Appalachian Judicial Circuit Superior Courts

Courts

 

 

Superior Court 

The Superior Court is Georgia's general jurisdiction trial court. It has exclusive, constitutional authority over felony cases, divorce, equity, and cases regarding title to land. Superior Court also handles appeals from Probate Court and Magistrate Court. Each county of the Appalachian Circuit has its own superior court, though each judge serves all three counties.    Visit the Council of Superior Court  Judges Website.

Drug Court

The drug court is a specialized court  operating as a division of the Superior Court.  The mission of the drug court is to stop abuse of drugs and alcohol and related criminal activity.  Every  county in the circuit operates a drug court.  For information on the Drug Court, click here to download the manual. 

For additional information on Drug Courts and addiction,click the Drug Court page, and also click here.
*Information on Juvenile Drug Court and Family Court below.

                                                                                     
               Domestic Violence and Child Support Court

The Domestic Violence and Child Support Court is a division of the Superior Court that specializes in adjudicating cases involving family violence and the payment of child support to the Office of Child Support Services.  Besides hearing and ruling on Petitions for Protective Orders, the Court reviews compliance with Court Orders requiring respondents to attend Family Violence Intervention Program (FVIP) classes, payment of child support, etc.

In addition, this Court hears contempt actions for non-payment of child support to the Office of Child Support Services and hears evidence to determine the initial amount of child support to be paid to parties who assign their right of collection to the Office of Child Support Services.

The goals of the Domestic Violence and Child Support Court are as follows:

        -Expeditious hearing and trial of every petition for protective order and every child support establishment or contempt action

        -Monitoring and review to ensure court order compliance

        -Protection of victims

        -Accountability and rehabilitation of respondents

        -Regular financial support of minor children.
Juvenile Court 

The purpose of our juvenile courts is to protect the well-being of children, provide guidance and control conducive to child welfare and the best interests of the state, and secure care for children removed from their homes.The exclusive, original jurisdiction of juvenile courts extends to delinquent children under the age of 17 and deprived or unruly children under the age of 18. Juvenile courts have concurrent jurisdiction with superior courts in cases involving custody and child support cases, and in proceedings to terminate parental rights. The superior courts have original jurisdiction over those juveniles who commit certain serious felonies. The juvenile court also has jurisdiction over minors committing traffic violations or enlisting in the military services, consent to marriage for minors, and cases involving the Interstate Compact on Juveniles. The Appalachian Circuit has one full-time juvenile judge and one part time juvenile judge who presides in all three counties of the circuit.   Click here to view the 2007 juvenile court calendar. 

Juvenile Drug Court
“An addict in recovery benefits our entire community.”
The Appalachian Juvenile Drug Court is a program designed to assist youths under the age of seventeen make successful choices free of the influence of drugs or
alcohol. The Juvenile Drug Court serves Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties and is an intensive, eighteen to twenty-four month program aimed at treatment and rehabilitation of youth charged with delinquent acts involving drugs and/or alcohol. The Court utilizes bi-monthly judicial reviews, weekly counseling, random drug screening and compliance officers in the detection and prevention of illegal drug use by the youth enrolled in the program. The Court awards incentives for compliant behavior and imposes sanctions for negative behavior. The Drug Court Team consists of the Juvenile Court Judge, Drug Court Coordinator, District Attorney, Public Defender, Probation Department and Treatment Providers.
                      
Family Drug Court

The Appalachian Family Drug Court is a program designed to facilitate the treatment and rehabilitation of parents whose children have been or are in danger of being removed from their custody due to unresolved substance abuse issues. The Family Drug Court serves Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties and is a voluntary, intensive two year program. The Court utilizes bi-monthly judicial reviews, weekly counseling and random drug screening in the detection and prevention of illegal drug use by the parents enrolled in the program. The Family Drug Court Team consists of the Juvenile Court Judge, Family Drug Court Coordinator, Special Appointed Attorney General, Attorney for the Parents, Case Manager, and Treatment Providers. The mission of the Family Drug Court is to stop abuse of drugs and alcohol, while at the same time, preserving and reuniting families. 

Truancy court

The Juvenile Court also operates a specialized  "Truancy" Court in every county of the Circuit.  The mission of the Truancy Court is to: 
Improve student attendance
Decrease student tardies
Decrease student early dismissals
Raise student achievement
Foster parent/student responsibility
Provide home support for families

Click here to visit the Pickens County School District website.
 
Click here to visit the Gilmer County School District website. 

Click here to visit the Fannin County School District website. 

For more information on school attendance requirements, visit Georgia Department of Education.


Visit the Council of Juvenile Judges Website

Visit the Council of Juvenile Judges Publications





Taken from "Georgia Courts," published by the Administrative Office of the Courts Communications/Publications Office. 

 

 


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