For #StateEmployeeRecognitionWeek 2026, we asked our team why they chose a career in public service. Our staff’s dedication to supporting Georgia’s courts is why we’re proud to serve at the Judicial Council of Georgia/Administrative Office of the Courts. #SERW #PSRW

For #StateEmployeeRecognitionWeek 2026, we asked our team why they chose a career in public service. Our staff’s dedication to supporting Georgia’s courts is why we’re proud to serve at the Judicial Council of Georgia/Administrative Office of the Courts. #SERW #PSRW

Congratulations to Senior Judge Benjamin W. Studdard, III, honored with the Justice Logan E. Bleckley Award by the Atlanta Bar Association’s Litigation Section. He is the first State Court Judge outside Atlanta/Fulton to receive it.

Vice Chair, Presiding Judge Sara Doyle, led a meeting of the Judicial Council Standing Committee on Access to Justice yesterday. Agenda items included GLSP’s Legal Kiosk Project, developing forms for use by self-represented litigants, and modernizing court notices.

For #StateEmployeeRecognitionWeek 2026, we asked our team why they chose a career in public service. Our staff’s dedication to supporting Georgia’s courts is why we’re proud to serve at the Judicial Council of Georgia/Administrative Office of the Courts. #SERW #PSRW

For #StateEmployeeRecognitionWeek 2026, we asked our team why they chose a career in public service. Our staff’s dedication to supporting Georgia’s courts is why we’re proud to serve at the Judicial Council of Georgia/Administrative Office of the Courts. #SERW #PSRW

For #StateEmployeeRecognitionWeek 2026, we asked our team why they chose a career in public service. Our staff’s dedication to supporting Georgia’s courts is why we’re proud to serve at the Judicial Council of Georgia/Administrative Office of the Courts. #SERW #PSRW

For #StateEmployeeRecognitionWeek 2026, we asked our team why they chose a career in public service. Our staff’s dedication to supporting Georgia’s courts is why we’re proud to serve at the Judicial Council of Georgia/Administrative Office of the Courts. #SERW #PSRW

For #StateEmployeeRecognitionWeek 2026, we asked our team why they chose a career in public service. Our staff’s dedication to supporting Georgia’s courts is why we’re proud to serve at the Judicial Council of Georgia/Administrative Office of the Courts. #SERW #PSRW

Happy Law Day! This year’s theme The Rule of Law and the American Dream reminds us how courts support fairness and opportunity across Georgia. With that spirit in mind, explore the latest Georgia Courts Journal, April 2026 is available!: georgiacourtsjournal.org

The Standing Committee on Court Interpreters and the AOC hosted their in person, two day COCI Orientation Workshop on April 15–16, welcoming 25 attendees representing five different language categories. Participants gained a strong introduction to the field of legal interpreting.

The 2026 Justice Benham Awards for Community Service were bestowed yesterday at the Nathan Deal Judicial Center. Congratulations to Senior Judge Willie Lockette and the late Sonny Seiler, a former member of the Judicial Council of GA, who were two of this year’s honorees.

Chaired by Justice Charlie Bethel, the Supreme Court of Georgia Committee on Justice for Children met yesterday. Discussion included: Juvenile Court data reporting, kinship caregiver advocacy, and parenting skills training offered by the Positive Childhood Alliance of Georgia.

ICYMI in the March Georgia Courts Journal: Meet Emily Youngo, newly appointed Clerk of Court for the Georgia State-wide Business Court! She shares her path and passion for accessible, efficient court ops. georgiacourtsjournal.org/2026/03/27/a...

The March 2026 Georgia Courts Journal is available! georgiacourtsjournal.org

The Judicial Council Standing Committee on Technology, co-Chaired by Justice Ben Land and Judge Stephen Kelley, met yesterday. Discussion included the inaugural meeting of its new AI Subcommittee, co-Chaired by Judge Kevin Morris and Judge Stephen Kelley.

Thank you, Fulton County Magistrate Court Judge Elizabeth George, for speaking with our team at today’s JC/AOC All Staff Meeting. We appreciated your thoughtful discussion on service, community engagement, and the important role magistrate courts play across Georgia.

Proud to share North Georgia’s drug and mental health accountability programs making an impact. Congratulations to the latest graduates and thank you to the Council of Accountability Court Judges for supporting this lifesaving work across our state. www.local3news.com/local-news/e...

The Judicial Council Standing Committee on Judicial Workload Assessment met last Friday and heard updates on Georgia’s case count reporting, the Court Statistics Project, and the Justice Counts Project.

Thank you to Cobb Superior Court Judge Jason Marbutt for speaking at today’s JC/AOC All Staff Meeting! From teaching kindergarten and middle school to leading one of the nation’s model drug courts, his journey shows how diverse experiences shape great judges.

The Judicial Council of Georgia will convene a General Session on Friday, February 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. georgiacourts.gov/judicial-cou... A livestream of the meeting will be available on the Council's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@JudicialCou...

The January 2026 Georgia Courts Journal is available: georgiacourtsjournal.org

The December 2025 Georgia Courts Journal is available here: georgiacourtsjournal.org

The Standing Committee on Court Interpreters and the AOC successfully conducted their first interactive, virtual two-day COCI Orientation Workshop on December 9-10. Sixteen spoken language interpreters participated and received a strong introduction to the field of legal interpreting.

The Judicial Council of Georgia, chaired by Chief Justice Nels S.D. Peterson, convened today for its General Session, delivering updates on key statewide court initiatives. Watch the archived meeting: youtube.com/live/3JbdswRt27Y

The Judicial Council of Georgia, chaired by Chief Justice Nels S.D. Peterson, will meet for a General Session on Friday, December 12, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m. A livestream will be provided on the Judicial Council of Georgia’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/judicialcoun...

The 2025 Georgia Child Welfare Summit wrapped today. On Wednesday, opening remarks were given by @SupremeCourtGA Justice Charlie Bethel, who praised the service of the 2025 Hines Awards winners: DFCS Social Services Supervisor, Quandula Wright, and attorney, Ashley Stinson.

Members of the Judicial Council Security Committee, led by Chair Justice LaGrua at meeting on 12/4/2025, discuss preparation of guidance on identification of threats to judicial officers and court personnel and the legal protections available to them.

Judge Stephen Kelley chaired yesterday's meeting of the Judicial Council Committee on Technology and was joined for the first time by his new co-Chair, Justice Ben Land. Discussion included the new statewide Georgia Courts Case Management System and cybersecurity vigilance.

The November 2025 Georgia Courts Journal is available! georgiacourtsjournal.org

November is National Veterans & Military Families Month. Thank you Coweta Judicial Circuit for the work you do in your Veterans Treatment Court. A veteran in their VTC went from addiction to eight years of sobriety, rebuilding discipline, and choosing “a life that matters.”

Chief Judge Cindy Morris opened the 32nd Annual ADR Institute yesterday morning. Co-sponsored by the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution and the State Bar’s Dispute Resolution Section, the Institute convened hundreds of registered neutrals to learn best practices.

Thank you Judge Margaret Spencer of the State Court of Clayton County for speaking at the Judicial Council/AOC All Staff Meeting this morning! We appreciate your thoughtful remarks, your commitment to public service, and your encouragement for everyone working behind the scenes.

Become a vital part of Georgia’s justice system. Register now for the 2-Day Court Interpreter Orientation for a virtual workshop offering 16 hours of training, real-time role-playing, and professional resources. Dec 9–10, 2025 | 8:15 AM–4:00 PM | Via Zoom Register by Dec 1

The Judicial Council Access to Justice Committee met today to discuss court notices, legal kiosks, forms, the updated self-help toolkit, and more. Thank you to all members and presenters for advancing access to justice across Georgia. a2j.georgiacourts.gov

November is National Veterans & Military Families Month. Thank you, Appalachian Judicial Circuit, for the work you do in your Veterans Treatment Court (VTC). An Army veteran came to the VTC struggling with PTSD and left as a commercial pilot, husband, and father.

The Committee on Court Interpreters met yesterday to set its vision for the year ahead, focusing on interpreter CE/professional development, outreach, and ad hoc interpreters.

At last week’s Board of Court Reporting meeting, Judge Vi Bennett of the Wayne County State Court was sworn in as Chair and Court Reporter Jennifer Pope as Vice Chair. Thank you to them and all committee members for their time and contributions!

This National Veterans & Military Families Month, we celebrate the transformative work of the Cobb County Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court, where veterans find support, structure, and a second chance. georgiacourtsjournal.org/2025/11/10/c...

ICYMI in the October Georgia Courts Journal: Resilience in Wayne County following September 2025 Courthouse Fire: A Conversation with Wayne County State Court Judge Vi Bennett georgiacourtsjournal.org/2025/10/28/r...

November is National Veterans & Military Families Month. Thank you, Atlantic Judicial Circuit, for the incredible work you do through your Veterans Treatment Court. Veteran N. Miller’s journey reflects the true spirit of service, resilience, and hope. #VeteransTreatmentCourt

The October Georgia Courts Journal is available! georgiacourtsjournal.org

November is National Veterans & Military Families Month. We celebrate the important work of GA’s Veterans Treatment Courts, which are supported by the Council of Accountability Court Judges. Stay tuned for success stories from Model Veterans Treatment Courts throughout the State.

Thank you, Hall County, for all the work you do in your drug court! From families restored to a thriving recovery community, Chief Judge Jason Deal celebrates how accountability courts change lives.

Thank you, Bartow County, for the work you do every day in your Drug Court. From addiction to advocacy—Kevin, a Bartow County Drug Court graduate, turned his life around, made amends, and now leads others in recovery. #Mypreventionstory

Thank you, Newton County, for the work you do every day in your Drug Court. Grace entered the Newton County Adult Felony Drug Court after years of addiction and found a new life. #MyPreventionStory

Congratulations to DeKalb County Chief Magistrate Court Judge Berryl Anderson who received the 2025 Franklin N. Flaschner Award from the American Bar Association Judicial Division’s National Conference of Specialized Court Judges (NCSCJ) for her integrity and judicial excellence.

The AOC hosted Data Literacy Training led by the National Center for State Courts this week. Attendees developed skills in court statistics, data visualization, and more.

Georgia hosted the 2025 @ABAesq Forum on Building Access to Justice for All in Atlanta on October 15th-17th. @SupremCourtGA Chief Justice Peterson gave the opening keynote, and Justice Colvin and Justice McMillian spoke on panels.

Thank you, Colquitt County, for the work you do in your accountability court! From addiction to advocacy, a Colquitt County Drug Court graduate is now a Certified Recovery Coach, business owner, and CACJ STAR Peer Award winner. #Mypreventionstory. georgiacourtsjournal.org/2025/10/24/c...