Spalding County commissioners back resolution to add second state court judge; estimated start-up cost ~$1.97M

The Spalding County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 Monday to approve a resolution supporting the addition of a second state court judge for the county.

The measure follows a presentation by State Court Judge Thacker, who told commissioners the court is handling the caseload of roughly three judges with a single judge and team. "I can move 50 cases," Thacker said, "I need to move 250 cases a month." He said bonded criminal cases are the primary backlog and that civil and traffic dockets are caught up.

The resolution asks county budgeting staff to include the new judge in fiscal planning. County staff told the board that standing up the judge, including the judge’s staff plus additional required personnel for the solicitor and clerk of court, would cost about $1,970,000 in the first year. The county manager said that staffing costs and timing would be coordinated with other budget priorities and that some current contracted senior-judge expenses could be reduced as a full-time judge comes online.

Judge Thacker said the court had temporarily reduced a backlog from "6,000 down to 550," but warned the number could rise again without more staff. Commissioners asked about the potential offset from reducing senior-judge contracts; Thacker said the demand for contracted judges should decline over time but not immediately replace all temporary help.

The board moved, seconded and approved the resolution by voice vote, 4-0.

Why it matters: Commissioners and the judge framed the question as one of capacity and public safety: bonded criminal caseloads are driving the need for an additional full-time judge and related support staff. The roughly $2 million first-year estimate will be weighed against other budget priorities as the county prepares its FY26 budget.