2026 Georgia General Election

2026 Georgia Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

2026 Georgia Primary Runoff

Register to vote

Check my registration

Request a ballot

Find my polling place

Find my early voting site

NC Voter Coalition (demo)

North Carolina

Facebook

LinkedIn

 Tift State Court Tifton GA JUDGE

Herbert Winfred Benson is from Tifton, Georgia. He earned his associate's degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, his bachelor's degree in journalism from The University of Georgia, and his law degree from Georgia State University. He lives with his two children in Tifton, Georgia. 

Herbert currently serves as a state court judge in Tift County, Georgia. He was first elected in 2014 and is serving his third term. 

Herbert previously worked as a municipal court judge for the City of Tifton, Georgia and the Cities of Omege, Ashburn, Sycamore, and Adel, Georgia, an attorney at Herbert W. Benson, P.C. and Sims, Fleming, and Benson, and the city editor and sports editor at the Tifton Gazette. 

As a state court judge, oversees traffic cases and civil and criminal jury and non-jury trials, and grants applications for search and arrest warrants.

As a recovery court judge, oversees criminal, juvenile, abuse, neglect, and dependency cases involving individuals struggling with addiction, and provides rehabilitation services and individualized treatment plans to veterans and other individuals struggling with mental health issues.

As a municipal court judge, oversaw cases involving traffic offenses and local ordinance violations, conducted preliminary hearings in criminal cases, issued search and arrest warrants, and determined sentencing in certain minor criminal cases.

As an attorney at Herbert W. Benson, P.C. and Sims, Fleming, and Benson, researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients.

- As a state court judge, oversees traffic cases and civil and criminal jury and non-jury trials, and grants applications for search and arrest warrants.
- As a recovery court judge, oversees criminal, juvenile, abuse, neglect, and dependency cases involving individuals struggling with addiction, and provides rehabilitation services and individualized treatment plans to veterans and other individuals struggling with mental health issues.
- As a municipal court judge, oversaw cases involving traffic offenses and local ordinance violations, conducted preliminary hearings in criminal cases, issued search and arrest warrants, and determined sentencing in certain minor criminal cases.
- As an attorney at Herbert W. Benson, P.C. and Sims, Fleming, and Benson, researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients.

Legal Experience

As of March 11, 2026, Herbert Winfred Benson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Judicial Philosophy

Judicial Administration

Community Involvement

Herbert Winfred Benson

- Despite their name, State Courts in Georgia have limited jurisdiction within their county. State Court Judges also have limited jurisdiction over the types of cases they hear, as opposed to Superior Court. 
- State Court Judges hear misdemeanors, like traffic tickets. They also issue arrest and search warrants and hold preliminary hearings in some criminal cases. 
- State Court Judges hear most civil matters that aren't related to land titles, divorce, or cases involving non-monetary damages (those matters are handled by the Superior Court).
- State Court Judges are elected in non-partisan county wide elections and serve four year terms. The Governor can appoint State Court Judges when vacancies arise. 


Local Judges who hear misdemeanors and some civil cases

Tift State Court Judge

Candidates (1)