Georgia Constitution Art. VI Judicial Branch
Georgia Constitution – Article VI: Judicial Branch
Overview:
Article VI of the Georgia State Constitution establishes and regulates the Judicial Branch of the state government. It outlines the structure, jurisdiction, powers, and responsibilities of courts, judges, and related judicial officers in Georgia.
🔷 Section-by-Section Summary of Article VI
§ I – Judicial Power
Judicial power is vested in a unified judicial system, including:
Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
Superior Courts
State Courts
Juvenile Courts
Probate Courts
Magistrate Courts
Municipal Courts (as authorized)
The General Assembly may create other courts by general law.
§ II – Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the highest court in Georgia.
Composed of nine justices, including a Chief Justice and Presiding Justice.
Jurisdiction includes:
Constitutional questions
Election contests
Death penalty review
Title to land
Equity cases
Writs (e.g., mandamus, prohibition)
Questions of great public importance
Has appellate jurisdiction only (no trials).
Has rule-making authority over the court system.
§ III – Court of Appeals
Reviews appeals from lower courts, except those under the Supreme Court’s exclusive jurisdiction.
Has statewide appellate jurisdiction in all other cases.
Composed of at least 12 judges, divided into panels.
Created to reduce the workload of the Supreme Court.
§ IV – Superior Courts
Serve as the general jurisdiction trial courts.
One or more superior court judges per judicial circuit (currently 50 circuits).
Jurisdiction includes:
Civil and criminal cases
Divorce
Felony trials
Land title issues
Equity
Judges are elected for 4-year terms.
§ V – Other Trial Courts
Covers various lower trial courts:
State Courts – limited jurisdiction in misdemeanors, traffic, and civil matters.
Juvenile Courts – cases involving minors.
Probate Courts – wills, estates, and guardianships.
Magistrate Courts – small claims, minor criminal offenses, issuing warrants.
Municipal Courts – city ordinance and traffic cases (as created by local law).
§ VI – Judicial Qualifications Commission
An independent commission that:
Investigates complaints against judges
Can issue disciplinary actions, recommend removal or retirement
Ensures judicial accountability and ethics.
§ VII – Selection, Training, and Discipline of Judges
Judges of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals are elected statewide, nonpartisan.
Other judges are elected within their circuits/counties, also nonpartisan.
General Assembly sets qualifications, terms, and disciplinary procedures.
All judges must complete continuing legal education (CLE).
§ VIII – District Attorneys
Each judicial circuit has a District Attorney (DA).
DAs prosecute criminal cases in superior courts.
Elected for 4-year terms.
Must meet qualifications as set by law.
✅ Key Features of Georgia’s Judicial Branch (Article VI):
| Area | Summary |
|---|---|
| Top Court | Supreme Court of Georgia (9 justices) |
| Appellate Court | Court of Appeals (at least 12 judges) |
| Trial Courts | Superior, State, Juvenile, Probate, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts |
| Judge Elections | Nonpartisan, by popular vote |
| Judicial Oversight | Judicial Qualifications Commission |
| Prosecutors | Elected District Attorneys in each judicial circuit |
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