Douglas State Court Judge
Local Judges who hear misdemeanors and some civil cases
Full office description
- Despite their name, State Courts in Georgia have limited jurisdiction within their county. State Court Judges also have limited jurisdiction over the types of cases they hear, as opposed to Superior Court.
- State Court Judges hear misdemeanors, like traffic tickets. They also issue arrest and search warrants and hold preliminary hearings in some criminal cases.
- State Court Judges hear most civil matters that aren't related to land titles, divorce, or cases involving non-monetary damages (those matters are handled by the Superior Court).
- State Court Judges are elected in non-partisan county wide elections and serve four year terms. The Governor can appoint State Court Judges when vacancies arise.
How this impacts you
Criminal Justice — State Court Judges can issue arrest and search warrants which mean they review documentation from police and determine if a warrant is reasonable. Warrants allow police to take a citizen into custody or search their home, and State Court Judges have a say if they feel the police are overstepping their power when they request a warrant without enough cause.
Consumer Protection — If a person sues someone in Georgia, their case could end up in State Court. These case types include negligence, breach of contract, battery, and more. These cases can have a large financial impact on the losing party.
Election results
WINNER
Brian Keith Fortner
100%
16,097 votes
Candidates (1)
Brian Keith Fortner
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Brian Keith Fortner is running for this race unopposed.Read profile