Georgia

Supreme Court of Georgia
Judicial Selection Method: Election (Nonpartisan)
9 Justices
6 year terms
State High Court Judicial Selection Process Legal Authority
General

  • Candidates are elected on a nonpartisan basis in a general election.
  • The candidate who receives a majority of votes is elected to the Supreme Court of Georgia.
  • If no one receives a majority, the two candidates with the highest number of votes contest for the seat in a run-off election.

Interim Vacancies

  • Vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the Governor except as otherwise provided by law in the magistrate, probate, and juvenile courts.

    Docket Watch

  • Georgia Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban on Assisted Suicide Advertisements

    In Final Exit Network, Inc. v. Georgia, the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously concluded that Georgia’s statutory prohibition on advertising or offering to assist in the commission of a suicide was an unconstitutional restriction on free speech protected by both the United States and Georgia Constitutions. The court suggested that the state could have prohibited all assisted suicides instead of just public offers of assistance, leaving a potential opening for the State Legislature to pass a different law.

  • Judicial Election

    Judges are elected by popular vote.

  • Democratic Appointment

    Judges are appointed directly by a democratic body, or appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of some democratic body.