HB180.html

To amend Code Section 15_6_2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the number of superior court judges for each judicial circuit, so as to provide for an additional judge of the Rome Judicial Circuit; to provide for the initial appointment of such judge; to provide for the election of successors; to provide for terms; to prescribe the powers of said judge; to prescribe the compensation and allowances of said judge; to provide for rules for the transaction of business of the superior court of said circuit; to provide for a presiding judge of said circuit; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Code Section 15_6_2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the number of superior court judges for each judicial circuit, is amended by striking paragraph (33) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"(33) Rome Circuit 3 4"

Such additional judge shall be appointed initially by the Governor to take office within 30 days after the date this Act becomes law, for a term ending December 31, 2002, and until the election and qualification of a successor. Thereafter, such additional judge shall be elected in a manner provided by law for the election of judges of the superior courts of this state at the general election in November, 2002, for a term of four years beginning on January 1, 2003, and until the election and qualification of a successor. Future successors shall be elected at the general election each four years thereafter for terms of four years and until the election and qualification of a successor. They shall take office on the first day of January following the date of the election. Such elections shall be held and conducted in a manner provided by law for the election of judges of the superior courts of this state.

Said additional judge shall have and may exercise all powers, duties, dignity, jurisdiction, privileges, and immunities of the present judges of the superior courts of this state. Any of the four judges of the superior courts of said circuit may preside over any case therein and perform any official act as judge thereof.

The four judges, in transacting the business of the superior courts of said circuit and in performing their duties and responsibilities shall share, divide, and allocate the work and duties to be performed by each of them. In the event of disagreement between said judges in respect to the allocation of work and duties, the decision of the senior judge in point of continuous service as superior court judge shall be controlling. In the event that none of said judges shall be senior in point of continuous service as superior court judges, the judge who was first admitted to the State Bar shall be considered the senior judge.

The judge who is senior in point of continuous service as superior court judge shall be the presiding judge of said circuit. In the event that none of said judges shall be senior in point of continuous service as superior court judge, the judge who was first admitted to the State Bar shall be presiding judge.