Georgia Supreme Court elections

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There are nine justices on the Georgia Supreme Court. In Georgia, judges are elected to six-year terms in nonpartisan elections. The governor appoints judges with the help of a nominating commission in the event of a midterm vacancy. 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. The judicial nominating commission consists of eighteen members, each appointed by the governor. For each court vacancy, the commission recommends five candidates (unless fewer than five are found to be qualified), 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]

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.

Elections[edit]

2020[edit]

See also: Georgia Supreme Court elections, 2020

Bethel's seat[edit]

Warren's seat[edit]

2018[edit]

See also: Georgia Supreme Court elections, 2018

2016[edit]

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[edit]

See also: Georgia judicial elections, 2014

Unopposed	Judge Harris Hines (Hines)

Unopposed	Judge Keith Blackwell (Blackwell)

Unopposed	Judge Robert Benham (Benham)

2012[edit]

See also: Georgia judicial elections, 2012

Incumbents Carol Hunstein, Harold Melton and Hugh Thompson ran unopposed to retain their seats in a general primary election held on July 31, 2012.^[3]

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbency Primary Vote Election Vote HunsteinCarol Hunstein   A Yes 99%   A MeltonHarold Melton (Georgia)   A Yes 99%   A ThompsonHugh Thompson   A Yes 99%   A
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Carol Hunstein $65,213[4] Cohen, Cooper, Estep & Allen W. Carl Reynolds, Attorney at law Robert K. Finnell, PC Lawyers and lobbyists: $50,965 Food and beverage: $588 Harold Melton $1,100[5] Joseph S. Wilson, Jr. MD Health professionals: $1,100 Hugh Thompson $117,089[6] Billy N. Jones Ralph Knowles Roy E. Barnes Lawyers and lobbyists: $94,633 Democratic officials, candidates and former members: $3,900 Retired: $2,100

2010[edit]

Justice David Nahmias was appointed to his seat in 2009 but had to run in a 2010 retention election to keep his seat. Tammy Lynn Adkins and Matt Wilson ran against Nahmias in the general election held on November 2, 2010. Since none of the candidates received more than 50 percent of the votes cast, Nahmias and Adkins ran against each other in a general runoff election held November 30, 2010.^[3]

See also: Georgia judicial elections, 2010

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Election votes Election % Runoff votes Runoff % Tammy Lynn Adkins No 735,799 35.2% 86,938 33% David Nahmias Yes 1,007,828 48.2% 176,627 67.0% Matt Wilson No 346,537 16.6%
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Tammy Lynn Adkins $60,995[7] Tammy Lynn Adkins Lawyers and lobbyists: $36,525 Candidate self-finance: $5,950 Business services: $3,600 David Nahmias $319,058[8] David E. Nahmias Loose Group Frank C. Jones Lawyers and lobbyists: $207,239 Candidate self-finance: $20,000 Candidate committees: $9,360 Matt Wilson $$208,197[9] Matt Wilson Georgia Certified Development Corp. Sum Global Technology Candidate self-finance: $171,137 Lawyers and lobbyists: $9,750 Commercial banks: $5,000

2008[edit]

In the general election held on November 4, 2008, incumbents Robert Benham and Harris Hines ran unopposed to retain their seats on the Georgia Supreme Court.^[3]

Results
Uncontested candidates Candidate Incumbent Robert Benham A Yes Harris Hines A Yes
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Robert Benham $232,556[10] Kenneth S. Canfield Roy E. Barnes John Aubrey Chandler Lawyers and lobbyists: $195,524 Insurance: $5,151 Food and beverage: $5,000 Harris Hines $162,450[11] Michael L. McGlamry Lawyers and lobbyists: $116,625 Retired: $6,950 Beer, wine and liquor: $4,000

2006[edit]

In the general election held on November 7, 2006, Mike Wiggins ran against incumbent Carol W. Hunstein who ran to retain her seat on the Georgia Supreme Court. Incumbents George H. Carley, Harold D. Melton and Hugh P. Thompson ran unopposed to retain their seats.^[3]

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Election votes Election % Carol W. Hunstein Yes 1,170,973 63.1% Mike Wiggins No 683,483 36.9% Uncontested candidates Candidate Incumbent George H. Carley A Yes Harold D. Melton A Yes Hugh P. Thompson A Yes
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Carol W. Hunstein $1,382,015[4] Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan Foy R. Devine McKenna, Long & Aldridge Lawyers and lobbyists: $1,044,970 Candidate committees: $40,900 Real estate: $28,704 Mike Wiggins $311,107[12] Georgia Hospital Association John Malcom Bernard Marcus Lawyers and lobbyists: $43,270 Insurance: $33,825 Health professionals: $27,170 George H. Carley $2,025[13] Lawyers and lobbyists: $2,025 Harold D. Melton $81,360[5] McKenna, Long & Aldridge Dellwood Farms Benjamin J. Finley Lawyers and lobbyists: $49,214 Business services: $3,220 Crop production and basic processing: $3,000 Hugh P. Thompson $17,510[6] Andrew M. Scherffius Ralph Knowles Emmet Bondurant Lawyers and lobbyists: $20,000 Real estate: $612 Candidate committees: $337

2004[edit]

During the July 20, 2004 primary election, Grant Brantley ran against incumbent Leah Sears.^[3]

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Election votes Election % Grant Brantley No 451,320 37.7% Leah Sears Yes 745,011 62.3%
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Grant Brantley $264,535[14] Grant Brantley James M. Reynolds, III Richard D. Eckburg Lawyers and lobbyists: $95,770 Candidate self-finance: $27,431 Real estate: $18,058 Leah Sears $533,666[15] Jay Forbes Hirsch Lucy H. Draper Mathis Law Firm Lawyers and lobbyists: $348,754 Education: $13,000 Health professionals: $10,100

2002[edit]

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.^[3]

Results
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
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry Robert Benham $281,683[10] Alston & Bird Thomas William Malone Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan Lawyers and lobbyists: $245,016 Insurance: $6,000 Candidate committees: $5,200 Ben Ballenger $0[16] Norman S. Fletcher $370,988[17] State Mutual Insurance Co. Thomas William Malone Robert K. Finnell Lawyers and lobbyists: $$299,523 Insurance: $18,600 Retired: $4,350 Harris Hines $23,765[11] Troutman Sanders LLP Hubert L. Harris, Jr. Lawyers and lobbyists: $17,475 General contractors: $1,500 Securities and investment: $1,000 Ira McKee $18,529[18] Ira McKee Candidate self-finance: $16,795 Russell Parker $26,743[19] Troutman Sanders LLP Hubert L. Harris, Jr. Lawyers and lobbyists: $17,475 General contractors: $1,500 Securities and investment: $1,000

2000[edit]

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.^[3]

Results
Uncontested candidates Candidate Incumbent George Carley A Yes Carol Hunstein A Yes Hugh Thompson A Yes
Total Campaign Contributions
Candidate Total contributions Top contributors Top contributions by industry George Carley $4,368[13] William S. Stone John J. Monahan Unitemized contributions: $3,850 Finance, insurance and real estate: $259 Lawyers and lobbyists: $259 Carol Hunstein $30,520[4] Linda A. Klein Stephanie Ethel Parker William S. Stone Lawyers and lobbyists: $29,220 Food and beverage: $1,000 Insurance: $200 Hugh Thompson $4,000[6] James A. Mathis, Jr. William S. Stone Butler, Wooten, Overby, Fryhofer, Daugherty & Sullivan Lawyers and lobbyists: $4,000

1998[edit]

In a primary election held on July 21, 1998, Bill Aynes and George Weaver ran against incumbent Leah J. Sears.^[3]

Results
Contested candidates Candidate Incumbent Seat Election votes Election % Bill Aynes No 126,512 18.1% Leah J. Sears Yes 378,151 54% George Weaver No 95,017 27.9%
Total Campaign Contributions

1996[edit]

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.^[3]

Results
Uncontested candidates Candidate Incumbent Robert Benham A Yes Norman S. Fletcher A Yes Harris Hines A Yes
Total Campaign Contributions

See also[edit]

Georgia	Judicial Selection	More Courts
Courts in Georgia Georgia Court of Appeals Georgia Supreme Court	Elections: 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 Gubernatorial appointments Judicial selection in Georgia	Federal courts State courts Local courts

External links[edit]

• Search Google News for this topic
• Georgia Supreme Court

Footnotes[edit]