Georgia Supreme Court Elections

There are nine justices on the Georgia Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Georgia judicial elections page.

Judicial selection[edit]

See also: Judicial selection in Georgia

The nine justices on the Georgia Supreme Court are chosen by popular vote in nonpartisan elections. They serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to retain their seats.^[1]

Qualifications[edit]

To serve on this court, a judge must be:

a resident of Georgia; and
admitted to practice law for at least seven years.^[1]

Chief justice[edit]

The chief justice is selected by peer vote and serves in that capacity for four years.^[1]

Vacancies[edit]

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

If a vacancy appears on the court, the position is filled by assisted appointment. The governor chooses an appointee from a list of qualified candidates compiled by the judicial nominating commission. As of March 2023, the judicial nominating commission consisted of 35 members, each appointed by the governor. For each court vacancy, the commission recommends candidates, but the governor is not bound to the commission's choices and may choose to appoint a judge not found on the list.^[2] If appointed, an interim judge must run in the next general election held at least six months after the appointment, and, if confirmed by voters, he or she may finish the rest of the predecessor's term.^[1]^[3]^[4] There is one current vacancy on the Georgia Supreme Court, out of the court's 9 judicial positions. The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.

Elections[edit]

John Ellington's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Nels Peterson's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Andrew Pinson's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Shawn Ellen LaGrua's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Carla McMillian's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Verda Colvin's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Ben Land's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Sarah Warren's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Charlie Bethel's seat

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

John Ellington's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent John Ellington (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Ellington (Nonpartisan)	100.0	1,059,108

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,059,108
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Andrew Pinson's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Andrew Pinson (Nonpartisan) defeated John Barrow (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 21, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Andrew Pinson (Nonpartisan)	55.0	644,781
	John Barrow (Nonpartisan)	45.0	528,468

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,173,249
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Michael Boggs' seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Michael P. Boggs (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael P. Boggs (Nonpartisan)	100.0	1,058,570

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,058,570
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nels Peterson's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Nels Peterson (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nels Peterson (Nonpartisan)	100.0	1,049,781

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,049,781
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Regular election: McMillian's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Carla W. McMillian (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Carla W. McMillian (Nonpartisan)	100.0	1,626,408

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,626,408
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Special election: Colvin's seat

General election

Special general election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Verda Colvin (Nonpartisan) defeated Veronica Brinson (Nonpartisan) in the special general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Verda Colvin (Nonpartisan)	68.3	1,168,175
	Submit photo	Veronica Brinson (Nonpartisan)	31.7	541,628

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,709,803
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Regular election: LaGrua's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Shawn Ellen LaGrua (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Shawn Ellen LaGrua (Nonpartisan)	100.0	1,623,542

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,623,542
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Blackwell's seat

General election

The general election scheduled for June 9, 2020, was canceled.

Warren's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Sarah Warren (Nonpartisan) defeated Hal Moroz (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on June 9, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Sarah Warren (Nonpartisan)	78.7	1,652,532
	Hal Moroz (Nonpartisan)	21.3	446,026

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,098,558
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Benham's seat

General election

The general election scheduled for June 9, 2020, was canceled.

Bethel's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Charlie Bethel (Nonpartisan) defeated Beth Beskin (Nonpartisan) in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on June 9, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Charlie Bethel (Nonpartisan)	52.2	1,098,264
	Beth Beskin (Nonpartisan)	47.8	1,006,065

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,104,329
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Grant's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Britt Grant (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 22, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Britt Grant (Nonpartisan)	100.0	896,313

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 896,313
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Melton's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Harold Melton (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 22, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Harold Melton (Nonpartisan)	100.0	894,149

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 894,149
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Hunstein's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

John Ellington (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 22, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Ellington (Nonpartisan)	100.0	898,767

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 898,767
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Peterson's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Nels Peterson (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 22, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nels Peterson (Nonpartisan)	100.0	885,265

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 885,265
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Boggs's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Incumbent Michael P. Boggs (Nonpartisan) won election in the general election for Georgia Supreme Court on May 22, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael P. Boggs (Nonpartisan)	100.0	904,702

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 904,702
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Previous election results

2016

Candidates[edit]

■ David Nahmias (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Results[edit]

Georgia Supreme Court, David Nahmias' Seat, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
David Nahmias Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	775,214
Total Votes (159 of 159: 100%)		775,214
Source: Georgia Secretary of State Official Results

2014

Unopposed	Judge Harris Hines (Hines)

Unopposed	Judge Keith Blackwell (Blackwell)

Unopposed	Judge Robert Benham (Benham)

Click here for 2014 General Election Results from the Georgia Secretary of State.

2012

Candidate	Incumbency	Election Vote
HunsteinCarol Hunstein A	Yes	99% A
MeltonHarold Melton (Georgia) A	Yes	99% A
ThompsonHugh Thompson A	Yes	99% A

2010

Georgia Supreme Court, Associate Justice, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	David Nahmias Incumbent	67%	176,627
	Nonpartisan	Tammy Lynn Adkins	33%	86,938
Total Votes				263,565

Click here for 2010 General Election Results from the Georgia Secretary of State.

2008

Georgia Supreme Court, Associate Justice, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Harris Hines Incumbent	100%	2,801,588
Total Votes				2,801,588

Georgia Supreme Court, Associate Justice, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Robert Benham Incumbent	100%	2,812,875
Total Votes				2,812,875

Click here for 2008 General Election Results from the Georgia Secretary of State.

2006

Georgia Supreme Court, Associate Justice, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Harold Melton Incumbent	100%	1,605,179
Total Votes				1,605,179

Georgia Supreme Court, Associate Justice, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	George Carley Incumbent	100%	1,609,144
Total Votes				1,609,144

Georgia Supreme Court, Associate Justice, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Hugh Thompson Incumbent	100%	1,596,458
Total Votes				1,596,458

Georgia Supreme Court, Associate Justice, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Carol Hunstein Incumbent	100%	683,483
	Nonpartisan	Mike Wiggins	0%	0
Total Votes				683,483

Click here for 2006 General Election Results from the Georgia Secretary of State.

2004

During the July 20, 2004 primary election, Grant Brantley ran against incumbent Leah Sears.^[5]

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Election votes	Election %
Grant Brantley	No		451,320	37.7%
Leah Sears	Yes		745,011	62.3%

2002

In the primary election held on August 20, 2002, Ira McKee ran against incumbent Robert Benham. Ben Ballenger and Russell Parker ran against incumbent Norman S. Fletcher. Incumbent Harris Hines ran unopposed to retain his seat.^[5]

Contested candidates

Candidate	Incumbent	Seat	Election votes	Election %
Robert Benham	Yes	Benham	549,272	69.9%
Ira McKee	No	Benham	236,122	30.1%
Ben Ballenger	No	Fletcher	121,268	15.6%
Norman S. Fletcher	Yes	Fletcher	475,285	61.3%
Russell Parker	No	Fletcher	179,265	23.1%

Uncontested candidates

Candidate	Incumbent
Harris Hines A	Yes

2000

In the 2000 primary election held on July 18, 2000, incumbents George Carley, Carol Hunstein and Hugh Thompson won re-election to retain their seats.^[5]

Candidate	Incumbent
George Carley A	Yes
Carol Hunstein A	Yes
Hugh Thompson A	Yes

1998

In a primary election held on July 21, 1998, Bill Aynes and George Weaver ran against incumbent Leah J. Sears.^[5]

Candidate	Incumbent	Election votes	Election %
Bill Aynes	No	126,512	18.1%
Leah J. Sears	Yes	378,151	54%
George Weaver	No	95,017	27.9%

1996

In a general primary election held on July 9, 1996, incumbents Robert Benham, Harris Hines and Norman S. Fletcher all ran unopposed to retain their seats.^[5]

Candidate	Incumbent
Robert Benham A	Yes
Norman S. Fletcher A	Yes
Harris Hines A	Yes

External links[edit]

Suggest a link

Footnotes[edit]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Georgia," archived October 2, 2014
↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Georgia; Judicial Nominating Commissions," archived October 2, 2014
↑ Governor Brian Kemp, "Executive Order," accessed March 29, 2023
↑ Governor Brian Kemp, "Gov. Kemp Names 35 to Judicial Nominating Commission," October 27, 2021
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 ^5.3 ^5.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named garesults

Georgia courts

Federal courts:

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia

State courts:

Georgia Supreme Court • Georgia Court of Appeals • Georgia Superior Courts • Georgia State Courts • Georgia Business Court • Georgia Tax Court • Georgia Juvenile Courts • Georgia Probate Courts • Georgia Magistrate Courts • Georgia Municipal Courts

State resources:

Courts in Georgia • Georgia judicial elections • Judicial selection in Georgia

[GAgen-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Georgia," archived October 2, 2014

[nom-2] American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Georgia; Judicial Nominating Commissions," archived October 2, 2014

[3] Governor Brian Kemp, "Executive Order," accessed March 29, 2023

[4] Governor Brian Kemp, "Gov. Kemp Names 35 to Judicial Nominating Commission," October 27, 2021

[garesults-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 ^5.3 ^5.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named garesults

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Georgia	Judicial Selection	More Courts

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Georgia Supreme Court Elections

Judicial selection[edit]

Qualifications[edit]

Chief justice[edit]

Vacancies[edit]

Elections[edit]

John Ellington's seat

Nels Peterson's seat

Andrew Pinson's seat

Shawn Ellen LaGrua's seat

Carla McMillian's seat

Verda Colvin's seat

Ben Land's seat

Sarah Warren's seat

Charlie Bethel's seat

John Ellington's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Andrew Pinson's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Michael Boggs' seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Nels Peterson's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Regular election: McMillian's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Special election: Colvin's seat

General election

Special general election for Georgia Supreme Court

Regular election: LaGrua's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Blackwell's seat

General election

Warren's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Benham's seat

General election

Bethel's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Grant's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Melton's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Hunstein's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Peterson's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

Boggs's seat

General election

General election for Georgia Supreme Court

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

Footnotes[edit]