3 Primary Types of Courts in Georgia

By Ben Sessions on December 27th, 2022 in

In Georgia, there are three main types of courts: magistrate courts, state courts, and superior courts. Each of these courts has its own jurisdiction, or the power to hear and decide certain types of cases.

1. Magistrate courts: Magistrate courts are the lowest level of court in Georgia and are responsible for hearing minor criminal cases, traffic cases, and civil cases involving small amounts of money. These courts do not have the power to hold jury trials.
2. State courts: State courts have jurisdiction over a wide range of cases, including criminal cases, civil cases, and family law cases. These courts can hold jury trials for certain types of cases.
3. Superior courts: Superior courts are the highest level of court in Georgia and have jurisdiction over more serious criminal cases, civil cases, and cases involving appeals from lower courts. These courts can hold jury trials for all types of cases.

Each county in Georgia has at least one superior court, and some larger counties have multiple superior courts. In addition to these three main types of courts, Georgia also has specialized courts that handle specific types of cases, such as probate courts, which handle cases related to wills and estates, and juvenile courts, which handle cases involving minors.