HBill.html

To amend an Act creating the State Court of Hall County, approved August 14, 1891 (Ga. L. 1890-91, Vol. II, p. 939), as amended, so as to provide for an additional judge for said court after June 30, 2003; to provide for the initial appointment and subsequent election of such additional judge; to provide for terms of office; to provide for the qualifications and compensation of such additional judge; to provide for an associate state court judge; to provide for the designation of a chief judge; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

(a) There shall be a judge of said state court, who shall be elected by the qualified voters of Hall County and who shall, after the first term of office hereinafter provided for, hold an office for the term of four years, and all vacancies in the office of judge, except as hereinafter provided, shall be filled by a special election called for that purpose, and any person so elected shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(b) Effective July 1, 2003, there shall be two judges of the State Court of Hall County. The second judge added effective July 1, 2003, shall be appointed by the Governor for an initial term of office ending on December 31, 2004, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. The successor to said judge shall be elected by the qualified voters of Hall County at an election to be held and conducted jointly with the general primary in 2004 and quadrennially thereafter pursuant to Code Section 21_2_138 of the O.C.G.A. The judge thus elected shall serve a four_year term and until such officer´s successor is elected and qualified.
(c) It shall be the duty of the governing authority of Hall County or other proper officers of said county to make provisions annually in levying taxes for this purpose. The qualifications of the judges of the State Court of Hall County shall be the same as those of a judge of the superior courts, and the laws prohibiting a superior court judge from engaging in the private practice of law shall be applicable to the judges of the State Court of Hall County.

(a) The two judges of the State Court of Hall County shall each receive an annual salary equal to 90 percent of the gross salary as defined in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the term 'gross salary' shall mean the annual salary received by a superior court judge from state funds only, effective January 1, 1983, plus any increases in said annual salary for superior court judges from state funds only, on or after January 1, 1983.

(a) The solicitor of the State Court of Hall County shall receive an annual salary equal to 90 percent of the gross salary as defined in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the term 'gross salary' shall mean the annual salary received by a district attorney from state funds only, effective January 1, 1983, plus any increases in said annual salary for district attorneys from state funds only, on or after January 1, 1983.

The chief judge of the state court may appoint one person to serve at the pleasure of such judge as an associate state court judge on a part_time basis. An associate state court judge shall be a member of the State Bar of Georgia and meet the requirements for a full_time state court judge. The compensation of the associate state court judge shall be fixed by the chief judge with the approval of the governing authority of the county and shall be set at no greater than 50 percent of a full_time state court judge´s salary.