View From Behind Bars
Snapshot of inside a Jail
Elmer Counts the Courts
The word “court” can have more than one meaning and you will hear it used in different ways the longer you hang around lawyer and courthouses. When someone says, “ I have to go to court tomorrow”, they are usually referring to room in a building called a “courthouse.” On the other hand, when some asks to “address the court”, they are usually referring to a person, usually dressed in a black robe. The still, another meaning comes to mind when a judge might say, “I'm conducting court tomorrow”, refers to a judicial process that lawyers and their clients have to go through in order to reach verdict or legally enforceable decision by a judge or jury. For the purpose of this blurb, I'll be talking different types of “courts” and the judge(s) who sit on the respective benchs.
In the 159 counties of Georgia, some gal or guy seeking some justice in his or her life, might go to the Internet and search for courts with judges in their part of the woods. Even in the smallest darkest, driest, poorest, little county of Taliaferro, located just off Interstate 20 and only a hundred or so years back down the road, even it would find no less than four: The Magistrate, the Probate, Juvenile and the Superior Courts. In some counties, superior court judges may sit as Juvenile court judges. For those of you counting, it's around 636 very well paid, local county judges at a minimum, because some larger counties have more than one judge seated in each court. Somewhere, maybe nearby or not so close there will also be U.S. District Court (Life-time appointments) handling federal matters occurring in that county. Now that doesn't count the judges sitting full or part-time in the few hundred municipal (city) courts, mind you.
In larger counties, you will have all of the above, but additionally, you might find State Courts, Business Courts, Family Courts, DUI Courts, Drug courts, Veterans Courts and a myriad of various-named courts with judges making daily decision affecting the lives of the citizens who live there.
Now for the big stuff. Georgia is divided into 49 Judicial Circuits. Each circuit has between 3 and 25 Superior Court Judges. While the exact number varies, with appointments and retirements, there are approximately 275 Superior Court judges in Georgia.
In Fulton County, the county seat of our state capital, you will also the several judges each seated in the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Georgia and the 11th Circuit Federal Circuit Court of Appeals (Also life-time appointments). These courts exist, at least in some large part to correct the mistakes all these other judges make in the lower courts. These courts, set people free, grant new trials, reverse billion dollar judgements and disbar dishonest lawyers and judges.
I'm sure you already know we have to go to Washington, D.C. to find our U.S. Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. Last count there were nine, LIFE-TIME appointments to that court.
Safe to say then, that tax-payers in Georgia are supporting somewhere around 1,000 full-time judges state, county and municipal judges along with their staffs, furnishings and courthouses to give them somewhere nice to work, right? Oh, did I mention their retirement accounts?
Elmer Looks at Georgia Laws and it's Courts
The laws of Georgia are all related. These laws relate to the thousands of ways that humans relate to one another. In as many ways as one can imagine human to human, human to animal, human to the environment contact, there is likely a law out there that covers it. In my 45 plus years ...
Elmer counts the courts where Justice gets "divvied-up"
Different uses of word "court" and Some number related to that subject
Elmers' Eye-Opening Look into Georgia Child Abuse Law
Child Abuse and Molestation are two of the worst crimes a person can commit. However, there is one other that is even worse: Falsely accusing a person of such horrible crimes. So, let's discuss these crimes a bit. While they are often thought of and discussed as similar in nature, they are very d...
Elmer's Take on Trespassing
Theft by Taking: Georgia Code Title 16, Section 16-7-21 (a) A person commits the offense of criminal trespass when he or she intentionally damages any property of another without consent of that other person and the damage thereto is $500.00 or less or knowingly and maliciously interferes with t...
Elmer's Look at Assault
Simple Assault: Georgia Code Title 16, Section 16-5-20 (a) A person commits the offense of simple assault when he or she either: (1) Attempts to commit a violent injury to the person of another; or (2) Commits an act which places another in reasonable apprehension of immediately receiving a vio...
Elmer's Forgery Factoid
First Degree: Georgia Code Title 16, Section 16-9-1 (a) A person commits the offense of forgery in the first degree when with intent to defraud he knowingly makes, alters, or possesses any writing in a fictitious name or in such manner that the writing as made or altered purports to have been ma...
Elmer's 50 shades of Georgia's Controlled Substances Act
Georgia Code Title 16, Section 16-13-30 (a) Except as authorized by this article, it is unlawful for any person to purchase, possess, or have under his control any controlled substance. (b) Except as authorized by this article, it is unlawful for any person to manufacture, deliver, distribute, ...
Elmer Defends Your Rights Against Sex Crime Charges
Defending Your Rights Against Sex Crime Charges Sex crime charges are one of the most serious categories of criminal offenses for which you can be arrested. While sexual assault may seem like a lesser crime, this is not the case. Law enforcement, judges, and juries take acts of sexual violence o...
Elmer's Discussion on Distribution (not use of) Scheduled Drugs
Georgia Code Title 16, Section 16-13-72 Except as provided for in this article, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or association to sell, give away, barter, exchange, distribute, or possess in this state any dangerous drug, except under the following conditions: (1) A drug...
Elmer Considers Conspiracy Charges
Elmer discusses how the crime of conspiracy in Georgia get committed and the punishments the it can bring.Georgia Code Title 16, Section 16-4-8
Elmer Brightens Understanding of The Crime of Arson
The crime of Arson or intentional burning of property is discussed along with punishments.
Elmer Busts Burglary Confusion
Elmer discusses the element of the crime of Burglary. Georgia Code Title 16, Section 16-7-1
Elmer Confronts Child Pornography Charges
Elmer discusses Child Pornography and the punishments of Georgia Code 16-12-100.2.
Elmer Disputes Indecent Exposure Charges
Explanation of Indecent Exposure Charges and penalties
The Crime of Involuntary Manslaughter
Georgia Code Title 16, Section 16-5-3 (a) A person commits the offense of involuntary manslaughter in the commission of an unlawful act when he causes the death of another human being without any intention to do so by the commission of an unlawful act other than a felony. A person who commits th...
Understanding Sodomy Charges
Fighting for Our Clients in Georgia Sodomy is a crime which is defined as sexual intercourse which involves anal copulation, oral copulation, or both. This offense typically involves acts of this nature which are committed in a forceful manner where the alleged victim did not consent. The law...
The Crime of Robbery
The Crime of Robbery Georgia Code Title 16, Section 16-8-40 (a) A person commits the offense of robbery when, with intent to commit theft, he takes property of another from the person or the immediate presence of another: (1) By use of force; (2) By intimidation, by the use of threat or coerc...
What is a Sex Crime?
What is Considered a Sex Crime? Sex crimes are those offenses which involve any type of sexual activity which is committed by force, coercion, or fraud. These illegal acts are often considered to be violent and are taken extremely seriously in the eyes of the law, especially those involving mino...
Child Molestation Charges
Let Us Protect Your Future & Rights Allegations of any type of sex crime are aggressively pursued by the prosecution. Those which involve crimes against children are one of the most serious types of sexual offenses and are prosecuted harshly. Child molestation is any type of sexual activity whic...
The Crime of Murder
The Crime of Murder Georgia Code Title 16, Section 16-5-1 (a) A person commits the offense of murder when he unlawfully and with malice aforethought, either express or implied, causes the death of another human being. (b) Express malice is that deliberate intention unlawfully to take the life ...
The Crime of Stalking
The Crime of Stalking Georgia Code Title 16, Section 16-5-90 (a)(1) A person commits the offense of stalking when he or she follows, places under surveillance, or contacts another person at or about a place or places without the consent of the other person for the purpose of harassing and intimid...
Cruelty to Children Charges
Providing a Tenacious & Caring Defense In the State of Georgia, the crime of cruelty to children involves acts or inactions which deprive a child of their basic needs for survival that jeopardize their well-being. These acts may involve abandonment, neglect, or specific acts which cause the c...
How is the Act of Rape Defined
How Is the Act of Rape Defined? Sex crimes can often feel confusing, especially in the chaotic aftermath of an arrest. We feel that you should understand not only your rights but the charges which have been brought against you. We have 40 years of experience in the field of sex crime defense,...
Successful Handling of Prostitution Charges
Successful Handling of Prostitution Charges The legal definition of prostitution can be very broad and include a number of different activities. Essentially, providing any type of sexual act in exchange for money or goods is considered to be illegal. However, since this law is so complex, it is ...
