georgia’s judicial system
DESCRIPTION
Georgia’s Judicial System. First … a quick review. What is a misdemeanor? Less serious crime, punishment is < 1 year in prison, < $1,000 fine, or both Examples: shoplifting (depending upon amount stolen), vandalism, trespassing. What is a felony? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
GEORGIA’S JUDICIAL SYSTEM
First … a quick review What is a misdemeanor?
Less serious crime, punishment is < 1 year in prison, < $1,000 fine, or both
Examples: shoplifting (depending upon amount stolen), vandalism, trespassing
What is a felony?
Serious crime, > 1 year in prison, > $1,000 fine or both
Examples – murder, burglary, assault, arson
Jurisdiction – what is it? The cases over which a court has
control.
Municipal Courts Also known as special courts, these courts
deal with municipal, or local, issues. They may do the following:
Handle ordinance violations, such as curfew violations, cruelty to animals, truancy, assault and battery
Issue criminal warrantsConduct preliminary hearingsTry cases involving drug possession in small
quantities
Probate Courts 159 courts (1 for each county in Georgia) Judges in these courts are elected for 4
year terms These courts perform the following
functions:Wills and estates after deathIssue marriage licensesIssue firearms licensesHave jury trials in large counties only
Probate Court
Magistrate Courts 159 courts (1 for each county in Georgia) Some of these judges are appointed by
county legislators, some are elected for 4 year terms
These courts perform the following:Issue arrest warrantsIssue search warrantsTry civil cases (less than $15,000) – no jury
trials
Magistrate Court – Cobb County
Juvenile Courts 159 courts (1 for each county in Georgia) Judges in these courts are appointed by
Superior Court judges for 4 year terms This court handles the following:
Cases for children 18 years old and younger who are deprived or neglected
Cases for children 17 years old and younger with unruly or delinquent behavior
No jury trials
Juvenile Court
State Courts 71 courts in Georgia (not every county
has one) Judges are elected for 4 year terms These courts handle the following:
MisdemeanorsCivil casesTraffic violationsThis court does conduct jury trials
State Courtrooms
Superior Courts 49 circuit courts (circuit may be several
counties combined) Judges are elected for 4 year terms This court handles the following:
Civil issuesMisdemeanor casesFelony cases including violent crimes
committed by juvenilesConduct jury trials
Superior Courts Exclusive jurisdiction over:
Felony casesDivorceCivil cases involving landWrits of habeas corpus
Also hear appeals (when someone is unhappy with the verdict from a lower court) from state courts, juvenile courts, probate courts, and magistrate courts.
Court of Appeals 4 courts – 12 judges in total Judges are elected for 6 year terms Hears appeals from lower courts
Georgia Supreme Court One court – 7 justices total Judges are elected to 6 year terms This is Georgia’s highest court Primary job is to interpret the Georgia
Constitution, final appellate court Deals frequently with death penalty and fair
election cases Appeals from the Court of Appeals Decisions from this court are binding and have
the effect of making law
Georgia Supreme Court Justices
Let there be justice, though the heavens may fall.
Georgia Supreme Court building
Atlanta, GA