Bill > HB426

This bill changes the election process for magistrates and probate court judges in Georgia from partisan to nonpartisan elections. Specifically, the bill requires that chief magistrates be elected in nonpartisan elections starting July 1, 2025, and prohibits any local laws that provide for partisan elections of magistrates after that date. The bill also updates the state election code to include chief magistrates and other magistrates in the list of judicial offices that can be elected through nonpartisan elections. Additionally, the bill includes a provision that makes Section 4 effective January 1, 2027, but only after a constitutional amendment is ratified to ensure all probate court judges are elected in nonpartisan elections. If the constitutional amendment is not ratified, the entire act will be automatically repealed. The goal of this legislation appears to be removing political party affiliations from judicial elections, potentially to reduce partisan influence in the judicial selection process and promote more impartial judicial selection.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70275