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House Judiciary Committee backs bill to add third judge to Alapaha Judicial Circuit
Summary
The Georgia House Judiciary Committee approved House Bill 55 to create a third superior court judgeship for the Alapaha Judicial Circuit after testimony from local officials citing rising caseloads and county support; the position is included in the governor’s budget.
The House Judiciary Committee voted to advance House Bill 55, which would add a third superior court judgeship to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, after testimony from the bill’s sponsor and a local judge who said caseloads in the five-county circuit have grown substantially.
Representative John Ford, sponsor of House Bill 55, told the committee the circuit — which covers Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook and Lanier counties — ranked first on the Judicial Council’s workload study and that funding for an additional judge is included in Governor Brian Kemp’s budget. "This circuit includes Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook, and Lanier Counties. As you can see on the worksheet we provided, the judicial circuit ranked number 1 on the Judicial Council's workload study," Ford said.
Judge Clay Tomlinson of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit described a sustained decade-long increase in both criminal and civil filings and said the circuit has operated with two judges since 1979. "We’ve really reached our maximum on the workload and the service that we can do to our citizens," Tomlinson said, adding that judges travel among five courthouses and many litigants are self-represented.
Tomlinson provided numbers during questioning: the combined population of the five counties is about 65,000 and the circuit currently has roughly 8,000 open cases across both judges. He also cited the circuit’s workload assessment number of 1.42 and said population in the counties has risen roughly 33 percent since 1979, while caseloads have doubled since the second judgeship was added in 1979.
Committee members asked about local commitments to fund or supplement a new judge. Tomlinson said all five counties have provided letters of support from county commission chairs, sheriffs and local officials and that each county has immediate physical space to house a new judge and supporting staff. Representative Ford and witnesses confirmed the judgeship was included as a line item in the judicial budget submitted as part of the governor’s budget.
After questions from members on timing and appropriations, Chairman Smith called the motion and the committee voted to report the bill out of committee with a do-pass recommendation. The committee did not record a roll-call tally during the voice vote.
Votes at a glance: the committee approved sending House Bill 55 to the next stage with a do-pass recommendation; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Background: The Alapaha Judicial Circuit’s testimony emphasized that rural counties can face serious criminal matters related to major highways that cross the area; Rep. Ford noted that Interstate 75 runs through Cook County. Witnesses said the local criminal justice system has expanded other state-supported functions — probation officers, prosecutors and public defenders — while the number of superior court judges remained unchanged since 1979.
What’s next: The bill will move to the next step in the legislative process; committee members discussed timing of an effective date and coordination with the Appropriations Committee on funding.
