Douglas Chief Magistrate
Local Judges who hear low-value civil cases and eviction cases
Full office description
- Magistrate Courts hear civil cases only in amounts less than $15,000. There are no jury trials in Magistrate Court.
- Magistrate Courts hear landlord tenant dispossessory cases (i.e. a case where a landlord is seeking an eviction of their tenant) and can order evictions.
- The Chief Magistrate can determine procedures for managing the cases in front of the Magistrate. For example, in Fulton County the Chief Magistrate informs parties in landlord tenant dispossessory cases on the benefits of mediation and provides on-site mediators to resolve landlord tenant disputes before the parties appear in front of the judge.
- Magistrate Courts only have jurisdiction over their respective counties. Each county has its own magistrate court. Magistrate Court Judge term lengths vary per county, however most serve four year terms. Local Superior Court Judges set parameters for Magistrate Courts.
How this impacts you
Housing & Urban Development — Magistrate Courts hear disputes between landlords and tenants where the landlord often seeks eviction. If the Magistrate Judge orders an eviction the tenant has seven days to vacate their home. The Magistrate Judge can order alternative dispute resolution to allow the landlord and tenant to reach an agreement on their own which could provide the tenant more time to vacate their home.
Judicial Efficiency — The Chief Magistrate can determine procedures, meaning they can influence how quickly a resolution is reached for a particular dispute.
Election results
WINNER
Susan S. Camp
100%
21,878 votes
Ryan Williams
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