Judicial Council Meetings – April 28th, 2017 and February 24th, 2017
The Judicial Council met in Savannah at the Hyatt Regency Savannah on April 28. Prominent Savannah attorney Sonny Seiler was recognized by the Judicial Council for his many years of service as an attorney, former State Bar President, and member of the first Judicial Council in 1974. Winners of the statewide coloring and poster contest were voted on and announced.
Welcome to our first video recap of the Judicial Council activities first quarter of 2017.
Riding the Pine with Judge Raymond George
When the first superior courts were established in Georgia, there were just four counties divided into two judicial circuits. As the state expanded, so did the number of counties and judicial circuits. Today Georgia’s 159 counties are divided into 49 judicial circuits, many of which are multi-county circuits. In those circuits, judges “ride the pine” or “ride the circuit” traveling from county to county to hear cases.
Court-based Self-help Programs
Georgia courts heard approximately 800,000 cases involving self-represented litigants in 2016.[2] In his 2017 State of the Judiciary Address, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Harris Hines stated that one of his priorities as Chief Justice is to improve the way courts assist self-represented litigants.
The 2017 Georgia General Assembly met from January 9 to March 30. Each year, the JC/AOC monitors legislation affecting the Georgia judiciary. The Governor has 40 days to sign or veto legislation.