Under current law, a magistrate may only be removed from office for cause or for failure to complete required training. The removal is by the Judicial Qualifications Commission. HB 149 would allow the chief magistrate to petition the chief superior court judge to remove an appointed magistrate with or without cause. If the majority of superior court judges agree, then the chief magistrate can terminate an appointed magistrate.

Local law or the superior court judges determine how many magistrates are authorized for the county. The statute currently provides that the number may not be reduced to remove a magistrate from office in the middle of a term. HB 149 removes this requirement, which would allow a magistrate to be removed in mid-term if the number of magistrates authorized for the county is decreased pursuant to local legislation or decision of the superior court judges.

This bill creates the 2011 Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians to study Georgia's criminal justice and correction system to enhance public safety, reduce victimization, hold offenders more accountable, enhance probation and parole supervision and better manage a growing prison population. The Council would create a report of its findings and recommend legislation no later than January 9, 2012. The Council's recommendations would then be considered by a Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform. The joint committee would cause legislation to be introduced incorporating the recommendations without significant changes.

HB 266 would allow constables for the magistrate court to carry loaded weapons.

HB 270 requires that elections for sheriff, district attorney and solicitor be by nonpartisan election. It also allows the General Assembly to enact local legislation to allow any other county elected office - including county commissioner - to be nonpartisan.

This bill provides that magistrate courts, state courts and other "county courts" that are served by a marshal may only have papers for the court served by a marshal, a deputy marshal or a process server approved by the marshal.

SB 47 allows senior magistrates to be appointed to the Georgia Magistrate Courts Training Council. The Council would have the authority to establish the minimum number of training hours (between 12 and 20 hours) required to be completed by every magistrate and senior magistrate each year. The bill expands the number of training hours that may be carried over from one year to the next to six training hours.

This bill requires a judge "exercising municipal court jurisdiction" such as Recorder's Court to complete the same training as a municipal court judge at the expense of the governing authority where the judge presides. Probate, Magistrate, State and Superior Court Judges are exempt from this requirement.