SB9.html

To amend an Act creating the State Court of Chatham County, approved December 18, 1819 (Ga. L. 1819, p. 16), as amended, so as to provide for an additional judge of the State Court of Chatham County; to provide for the election, powers, duties, jurisdiction, privileges, immunities, and compensation of said additional judge; to authorize the governing authority of Chatham County to provide facilities, office space, supplies, equipment, and personnel for said judge; to provide for other matters relative to the foregoing; to provide effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

There shall be an additional judgeship of the State Court of Chatham County. The initial judge to serve in such additional judgeship shall be elected in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the state courts of this state at the general election in November, 2004, for a term of four years and until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified and shall take office on the first day of January immediately following such judge´s election. The two judges of the State Court of Chatham County in office on the effective date of this Act shall continue to serve the remainder of the terms of office to which they were elected and until their successors are elected and qualified. Future successors shall be elected at the general election conducted immediately prior to the expiration of the term of office, and they shall take office on the first day of January following their election and shall serve for a term of office of four years and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Said additional judge shall have and may exercise all powers, duties, jurisdictions, privileges, and immunities of the present judges of the State Court of Chatham County. Any of the judges of said court may preside over any cause and perform any official act as judge thereof. The compensation of the additional judge shall be the same as that provided for other judges of the State Court of Chatham County. Upon request of the additional judge, the governing authority of Chatham County is authorized to furnish the additional judge with suitable courtroom space and facilities, office space, office equipment, supplies, and such personnel as may be considered necessary by the court to the proper function of the court. All of the expenditures authorized herein are declared to be an expense of court and payable out of the county treasury as such."