State Court

The State Court of Fulton County was established by the Georgia Legislature in 1913. 

The State Court presides over all criminal cases below the grade of felony and tries civil litigation cases, including medical and legal malpractice, wrongful death, serious personal injury, product liability, and breach of contract cases. State Court Judges also adjudicate misdemeanor criminal cases, including simply battery, DUIs, criminal trespass, and traffic citations.

The State Court includes 10 judges who are elected to four-year terms of office.

The State Court of Fulton County was established by the Georgia legislature in 1913. Each of the ten judges who staff the bench is elected to four-year terms of office. State Court exercises limited jurisdiction over both civil and criminal matters.

The Civil Division of Fulton County State Court oversees the adjudication of certain civil matters, to include:

• Garnishments
• Dispossessory Actions
• Personal Property
• Foreclosure
• Torts
• Contracts
• Medical Malpractice

In a civil action, a Plaintiff is claiming that another party, Defendant, has caused harm when Defendant did not follow the terms of an agreement, such as:

• “He did not fix my car as agreed.”
• “She did not pay money as promised.”
• “The doctor did not conduct my treatment as he should have.”
• “The landlord did not fix the leak in my apartment.”

The Criminal Division of Fulton County State Court oversees the prosecution of misdemeanor crimes, including traffic offenses, committed in Fulton County. A case is initiated in State Court when the Solicitor General accuses a citizen of a criminal or traffic offense by filing a document with the Clerk’s Office. A criminal case can be initiated for a variety of offenses, to include:

• Driving Under the Influence
• Theft
• Violent Crimes
• Traffic Infractions
• Ordinance Violations