Probate court judges are a type of judge in Georgia who decides a type of civil court cases called a "probate" case. Probate cases can be many things, like cases about people's wills, appointing guardians to children or the elderly, and managing estates. Probate court judges also sometimes decide whether to give out marriage licenses and gun licenses, and they can also decide traffic cases. 

Decides court cases for topics like wills, licenses, and traffic tickets

Oconee

2024 GA Primary Election

Georgia

Judicial Efficiency

Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

Probate Court Judge

- A District Attorney is the person who represents the government in the prosecution of all felony criminal cases and the misdemeanors connected to felonies. 
- They review police arrest reports, build cases against arrested individuals, and ultimately are responsible for prosecuting and making the case against these individuals. 
- They also have the discretion of whether or not to bring charges against arrested people, whether or not to seek jail time, or whether or not to send individuals to pre-trial diversion programs. District Attorneys handle the most critical cases in their district, including internal investigations of law enforcement officers.
- District Attorneys do not work alone. They also supervise other attorneys, called Deputy District Attorneys or Assistant District Attorneys.
- There are 49 District Attorneys In Georgia, each representing the judicial circuit in which they get elected. Since 1968, the office has been a full-time elected position whose incumbent could not engage in the private practice of law. District Attorneys are part of the judicial branch of the Georgia state government.

Acts as the attorney for the state of Georgia in felony cases

Ogeechee

Criminal Justice

Public Safety

Consumer Protection

District Attorney

- Georgia Superior Court Judges hear a wide range of criminal cases from petty theft and public drunkenness to murder. Some cases in front of the Georgia Superior Court involve the death penalty. 
- On the civil side, Superior Court Judges hear cases on divorce, titles to land, contract disputes, and premises liability. 
- Superior Court Judges are elected by judicial circuit. Each county surrounding Atlanta has its own judicial circuit, while rural judicial districts typically consist of multiple counties.
- Superior Court Judges are elected to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. The Governor can appoint Superior Court Judges when vacancies arise. 

Trial Judge over a wide range of civil and criminal cases

Property Rights

Judicial Philosophy

Superior Court Judge

- Magistrate Courts hear civil cases only in amounts less than $15,000. There are no jury trials in Magistrate Court. 
- Magistrate Courts hear landlord tenant dispossessory cases (i.e. a case where a landlord is seeking an eviction of their tenant) and can order evictions. 
- The Chief Magistrate can determine procedures for managing the cases in front of the Magistrate. For example, in Fulton County the Chief Magistrate informs parties in landlord tenant dispossessory cases on the benefits of mediation and provides on-site mediators to resolve landlord tenant disputes before the parties appear in front of the judge. 
- Magistrate Courts only have jurisdiction over their respective counties. Each county has its own magistrate court. Magistrate Court Judge term lengths vary per county, however most serve four year terms. Local Superior Court Judges set parameters for Magistrate Courts. 

Local Judges who hear low-value civil cases and eviction cases

Oglethorpe

Housing & Urban Development

Chief Magistrate

- The County Coroner runs the Coroner’s Office, which is responsible for determining the cause, manner, and circumstance of death under the Georgia Death Investigation Act.  
- Deaths that they are responsible for investigating include violent deaths, suicides, sudden deaths, deaths unattended by a physician, suspicious deaths, deaths of children younger than seven years old, executions, deaths of inmates, and deaths of people admitted to a hospital unconscious. 
- The Coroner is responsible for pronouncing someone dead, and for releasing remains to be cremated, transported to another state, or autopsied. 
- All Georgia Coroners are required to attend a 40 hour course at the Georgia State Patrol Training Center and receive 24 hours of in services training on death investigation procedures each year. 
- Coroners are elected to four year terms in nonpartisan elections. 

The chief medical examiner for the county

Public Health

Coroner

- County Commission Chairs oversee the Board of County Commissioners, which create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- The County Commission Chair is specifically responsible for preparing the county budget, which must be passed by the rest of the County Commissioners. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commission Chairs have additional executive duties including coordinating with the office of the Mayor for your county, appointing Commissioners to committees, and representing your county at official functions.
- County Commission Chairs are elected to 4-year terms in county-wide elections.

Acts as the head of your county's governing board.

Policing

Quality of Roads

Public Services

Economy

Education

Transportation & Infrastructure

County Commission Chair

The Superior Court Clerk is the official record keeper and legal administrator of the county, as they are responsible for receiving and maintaining criminal and civil court filings. They also manage the county’s land and property records. Their duties are numerous and include administrative tasks, like accounting and administering oaths, and judicial, like maintaining legal records. They can also potentially fill in for other roles, such as State Court Clerk and Passport Acceptance Agents.

2024 Georgia candidates

Oconee Probate Court Judge

1 candidate

Georgia District Attorney, Ogeechee, Republican Primary

2 candidates

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Georgia Superior Court Judge, Ogeechee

1 candidate

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Georgia Superior Court Judge, Ogeechee

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Georgia Superior Court Judge, Ogeechee

1 candidate

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Georgia Superior Court Judge, Ogeechee

1 candidate

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Oglethorpe Chief Magistrate

1 candidate

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Oglethorpe Coroner, Republican Primary

1 candidate

Oglethorpe County Commission Chair, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Oglethorpe Clerk of Superior Court, Republican Primary

1 candidate