District 2 state Rep. Steve Tarvin, R-Chickamauga, District 4 state Rep. Kasey Carpenter, R-Dalton, and District 6 state Rep. Jason Ridley, R-Chatsworth, are all sponsoring legislation regarding the designation of a superior court chief judge for the Conasauga Judicial Circuit.
That circuit consists of Whitfield County and Murray County.
House Bill 956 was introduced during the ongoing Georgia General Assembly session on Jan. 22. As of Jan. 24, the bill was pending review in the House Intragovernmental Coordination Committee.
“The judge shall handle all duties assigned by law to the chief judge of the circuit, as well as any duties agreed upon by the other judges of the circuit,” the most recent iteration of the bill reads. “The chief judge shall serve a one-year term and shall be elected each year by majority vote of the judges of the circuit.”
In the case of a tie, “the then-current chief judge shall receive an additional vote” to break the deadlock.
“The term of the chief judge serving on the effective date of this act shall end on Dec. 31, 2024, and the successor to such chief judge shall be selected pursuant to the provisions of this act to take office on Jan. 1, 2025,” the bill reads.
“In the event that a judge serving as chief judge becomes unwilling or unable to complete his or her term, a majority of the judges of the circuit shall select a new chief judge to serve out the remainder of that calendar year.”