Kara Sears
Georgia's case law is a complex system of statutes, case law materials, public records, and other legal resources. It is important to understand the state's court system, which is divided into three levels: trial, intermediate appellate, and court of last resort. Researchers can access Georgia case law through online databases such as Westlaw, Lexis, and BloombergLaw, as well as through print case reporters. The Georgia Judicial Gateway (GJG) provides access to vital judicial services, while the Judicial Council of Georgia develops policies for administering and improving the state's courts. Understanding Georgia's case law can be overwhelming due to the vast number of cases available online, but researchers can utilise tools such as visualisation and filtering options to narrow down their search.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of levels in the Georgia state court system | 3 |
| Highest court in Georgia | Georgia Supreme Court |
| Number of judges in the Georgia Supreme Court | 9 |
| Middle level of the Georgia state court system | Georgia Court of Appeals |
| Number of divisions in the Georgia Court of Appeals | 5 |
| Number of judges in each division of the Georgia Court of Appeals | 3 |
| Lowest level of the Georgia state court system | Georgia Superior Courts |
| Number of trial courts in Georgia | 6 |
| Types of trial courts in Georgia | Superior, state, juvenile, probate, magistrate, and municipal |
| Number of judges in the Georgia Juvenile Courts | Not mentioned |
| Jurisdiction of the Georgia State Courts | Limited to one county |
| Cases reviewed by the Georgia State Courts | Misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and civil matters |
| Cases reviewed by the Georgia Juvenile Courts | Cases involving people under the age of 17, and sometimes under 18 |
| Cases reviewed by the Georgia Business Court | Business disputes related to contracts, securities, professional malpractice, business management, and similar issues |
| Online resources for Georgia case law | Westlaw, Lexis, BloombergLaw, and FindLaw |
| Georgia case reporters | Georgia Reports, Georgia Appeals Reports, South Eastern Reporter, and Georgia Cases |
| Password-accessible legal research services | Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg Law |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Georgia state court system
The Georgia state court system is divided into three levels: the lowest level, the middle level, and the highest court.
The lowest level of the Georgia state court system primarily consists of the Georgia Superior Courts. These are trial courts with general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. They also review appeals of decisions by the Georgia Municipal Courts, the Georgia Magistrate Courts, the Georgia Probate Courts, and the Georgia County Recorder's Courts. Municipal Courts handle cases involving violations of local ordinances and minor misdemeanours within an incorporated municipality. Magistrate Courts deal with violations of county ordinances, minor criminal offences, and civil matters with no more than $15,000 at issue. Probate Courts handle cases involving wills, guardianships, and other matters related to estates and incapacitated adults. County Recorder's Courts, on the other hand, are county-wide traffic courts.
The middle level of the Georgia state court system is the Georgia Court of Appeals, which consists of five divisions, each containing three judges. This court holds jurisdiction over all appeals of decisions by lower courts, except in cases involving murder, habeas corpus, or constitutional questions. It may certify a legal question to be resolved by the Supreme Court.
The highest court in Georgia is the Georgia Supreme Court, which consists of nine judges. The Supreme Court reviews appeals of decisions by the Georgia Court of Appeals that have great public importance. It also reviews appeals of decisions by trial courts in limited situations, such as cases that raise constitutional questions. Decisions by the Georgia Supreme Court are final unless the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to review an appeal.
In addition to these three levels, Georgia's court system also includes the State Courts, the Juvenile Courts, and the Business Court. The State Courts have limited jurisdiction in one county and review misdemeanour cases, traffic violations, and civil matters outside the exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Courts. They may also review appeals from Magistrate Courts. The Juvenile Courts handle cases involving individuals under the age of 17 and sometimes under 18. The Business Court addresses business disputes related to contracts, securities, professional malpractice, business management, and similar issues.
To facilitate access to judicial services, the Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts has developed the Georgia Judicial Gateway (GJG). This portal enables citizens and court professionals to access vital judicial services, pay tickets and fees, and search records and directories. The Judicial Council of Georgia, chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, was established in 1945 to develop policies for administering and improving the state's courts.
When conducting case law research in Georgia, researchers primarily focus on locating opinions rendered by the Georgia Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals. Reported opinions will appear in one or more of the following Georgia case reporters: Georgia Reports, Georgia Appeals Reports, South Eastern Reporter, and Georgia Cases. While more researchers are accessing case law online, understanding print case reporters is still important. Only the opinions designated for publication in a reporter will be binding authority in Georgia.
Writing Case Briefs: A Step-by-Step Guide for Law Students
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Georgia Supreme Court
The Georgia state court system is divided into three levels: the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Superior Courts. The Georgia Supreme Court is the highest court in the state and consists of nine judges. It was established in 1845 as a three-member panel, which was increased to six, then seven in 1945, and finally to nine in 2017. The justices are elected by the people of the state in non-partisan elections for six-year terms, with any vacancies filled by the Governor.
The Supreme Court reviews appeals of decisions by the Georgia Court of Appeals and, in limited situations, reviews appeals of decisions by trial courts. It has the authority over every case that involves the review of select appellate jurisdiction, including cases that question the constitutionality of a law, constitutional arrangement, or mandate. The Supreme Court also rules on criminal cases where the death sentence was imposed or could have been imposed, election contests, and petitions from decisions of the Court of Appeals.
The Clerk's office of the Supreme Court is the public-facing side of the Court and is responsible for receiving, processing, and maintaining permanent records of appeals, State Bar Disciplinary cases, and Fitness Board matters. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST/EDT.
To research Georgia case law, one must have a basic understanding of the court system. Reported opinions will appear in one or more of the following Georgia case reporters: Georgia Reports, Georgia Appeals Reports, South Eastern Reporter, and Georgia Cases. Georgia Reports is the official reporter of the Supreme Court of Georgia opinions and includes all published opinions since 1846.
The Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts has developed the Georgia Judicial Gateway (GJG) to facilitate access to services provided by public and private entities. This portal allows citizens and court professionals to access vital judicial services, such as paying tickets, accessing court records and directories, and filing forms.
Case Law: Understanding Police Powers
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Georgia Court of Appeals
The Georgia Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court in Georgia. It was established in 1906 and consists of fifteen judges serving in five divisions. Each division contains three judges. The Court of Appeals holds jurisdiction over all appeals by lower courts, except in cases involving murder, habeas corpus, or constitutional questions. It may certify legal questions to the Georgia Supreme Court.
The Georgia Court of Appeals is the second-highest court in Georgia, with the Georgia Supreme Court being the highest. The Supreme Court reviews appeals of decisions by the Georgia Court of Appeals that are of great public importance. It also reviews appeals of decisions by trial courts in limited situations, such as cases that raise constitutional questions.
When conducting research on Georgia case law, it is important to understand the state's court system. There are three basic levels of courts in Georgia: trial, intermediate appellate, and court of last resort. Researchers will primarily focus on locating opinions rendered by the Georgia Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals. Reported opinions will appear in one or more Georgia case reporters: Georgia Reports, Georgia Appeals Reports, South Eastern Reporter, and Georgia Cases.
There are several resources available for researchers to access Georgia case law. The Georgia Judicial Gateway (GJG) is a portal that provides citizens and court professionals with access to vital judicial services. Additionally, there are commercial resources that provide access to Georgia trial decisions and other legal resources. Researchers can also access case law through print case reporters and online sources.
Civil Law Cases: Examples and Their Impact
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Georgia trial courts
The Georgia state court system is divided into three levels: trial courts, intermediate appellate courts, and the court of last resort. The lowest level of the Georgia state court system consists primarily of Georgia Superior Courts, which are trial courts with general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. Superior Courts review appeals of decisions by the Georgia Municipal Courts, Magistrate Courts, Probate Courts, and County Recorder's Courts. Municipal Courts handle violations of local ordinances and minor misdemeanours, while Magistrate Courts deal with violations of county ordinances, minor criminal offences, and civil matters with a financial limit of $15,000. Probate Courts oversee cases involving wills, guardianships, and other estate and adult incapacity matters. County Recorder's Courts, on the other hand, are county-wide traffic courts.
While trial court decisions and verdicts do not set legal precedents, they can be useful for attorneys in understanding how a judge has ruled in specific matters and the amount of damages awarded. There is no official reporter of trial court decisions, but several commercial resources provide access to Georgia trial court decisions.
The Judicial Council of Georgia, chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, was established in 1945 to formulate policies for the improvement of Georgia's court system. The Council has developed the Georgia Judicial Gateway (GJG) to facilitate access to services provided by public and private entities. The GJG portal allows citizens and court professionals to access various judicial services, including paying tickets, accessing court records and directories, filing forms, and utilising tutorials and publications.
Case Law: Where to Read and Understand
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Basic Legal Research: Tools and Strategies, Revised 8th Edition [Connected eBook with Study Center] (Aspen Coursebook Series)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81t2iaBh45L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
![The Process of Legal Research: Practices and Resources [Connected eBook with Study Center]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71OG9MNqOCL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Online databases
The Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the Courts has developed the Georgia Judicial Gateway (GJG) to facilitate access to numerous services provided by both public and private entities. This Portal is provided to enable Citizens and Court Professionals to access Vital Judicial Services through the State of Georgia. Authentication may be required to access certain features and functions.
There are several online databases that can be used to research Georgia case law. One option is to use the Georgia Courts Website, which provides access to court records and other information. Additionally, the Georgia State University College of Law Library offers a LibGuide on Georgia Legal Research, which includes information on case law and how to locate applicable Georgia court opinions.
Reported opinions will appear in one or more of the following Georgia case reporters: Georgia Reports, Georgia Appeals Reports, South Eastern Reporter, and Georgia Cases. While more researchers are accessing case law online, it is important to understand print case reporters as well. Only Georgia Supreme Court and Court of Appeals opinions designated for publication in a reporter will be binding authority in Georgia. There are four case reporters that publish Georgia court opinions: Georgia Reports (Ga.), which is the official reporter of Supreme Court opinions and includes all published opinions since 1846; Georgia Appeals Reports (Ga. App), which is the official reporter of Georgia Court of Appeals opinions and includes all published opinions since 1907; South Eastern Reporter; and Georgia Cases.
In addition, there are several commercial resources that researchers can use to access Georgia trial decisions, such as Lexis Advance Georgia Jury Verdicts & Settlements Collection, which provides access to jury verdicts, judgments, settlements, and arbitration awards from federal and state proceedings in Georgia. Researchers can also access civil, criminal, and bankruptcy court orders from Georgia state and federal trial courts.
Another online resource for Georgia case law is Justia, which provides information on the Georgia state court system, including the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Georgia Superior Courts. Justia also offers free summaries of new opinions delivered to your inbox.
Understanding the Nature of a Legal Case
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are several online resources for researching Georgia case law. The Georgia Courts Website provides access to numerous services provided by both public and private entities. Other online resources include Westlaw, Lexis, and BloombergLaw.
The Georgia state court system is divided into three levels: the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Georgia Superior Courts. There are also Juvenile Courts, Probate Courts, Magistrate Courts, and Municipal Courts.
When citing Georgia case law, researchers should refer to the relevant Georgia case reporters: Georgia Reports, Georgia Appeals Reports, South Eastern Reporter, and Georgia Cases.
