08 LC 38
0660T/AP
House
Bill 1414 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representatives Hembree of the
67th,
Brooks of the
63rd,
Bearden of the
68th,
and Bruce of the
64th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend an Act creating the State Court of Douglas County, approved April 1, 1999
(Ga. L. 1999, p. 3606), so as to provide an additional judge for the State Court
of Douglas County; to provide for the appointment of the initial additional
judge and the election of successors; to provide for terms of office of said
additional judge and successors to such judge; to provide for powers and
privileges of said additional judge; to provide for the compensation and
expenses of said additional judge; to provide for related matters; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
An
Act creating the State Court of Douglas County, approved April 1, 1999 (Ga. L.
1999, p. 3606), is amended by striking Section 11 in its entirety and inserting
a new Section 11 to read as follows:
"SECTION
11.
(a)
Until July 1, 2009 there shall be one judge of the State Court of Douglas County
who shall be elected by the qualified voters of Douglas County at the state-wide
general election in November, 2002, and quadrennially thereafter, shall take
office the first day of January immediately following such election, and shall
serve for a term of office of four years and until the election and
qualification of a successor, as provided by Chapter 7 of Title 15 and by Title
21 of the O.C.G.A.; provided, however, that the first judge shall be appointed
by the Governor for a term of office of 18 months beginning July 1, 2001, and
until the election and qualification of a successor.
(b)
Effective July 1, 2009 there shall be two judges of the State Court of Douglas
County. The second judge added effective July 1, 2009 shall be elected by the
qualified voters of Douglas County at the state-wide general election in
November, 2010, and quadrennially thereafter, shall take office the first day of
January immediately following such election, and shall serve for a term of
office of four years and until the election and qualification of a successor, as
provided by Chapter 7 of Title 15 and by Title 21 of the O.C.G.A.; provided,
however, that said judge shall be appointed by the Governor for a term of office
of 18 months beginning July 1, 2009, and ending December 31, 2010, and until the
election and qualification of a successor.
(c)
The judges of said court shall have such qualifications and shall be subject to
such restrictions and discipline as provided in Chapter 7 of Title 15 of the
O.C.G.A. They shall be vested with all the power and authority of the judges of
the state courts by Chapter 7 of Title 15 of the O.C.G.A.
(d)
The judges shall be full-time judges and shall be paid a salary equal to 85
percent of the base state paid salary now or hereafter paid to the judges of the
Superior Court of Douglas County. Said salary shall be payable out of the funds
of Douglas County at the same intervals as installments are paid to other county
officers.
(e)
The judge of the State Court of Douglas County who has served the longest period
of time in office as judge of said court shall be the chief judge of the State
Court of Douglas County."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective July 1, 2008.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.