they hold.[5]
Vacancies
Vacancies are filled through gubernatorial appointment for all state courts in Georgia. Georgia governors have established nominating commissions by executive order since 1972 to aid them in the search and selection of qualified judges.[5]
See also
External links
- Politics1, Online Guide to Georgia Politics
- Neighbor Newspapers, "2012 Georgia Judicial Elections big," June 1, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Georgia Code: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-138. Nonpartisan elections for judicial offices
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Election Law In Georgia: What City And County Attorneys Need To Know" September 2008 Scroll to p. 4
- ↑ O.C.G.A. § 21-2-285.1 Nonpartisan elections -- Form of ballot; runoff election; declaration of prevailing candidate as duly elected
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifications and Disqualifications for Holding State or County Elective Office in Georgia," Scroll to page 110
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Georgia," archived October 2, 2014
| |||||||
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia
State courts:
Georgia Supreme Court • Georgia Court of Appeals • Georgia Superior Courts • Georgia State Courts • Georgia Business Court • Georgia Juvenile Courts • Georgia Probate Courts • Georgia Magistrate Courts • Georgia Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Georgia • Georgia judicial elections • Judicial selection in Georgia