Another Georgia election is right around the corner, and thanks to early voting, many residents have already cast their ballot. While partisan politics generally takes up the most airtime, one nonpartisan race has begun to make headlines this year: the battle over a state Supreme Court seat. 

Though they are often much quieter than their partisan counterparts, judicial elections nonetheless play a crucial role in the lives of Georgia residents. Here’s what you need to know about this year’s judicial elections. 

When are the next Georgia judicial elections? 

Nonpartisan elections will be held as part of the Georgia state primary on Tuesday, May 21. Voters should check their My Voter Page at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ to view the most up-to-date information about their registration status, polling locations, and sample ballots. 

Who is running for the Georgia Supreme Court in 2024? 

Four sitting justices, John Ellington, Nels Peterson, Andrew Pinson and Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs are currently running for re-election. The newest member of the court, Andrew Pinson, is currently being challenged by former Democratic Congressman John Barrow. 

Barrow recently made headlines by openly centering abortion rights in his Georgia Supreme Court campaign — a tactic that has made him the subject of an ethics complaint due to a state law that urges judicial candidates to “not make statements or promises that commit the candidate with respect to issues likely to come before the court that are inconsistent with the impartial performance of the adjudicative duties of judicial office.” 

More: Mark your calendars: Here is every date you need to know to vote in Georgia in 2024

Barrow defended his position at the Atlanta Press Club Debates in April. 

“Partiality has nothing to do with your opinions about the law,” he said. “As the root word implies, it entails feelings about the parties, being in favor of one party or another. The United States Supreme Court explained this a good while back when they said ‘impartiality,’ of the sort that judges should strive for, means you’re not going to favor one party over another.” 

“Every person who’s expected to be a judge has to have strong feelings about the law,” Barrow continued. “If he doesn’t, he’s not qualified to serve on the court.” 

Barrow filed a lawsuit in federal court in response to the complaint, arguing that it impedes his First Amendment right to free speech, but a judge has yet to issue a ruling. 

Georgia elections: Important dates, how to register, and what to know ahead of 2024

What types of cases does the Georgia Supreme Court hear?

The Georgia Supreme Court is the highest judicial power in the state, and thus will review decisions in both civil and criminal cases made by lower courts across the state. The court has appellate jurisdiction over a wide variety of cases, including: 

• Constitutionality cases 
• Election contests 
• Cases involving title to land, divorce, wills or equity 
• Death sentence appeals 
• Habeas corpus (unlawful detention) cases 
• All cases involving extraordinary remedies 

The nine justices will typically hear cases en banc, and assign one justice to write the court opinion. In order for a lower court decision to be overturned or reversed, at least five justices must concur. 

How do Supreme Court elections work? 

Unlike seats in the legislative or executive branch, justices on the supreme court are elected through a nonpartisan election process, and serve six-year terms. This year, four of the nine justices are running for re-election, with only one justice facing a primary challenger. 

Although Supreme Court justices in Georgia are elected via popular vote, there is rarely an open seat on the court; new justices are almost always appointed by the governor to finish out their successor’s term, and will then run as an incumbent in the next election.  

Though partisan politics don’t necessarily play a role in judicial campaigns, the overall composition of the court skews conservative. Out of the nine sitting justices, eight were appointed by Republican governors, including Pinson. The other was appointed to a state appellate court by a Democratic governor, and later won his seat unopposed. 

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – On Tuesday, potential homebuyers, landlords and renters came together in Albany to navigate the challenges of affordable housing availability.

It was part of the Southwest Georgia Housing Task Force’s 24th annual housing conference. A panel of experts covered key topics such as building and developing new housing and finding resources for repairing homes. These are projects that are happening year-round.

“The areas that we deal with it may be the grant writing, it may be with dealing with developers, it may be with first-time home buyers, it may be with rental, it may be with fair housing or something in the area of what the need is. We really work to understand the need and meet the need,” said Patricia Fletcher-Edwards, branch manager of the NID Housing Council Agency.

Edwards says it has become even more critical to have these roundtable discussions in this climate of affordable housing.

To find out more about the Southwest Georgia Housing Task Force click here.

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After being on the outside looking in in last week’s Field of 64 Projections by On3Sports Jonathan Wagner, Georgia Tech is back in the field after winning a series vs No. 9 Duke.

It was a much-needed series win vs the Blue Devils. After losing last week’s series vs Clemson and then a midweek game to Auburn, the Yellow Jackets needed to get a series victory vs Duke. The top seed in their projected region was Mississippi State and the other teams in the region included Dallas Baptist. Right now, Mississippi State sits at No. 16 in RPI, Dallas Baptist at No. 21, and Lamar at No. 63. The Yellow Jackets are currently at 49th.

Of all the regions that Georgia Tech could be in, this is one that is winnable. Mississippi State and Dallas Baptist are really good teams, but Georgia Tech could beat them. It has been some time since the Yellow Jackets have been able to make it out of a regional, but this would be a solid opportunity for them if this were to be the scenario they find themselves in.

Georgia Tech had their game vs Mercer canceled today, but that is not the worst thing in the world. Mercer is a low RPI team and beating them would not have done the Yellow Jackets a big service. A loss could have been damaging though.

The final weekend of the regular season is here and Georgia Tech is going to have another chance to boost their resume against No. 10 Florida State. With a series win here, the Yellow Jackets might have a firm grip on a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Florida State is going to be a really tough opponent however and the series is going to be on the road. It is a really big weekend for Danny Hall’s team.