Georgia
Georgia’s highest court is the Supreme Court of Georgia. The court has eight associate justices and one chief justice. The supreme court justices select a chief justice for two, two-year terms by majority vote. (Source: Guide to Judicial Branch; Supreme Court of Georgia)
Judicial Selection
Justices on the Supreme Court of Georgia are selected through a nonpartisan election, where multiple candidates may vie for the seat. The elected justice serves a six-year term and may seek additional terms in a nonpartisan election. When a seat on the court opens in the middle of a justice’s term, the governor appoints a candidate to fill the vacancy. The governor receives a list of candidates from the judicial nominating commission but is not required to select a candidate from the list. The justice holds office until Georgia’s next general election more than six months after the appointment. The elected justice serves the remainder of the unexpired term. There are no term limits, nor is there a mandatory retirement age.
State Constitution
Georgia has had 10 constitutions adopted between 1777 and 1982. As of January 1, 2024, it had 87 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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State Constitutions Have a Role to Play in the Housing Crisis
Voters in multiple states approved constitutional amendments last year to address housing affordability and access.
State Court Cases to Look for in 2025
Courts across the country will issue major rulings this year that will impact abortion rights, criminal justice, and more.
What the SCOTUS Term Means for State Courts
Some of the Court’s most important holdings — including on abortion, gun restrictions, and presidential immunity — have implications for state courts and constitutions.
We Need to Know More About State Supreme Court Cases
State high courts interpret laws that impact some of the most intimate parts of our lives. Communities have a right to know what’s on the docket.
What Litigation After the 2020 Election Can Tell Us About 2024
Efforts to disqualify mail-in ballots and unfounded allegations of voter fraud dominated post-election litigation in 2020. Similar efforts are possible this month.
Access to Reproductive Health Care for Minors Is a Political Flash Point
Courts in some states have ruled that laws requiring parental consent for abortion are unconstitutional, while Idaho forbids nearly all medical care for children without parental consent.
Major Election Rulings in Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania
Courts in battleground states are weighing in on how and whether votes in this election will be counted.
Georgia Supreme Court Declines to Reinstate Controversial Election Rules
The rules would have encouraged county officials to refuse to certify election results in violation of state law.