Georgia Judicial Branch and Criminal Justice Process

Vocabulary flashcards covering Georgia’s court structure, judicial offices, and stages of the adult criminal justice process.

Juvenile Court Judge (GA)

Appointed by superior court judges to a 4-year term; juvenile courts operate without juries.

Probate Court Judge

Elected countywide in non-partisan elections to a 4-year term; oversees wills, estates, and guardianships.

Magistrate Court Judge

May be elected or appointed; typically presides without a jury over small claims, minor criminal matters, and warrants.

Superior Court Judge

Elected circuit-wide in non-partisan elections to a 4-year term; handles felony criminal cases, divorces, and major civil disputes.

Georgia Court of Appeals

Intermediate appellate court with 15 judges elected statewide to 6-year terms; they sit in four panels to review trial-court decisions.

Panel (Court of Appeals)

A group—usually three judges—within the Court of Appeals that hears and decides a set of cases.

Georgia Supreme Court

Highest court in the state; justices are elected by popular vote to 6-year terms to review constitutional and significant legal issues.

Trial Courts of Georgia

Magistrate, Probate, Juvenile, State, and Superior Courts where cases begin and facts are established.

Appellate Courts of Georgia

The Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, which review lower-court decisions for legal errors.

Dual Purpose of Georgia’s Judicial Branch

(1) Interpret laws according to the General Assembly’s intent; (2) Administer justice by prosecuting and resolving crimes and disputes.

Civil Law

Area of law dealing with private rights and remedies; outcomes often involve money damages or custody, not incarceration.

Criminal Law

Body of law in which the state prosecutes individuals for acts considered offenses against society; penalties can include jail or prison.

Arrest

The act of taking a suspect into custody based on probable cause that they committed a crime.

Booking

Administrative process after an arrest where personal information, fingerprints, and photographs are recorded.

First Appearance Hearing

Initial court session where a judge informs the accused of charges, sets bond, and determines probable cause.

Arraignment

Court proceeding where formal charges are read and the defendant enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.

Plea of No Contest (Nolo Contendere)

Defendant neither admits guilt nor disputes the charge but accepts conviction as though guilty.

Trial

Judicial examination of evidence and arguments to decide guilt (criminal) or liability (civil).

Non-Partisan Election

Election in which candidates’ political party affiliations do not appear on the ballot.

Circuit (Georgia Judicial)

A geographic jurisdiction served by a superior court and its judge(s).

Probable Cause

Reasonable grounds to believe a person committed a crime, required for arrests and some judicial decisions.