Atlanta, April 22, 2024 – Thérèse S. “Tee” Barnes has been reappointed for another six-year term as Clerk and Court Executive of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Her latest term will start on Aug. 1, 2024. Barnes has served as Clerk since 2006. She graduated from Mercer University School of Law in 1981, and after graduation, practiced civil business litigation. She later served as a staff attorney to former Justices Carol W. Hunstein and Harold D. Melton before her first appointment as Clerk. As Clerk/Ct. Executive, Mrs. Barnes oversees the office responsible for maintaining all case files and ..read more

Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs delivered his second State of the Judiciary address to the General Assembly today in the House chambers of the Capitol. The Chief Justice spoke about efforts to address the need for improved judicial security, workforce development challenges facing the judicial system, the progress state trial courts are making on clearing their case backlogs, and the commitment of judges and court staff throughout Georgia to upholding the rule of law and improving the administration of justice. Photo credit: Bruce Shaw, Administrative Office of the Courts/Judicial Council o ..read more

Atlanta, January 22, 2024 – Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs is scheduled to deliver his second State of the Judiciary address to the Georgia General Assembly on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m. Eastern. Chief Justice Boggs will update legislators on a variety of topics, including efforts to address the need for improved judicial security, workforce development challenges facing the judicial system, the progress state trial courts are making on clearing their case backlogs, and, most importantly, the commitment of judges and court staff throughout Georgia to upholding the ..read more

Atlanta, November 9, 2023 – The Supreme Court of Georgia has issued revised rules governing provisional admission to the practice of law, which includes for the first time a process for military spouses who already are licensed to practice law in a state other than Georgia. “This Veteran’s Day, as we honor those who have served and are currently serving our nation, I’m pleased on behalf of the Supreme Court to announce updates to the provisional admission rules that will offer greater certainty to spouses of active-duty military service members and save them considerable time and money as the ..read more

Atlanta, October 16, 2023 – The St. Thomas More Society of Atlanta has awarded Supreme Court Clerk and Court Executive Therese “Tee” Barnes with its St. Thomas More Award for her dedication to public service and the state judiciary. Mrs. Barnes received the honor at a luncheon on Oct. 12, following the Red Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Atlanta. The Red Mass is a yearly celebration and prayer service for judges that began during the Middle Ages in England. Atlanta’s St. Thomas More Society has embraced this tradition since 1995. The Society also presents the St. Thomas ..read more

Atlanta, October 12, 2023 – The Supreme Court of Georgia will hold its second day of October oral arguments at Pierce County High School in Blackshear, Ga., on Thursday, Oct. 26. It is tradition for the Court to hold special sessions at various locations around the state for the purpose of making the Court’s business and the judicial process more accessible to the public. While this is not the first time the Court has planned a visit to South Georgia, it is the first time the Court has held oral arguments in the Waycross Judicial Circuit. The Waycross Judicial Circuit serves Bacon, Brantley ..read more

ATLANTA, Oct. 3, 2023—The Supreme Court of Georgia welcomes its 2023-24 class of term law clerks. Term law clerks serve for one year, assisting their assigned Justices with legal research, drafting, and reviewing opinions, preparing for oral arguments, and other important responsibilities. The 2023-2024 class of term clerks consists of high-caliber law school graduates, including several former judicial interns and former and future federal court clerks. They also include past moot court competitors and winners, legal publication editors, a former business consultant, a university student bod ..read more

Atlanta, September 5, 2023 – The Supreme Court of Georgia has approved comprehensive revisions of its rules, which govern Court operations, filings, and other administrative aspects of the state’s highest appellate court. The new rules will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, “except to the extent that, in the opinion of the Court, their application to a pending matter would not be feasible or would work an injustice.” The updated rules may be found on the Court’s website HERE. “The Court is ever mindful of its rules and periodically adjusts them when changes in practices or protocols become nece ..read more

The Supreme Court of Georgia will hold its first day of August oral arguments at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School on Tuesday, Aug. 22. It is tradition for the Court to hold special sessions at locations, including law schools, around the state for the purpose of making the Court’s business and the judicial process more accessible to the public. The last time the Court convened at Atlanta’s John Marshall was in April 2009. The Court also held a special session at the John Marshall Savannah campus in 2016. “My colleagues and I always look forward to holding oral arguments off-site at one of o ..read more

Atlanta, December 21, 2022 – Georgia’s Lawyer Competency Task Force has submitted its preliminary report to the Supreme Court of Georgia. Created in March 2021 by former Chief Justice Harold D. Melton, the task force was charged with evaluating the current requirements for admission to practice law in Georgia and exploring alternatives to the existing regulatory framework. The task force also was instructed to evaluate mechanisms and alternatives for ensuring the competency of experienced lawyers, including current Continuing Legal Education requirements. “The Court thanks the task force memb ..read more