House panel advances bill to add third judge to Alapaha Judicial Circuit
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Summary
The House Judiciary Committee voted to advance House Bill 55, which would add a third superior-court judgeship to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, after sponsors and a local judge described increasing caseloads and local support. Funding was included in the governor's judicial budget, lawmakers said.
House Bill 55, a bill to add a third superior-court judge to the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, was advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee after sponsor Representative Ford and local officials described rising caseloads and unanimous local support.
Representative Ford said the Alapaha Judicial Circuit — which covers Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook and Lanier counties — ranked first in the Judicial Council’s workload study and that caseloads have doubled since the circuit received its second judge in 1979. "The caseload has doubled since the second judge was added back in 1979," Representative Ford told the committee. He also said the governor’s budget includes funding for the new judgeship.
Judge Clay Tomlinson of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit told the committee the circuit does not have a COVID backlog but has seen a sustained, decade-long rise in criminal and civil filings. "In five counties, I have about 8,000 cases open right now," Judge Tomlinson said, adding that the circuit’s combined population is about 65,000 and that many civil litigants are self-represented. He described the region as rural but noted the presence of I‑75 through Cook County and associated interstate criminal activity.
Committee members asked for more detail on raw population and caseload numbers and whether counties would provide salary supplements for a new judge. Judge Tomlinson said counties had provided letters of support signed by county commission chairs, sheriffs and other local officials, and that physical courtroom space and staff support were available immediately. He also said local governments have begun providing modest supplements to judges where applicable.
A committee member asked whether the effective date would be January 1 or July 1; sponsors said they preferred an earlier start but that the budget and appropriations process could address timing. Leader of Administration and other members said it is common to carry such bills while finalizing appropriation details with the Appropriations Committee.
After discussion, a member moved to pass the bill and the committee advanced House Bill 55 by voice vote. The committee record did not contain a roll-call tally.
