Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Court Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Carroll County commissioners approve part-time associate juvenile court judge funded largely by circuit grant increase
Summary
Juvenile Court Judge Tom Palmer won board approval to create a contract, part-time associate juvenile court judge beginning Jan. 1, 2025, with the county’s half-year cost cited at about $64,000 and most of that to be offset by an anticipated $48,000 increase in circuit grant funds from a judicial-circuit split.
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize creation of a part‑time, contract associate juvenile court judge after a presentation by Juvenile Court Judge Tom Palmer.
Palmer told the board the county’s juvenile caseload and a forthcoming split of the judicial circuit require additional bench time. "What I'm proposing is to create a position of a part time contract basis, not employee of the county, no benefits... basically be a half of what would be a full time judgeship," Palmer said. He asked the board to approve a half‑year contract beginning Jan. 1, 2025, at roughly half his current base salary — "approximately $64,000." Palmer said most of the increase would be covered by a state circuit grant that rises to $100,000 for the new West Georgia circuit, with Carroll County receiving roughly $90,000 of that amount and Heard County about 10%.
The request followed questions from multiple commissioners about contracting language, advertising and continuity of operations. Palmer said he intends to advertise the position widely, including in the legal organ and through the local bar, and to work with the county attorney and with Heard County on an intergovernmental agreement to transfer Heard’s share of the grant as needed. "I want it to be a transparent process and a full process," he said.
Commissioners also pressed Palmer on how a contract judge’s hours would be handled during busy periods and whether the county would need extra staff or support agencies; Palmer said the contract would specify coverage expectations, that the county’s courtroom clerks would continue to provide clerical support and that he did not expect additional staff or facilities to be required.
A motion to approve the request passed unanimously, with the chair announcing the motion carried 7‑0. Palmer said the next steps are drafting a contract, finalizing any intergovernmental agreement with Heard County and advertising the position.
Why it matters: The split of the judicial circuit changes the grant distribution that helps cover the cost of juvenile judges. Creating a contract associate judge is intended to preserve case processing speed and reduce delays for orders and hearings as caseloads shift.
