Chief Magistrate Judge Rebecca Pitts, Butts County, President of CMCJ

Rebecca Johnston Pitts

Butts County GA

Said, "I was fortunate enough to grow up as a courthouse kid. My mom was a probate judge for 24 years and so I spent a lot of time in the courthouse."

Became a victim advocate while working in the district attorney's office.

Has experience hearing Arrest Warrant Applications for Domestic and Non-domestic Cases, Bad Check Warrants, Evictions, Non-domestic Civil Suits up to $15,000, and Wage Garnishments.

- Said, "I was fortunate enough to grow up as a courthouse kid. My mom was a probate judge for 24 years and so I spent a lot of time in the courthouse."
- Became a victim advocate while working in the district attorney's office.
- Has experience hearing Arrest Warrant Applications for Domestic and Non-domestic Cases, Bad Check Warrants, Evictions, Non-domestic Civil Suits up to $15,000, and Wage Garnishments.

Legal Experience

Wants to "help people feel comfortable when they come into the courtroom and know that they can represent themselves and they are being heard and that they will receive fair and easy access to justice."

- Wants to "help people feel comfortable when they come into the courtroom and know that they can represent themselves and they are being heard and that they will receive fair and easy access to justice."

Ethics & Conduct

Said, "The best part of my job is being able to help people. The magistrate court is known as the people's court, it gives your individuals an opportunity to represent themselves without having to have the expense of hiring an attorney."

Wants to "build on open communication with all of our judges and make sure that they receive the resources and the education that they need."

- Said, "The best part of my job is being able to help people. The magistrate court is known as the people's court, it gives your individuals an opportunity to represent themselves without having to have the expense of hiring an attorney."
- Wants to "build on open communication with all of our judges and make sure that they receive the resources and the education that they need."

Judicial Administration

Said, "I have lived in my community my whole life so I feel very fortunate to be able to serve my community."

Took a mission trip to Alaska and volunteered in homeless shelters and food kitchens.

- Said, "I have lived in my community my whole life so I feel very fortunate to be able to serve my community."
- Took a mission trip to Alaska and volunteered in homeless shelters and food kitchens.

Community Involvement

- 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. 