Welcome to the Cobb County State Court

Meet our Judges:

Judge Carl Bowers Judge Bridgette Campbell Judge Nancy Campbell Judge Rusty Carlisle Judge Roland R. Castellanos Judge Melodie H. Clayton

Judge Beverly Collins Judge David P. Darden Judge Irma Glover Judge Maria Golick Judge Toby Prodgers Judge Kathryn J. Tanksley

In 1970 the Georgia General Assembly created the State Court of Cobb County by designating the Cobb County Civil and Criminal Courts as a State Court as outlined in OCGA 15-7-2. State courts are of limited jurisdiction and were created to relieve the superior courts of certain cases. State courts may exercise jurisdiction over all misdemeanor violations, including traffic cases, and all civil actions, regardless of the amount claimed, unless the superior court has exclusive jurisdiction.

State courts are authorized to hold hearings on applications for an issuance of search warrants and to hold preliminary hearings. The Georgia Constitution grants state courts authority to review lower courts' decisions as provided by statue.

The General assembly creates state courts by local legislation. The legislature also establishes the number of judges and whether the judges are to be full or part time. State court judges are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan, countywide election. The governor fills vacancies by appointment.

Since it’s inception, the State Court of Cobb County has grown to Twelve full time judges, thirty full time support staff employees, thirty-six part time employees and twenty-one full time employees in a Sentence Enforcement Unit.

In calendar year 2007, the State Court of Cobb led all Georgia state courts in total case filings and dispositions with 163,082 filings and 151,802 case dispositions. The State Court of Cobb County is the second largest in Georgia in the number of full time judges and ranks third in population served.

Jury Service

Juror Inquiry (770) 528-2628
Juror Recording (770) 528-2626
Juror Fax (770) 528-2627

The State Court of Cobb County conducts jury trials on misdemeanor and civil cases where a party requests a trial by jury. All criminal jury trials in this court are tried before a six-person jury. Civil cases, wherein the amount of the claim exceeds $25,000.00, can request a twelve-person jury. All other civil cases are tried by a six-person jury.

In 2007, the State Court had 3,429 persons report for jury service. Of those reporting, over 1,130 were selected to serve on a jury trial and served an average of 2.8 days.

General Information

Length of Service
One Week, or until trial is complete. Many jurors serve less than a full week.

Reporting Date & Time
Monday each week at 8:00 A.M. except as otherwise instructed. All Jurors after Monday each week will report at the time given by the Judges or court services personnel.

Reporting Locations
On Monday at 8:00 A.M., all jurors should report to the jury assembly on the fourth floor of the State Court Building located at 12 East Park Square, Marietta, Georgia. The remainder of the week, each juror should report or call in as instructed daily.

Parking
Free parking is provided to those summoned for jury duty and special parking locations are available to handicap jurors. (See map) Please bring your portion of your juror summons to use each day as a parking pass into these lots.

Juror Service Fees
Jurors will be paid $25.00 for each day they report to the courthouse for service. Checks will be mailed out at the end of each week’s service.

On Call System
After Monday each week, jurors not selected to serve on trials may be asked to report the following day. If the trial starting times for the remaining trials on the weekly trial calendar are not certain, some jurors may be placed on call and instructed to call in to find out what day and time they should again report to the courthouse. Jurors will receive the $25.00 per day fee only for the days they actually report in person at the courthouse.

Deferment Requests
The court will consider deferring your week of jury service to a future date. Requests may be sent either by e-mail to statectjurors@cobbcounty.org, fax or mail service and must be from the person summoned for service. Employers cannot request deferment for a summoned employee, but can write in support of the employee's request for deferment. Deferments will be considered based on the trial demands during the week you are to serve and the number of previous deferments. All deferment requests will be answered in writing within five days of receipt.

Excusable Request
All persons over the age of 70 or permanently disabled persons will be excused upon receipt of proper documentation. Appropriate affidavits are included in the jury summons package. Sole caretakers of infirm persons, full time students, and parents with children under the age of six years, deferred upon request with proper documentation.

Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, jurors should tune to Channel 2,5, 11 and Cobb TV23 or your radio for reporting times and possible court closings.

Security Check
Guns, knives, mace, scissors and similar type weapons are not permitted in the State Court Building. Your clearance through our security screening will be expedited by not having these items in your possession.