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 Accountability for Abuse in Foster Care
Children who suffer sexual, physical, and other abuses while in the state’s custody face significant hurdles when they seek justice.
Florida Supreme Court Allows DeSantis to Undermine Prosecutorial Independence
Lawmakers and other officials in multiple states seek to limit the power of or remove elected prosecutors whose policy choices they disagree with.
State Constitutional Conventions, Explained
The last state to hold a conventional convention was in Rhode Island in 1986.
South Carolina High Court Hears Challenge to Firing Squads and Electric Chair
States have increasingly turned to antiquated, painful methods of execution in response to shortages of lethal injection drugs.
The Right to Petition in State Constitutions, Explained
Some states protect citizens’ right to make requests of or complaints against the government more broadly than the federal Constitution.
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.
Iowa Supreme Court Allows Six-Week Abortion Ban to Take Effect
The court’s stance on reproductive health has shifted dramatically since 2018, when it held that abortion was a fundamental right under the state constitution.
Judicial Deference to Agency Expertise in the States
Almost all state courts recognize the importance of agencies’ expertise in policymaking.