Georgia
Georgia’s highest court is the Supreme Court of Georgia. The court has eight associate justices and one chief justice. The supreme court justices select a chief justice for two, two-year terms by majority vote. (Source: Guide to Judicial Branch; Supreme Court of Georgia)
Judicial Selection
Justices on the Supreme Court of Georgia are selected through a nonpartisan election, where multiple candidates may vie for the seat. The elected justice serves a six-year term and may seek additional terms in a nonpartisan election. When a seat on the court opens in the middle of a justice’s term, the governor appoints a candidate to fill the vacancy. The governor receives a list of candidates from the judicial nominating commission but is not required to select a candidate from the list. The justice holds office until Georgia’s next general election more than six months after the appointment. The elected justice serves the remainder of the unexpired term. There are no term limits, nor is there a mandatory retirement age.
State Constitution
Georgia has had 10 constitutions adopted between 1777 and 1982. As of January 1, 2026, it had 90 amendments. (Data on file with John Dinan, Wake Forest University.)
Filters
The Many Versions of State Constitutional Lockstepping
The practice of interpreting state constitutions identically to their federal counterpart is often criticized in blanket terms. But the ways state courts lockstep vary widely.
How State Courts Can Help Deflect the Supreme Court’s Latest Blow to Multiracial Democracy
State courts need not import a federal doctrine directing judges to avoid issuing rulings that could change election rules in the runup to an election.
“State Capture” and the Role of State Courts
State constitutions offer powerful tools for combatting control of state and local institutions by private interests.
How Courts Evaluate Election Day Requests to Keep Polls Open Late
Various factors, including the harm to voters and the option for tailored and limited relief, play into whether judges will allow voting to continue past the scheduled closing time.
Fines, Fees, and Bail in State Courts
Recent state supreme court cases, including a major California ruling last week, address the burden of court-imposed financial obligations on criminal defendants.
The Aftermath of Callais
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling will embroil state courts in a new wave of battles over gerrymandering and voting rights.
How Are State Judges Selected?
Thirty-eight states use elections as part of their system for choosing high court judges.
Closing Remarks
Transcript of panel from Symposium: State Constitutions and the Limits of Criminal Punishments