[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6362827,"mediaKeyId","2167264-b0f576343d3866b65776d719fc92a005","parentId",2167264,"title","Georgia chief justice says state judiciary ‘strong’ but faces reporter shortages, legal deserts and security threats","audioSeconds",2477,"startMs",4896000,"endMs",7373000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167264-b0f576343d3866b65776d719fc92a005&start=4896&end=7373","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167264-b0f576343d3866b65776d719fc92a005/thumbnail_4896000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6362827/Georgia/Georgia-chief-justice-says-state-judiciary-strong-but-faces-reporter-shortages-legal-deserts-and-security-threats","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362827-f31faaf5f44087d2dfc5004ba516473a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775533413&Signature=L1BCZLGUIwOPOduvbCMTK25pwZYHrzmkTNSi8w0OpQB3ew0g4WRMk3X37o8uXeEjFtRdcJf0pVf8AbeRYKsqZlCYCiqYmTlxb8nCJHZT~fNqPKUZd~jK7-P5u2mHvhIOyVHlrqaqLw3TFwrP83XHztHaKcHMoSmc-dv1cugoT0iC-7kaWrxZD0UDeGSGp~Gl6MWPONfh~MYnYNwNkKQJ92-v0MpO5gO5L39QuDimM7puVzttmUxC4wjch1COKfoRuu4KXMsU9c2MCs2MShzW5n86SyreqQ6eTX~-ZToXYOsOrGh9QWT15dRUIfN-IEqiTP7kyQm-M36uAIiHND9jpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Georgia State Legislature","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs told a joint session of the General Assembly on Tuesday that the “state of Georgia’s judiciary is strong” while outlining several operational challenges and requesting legislative support for a set of reforms.

Boggs, who leads the Supreme Court of Georgia, said courts are coping with a nationwide shortage of court reporters and proposed giving trial judges the option to use a digital recording system in many—but not all—proceedings. He said the Judicial Council would present a balanced proposal that keeps court reporters central while allowing judges the option to rely on recordings to produce required records more quickly.

The chief justice also highlighted the problem of “legal deserts,” saying seven Georgia counties still have no licensed lawyers and that more than 30,000 residents lack local access to legal representation for matters such as divorces, evictions and child‑custody disputes. To address that gap, he announced the Supreme Court Study Committee on legal regulatory reform, led by Justice Carla Wong McMillian and Court of Appeals Judge Steven Dillard, which will work with the State Bar and other stakeholders to explore regulatory and programmatic changes.

Boggs described a statewide case‑management effort for superior and state courts as “generationally transformative.” Funded by federal ARPA dollars, the project aims to replace or integrate 159 disparate local case‑management systems to provide judges and court staff with more accurate, shared information about defendants and pending matters. He said improved data will reduce sentencing and public‑safety risks that stem from incomplete records.

The chief justice also announced the creation of a committee to study generative artificial intelligence in court processes, led by Justice Andrew Pinson and Court of Appeals Judge Elizabeth Goebel, and said the committee will report by the summer. Boggs said courts across the country must consider both the opportunities and the risks that AI poses for evidence, records and judicial decisionmaking.

Boggs praised local initiatives funded or supported by the legislature, including medical‑legal partnership programs that colocate attorneys to help medically fragile residents and kinship‑care programs that place children with relatives rather than in foster care. He singled out Cobb County’s Veterans Accountability Treatment Court as a local model: he said 64 veterans had graduated from the program and reported an average recidivism rate of 7 percent.

Turning to safety, Boggs said threats against judges and court staff have increased, citing national statistics on federal judicial threats and local incidents such as bomb threats that closed a courthouse. He urged continued investments in courthouse security, training and other protections and thanked lawmakers for passage of Senate Bill 508 the previous session.

On compensation and the independence of the judiciary, Boggs asked legislators to support bills filed this session to increase judicial pay. He told lawmakers he would again seek support for the Judicial Council’s compensation plan and identified House Bill 885 and “House Bill 86” (as referenced in his remarks) as vehicles addressing pay for different judicial classes.

Boggs also said the judiciary will seek legislation to remove partisan elections for the remaining probate and magistrate judges who still run in partisan contests, arguing that nonpartisan selection supports public confidence in impartial adjudication.

He closed by thanking the General Assembly for prior support of court initiatives and asking for continued partnership to improve access, security and the efficiency of Georgia’s courts.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Session Day 7: 01.28.25","oneSentenceSummary","Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs told a joint session of the General Assembly on Tuesday that the “state of Georgia’s judiciary is strong” but identified pressing operational problems including a court reporter shortage, counties with no lawyers, increasing threats to judges and the need for a statewide case‑management system.","taxTitle","HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",15505,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6362818,"House member brings Paralympian and families to Capitol to press for HB 887 on prosthetics and orthotics access",45,3068000,3113000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167264-b0f576343d3866b65776d719fc92a005&start=3068&end=3113","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167264-b0f576343d3866b65776d719fc92a005/thumbnail_3068000.jpg","/articles/6362818/Georgia/House-member-brings-Paralympian-and-families-to-Capitol-to-press-for-HB-887-on-prosthetics-and-orthotics-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362818-b14a96baca2f33985a95f4e438635866/orig.mp4?Expires=1775533413&Signature=odmeCkaYmyrfLaVOZs5LqUoEDlCzb2rMhZMx82EC50-s6DBMX3HW0dZQCCq39oQ~MFsUlRHsc9J2bSwCbDGiImFpSPGzH2DA0qkkSAu8yju1xsRgB-wXQFjSLfAVL5bxUQCJ~TFjR9pCI3vzsqqJW2mQms1dbJsNhJqm4BHhzt6wByQG~qKAtXJaSaSpGSSjOd6iDMluyoqio9TFEYA5N6Id0kLQhwrmz9xozxhwMNRHLdoWOtM8QQDcXwUEuyDjVEItcYoJ1Gjrc6MnmMX-PBTJFUiEQbG00fJ8jlPMLRtwrirtcDJu9hDWdpLtxwuHull4et3jIF-CUmuav6xt~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative David Clark recognized supporters of House Bill 887 on the floor and introduced visiting athletes, clinicians and families asking lawmakers to back the measure to improve access to medically appropriate prosthetic and orthotic devices.

Clark identified several guests in the chamber, including four‑time Paralympian Jared Wallace, former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohammed Massaquoi, a 6‑year‑old named Elliot Barrett, and Kennesaw State University students and patient advocates. He asked members to welcome the visitors and said they were present to request passage of HB 887 “so they can have access to the devices they need to live healthy, effective lives.”

The recognition was part of the House’s morning orders; no floor debate or vote on HB 887 was recorded during the appearance. Clark and the guests urged support for the bill and sought to raise legislators’ awareness of patient needs and clinical access challenges.

","Representative David Clark introduced athletes, medical advocates and a child to the House chamber to urge passage of House Bill 887, legislation described by supporters as improving access to medically appropriate prosthetic and orthotic devices.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6362823,"Georgia House mourns Coweta County fire battalion chief killed helping stranded motorist",279,7063000,7342000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167264-b0f576343d3866b65776d719fc92a005&start=7063&end=7342","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167264-b0f576343d3866b65776d719fc92a005/thumbnail_7063000.jpg","/articles/6362823/Georgia/Georgia-House-mourns-Coweta-County-fire-battalion-chief-killed-helping-stranded-motorist","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362823-98addea879ae8d4669317a3a4f3ae70c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775533413&Signature=S6I1MHLgMgCx17GGMXf0LDf2xp21vq5lI-tpc8cEtUTakCNr1E2e2ert6H-vAaayHCkW6KWBA0dPG2Llma6gJluArrXcYLTJ4k8aTG7TRnP-1Kv31mQzw8bT6m1oVgUaqwFB~YRxaFJu~2Plz4mRcBk7jkEaZmxLsnxyuE4NgCtg66HyhAsiaMXsp23DqMEQm8gl2ootKNyosDdKecJzMq9JmwHdWITIHLXt7O8CTbTEtlCjYQh78WumninhGPupfgs55jTB8dHZ8V5aOCOxlnLW-yDrFvIfd47Mg2-tz4wDgSoFqJpun2sex4BsEN0~SR019RtjZAoL-Mch9IzkRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Georgia House of Representatives paused its afternoon orders to recognize and offer condolences for Coweta County Fire Battalion Chief Bert Cawthon, who was killed last Sunday while attempting to help a stranded motorist.

Representative Lynn Smith (Coweta County) introduced the recognition and described the incident: with no cell service in the area, Cawthon and the motorist walked to a nearby residence seeking help; the homeowner opened fire, fatally wounding Cawthon and wounding the other man. Smith said the funeral procession begins at 1 p.m., with the service to follow.

Multiple members who knew Cawthon described him as a “servant leader” and said he frequently mentored younger firefighters. A speaker who worked with him said he was not on duty the night he died and was acting as a Good Samaritan. House members observed a moment of silence and offered prayers for Cawthon’s family, coworkers and the Coweta County community.

Representative Smith asked the chamber to lift up the family and local first responders in the coming days and noted arrangements for a funeral procession and service.

","Members of the Georgia House paused afternoon business to recognize and pray for Coweta County Fire Battalion Chief Bert Cawthon, who was killed while assisting a stranded motorist. Delegates described him as a servant leader and announced funeral arrangements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Georgia chief justice says state judiciary ‘strong’ but faces reporter shortages, legal deserts and security threats

House member brings Paralympian and families to Capitol to press for HB 887 on prosthetics and orthotics access

Georgia House mourns Coweta County fire battalion chief killed helping stranded motorist