Preparing for your Virtual Court Appearance via WebEx Meetings. All Defendants who wish to report to their arraignment date virtually may do so by downloading the “WebEx Meetings” app on their smart phone and logging onto: https://spaldingcountygov.webex.com/meet/SpaldingCountyStateCourt

Click on the link below to search the records of the Spalding County State Court.
http://researchga.tylerhost.net/

Click on the link below to Pay Your Fine on your Traffic Citation issued by Spalding County Sheriff’s Office or Georgia State Patrol.
http://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/spaldingcountygastate

Click on the link below to electronically file documents into the Spalding County State Court.
http://efilega.tylertech.cloud/OfsEfsp/ui/landing

Regarding School Automated Traffic Enforcement (SATE) Camera Civil Citations.

To Pay Your Civil Penalty or view the videos and  photographs on your School’s Automated Traffic Enforcement (SATE) case, click on the link below:

https://www.violationinfo.com/

For Frequently Asked Questions regarding the SATE Program, please click on the link below to the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office SATE FAQ page:

https://www.spaldingsheriff.org/pages/UPD_School_Speed_Cameras.html

STAFF

Staff Attorney
M. Alexander Hope
ahope@spaldingcounty.com
(770) 467-4474


Official Court Reporter
Cathy R. Leach, CCR, CVR-CM-M
P.O. Box 1412
Griffin, GA 30224
Voice: (770) 467-4396
cleach@spaldingcounty.com

Presiding Judge, Veteran & Mental Health Accountability Court
Hon. Sidney R. Esary
judgesidesary@aol.com

Veteran & Mental Health Accountability Court Coordinator
Leslie Heffron
lheffron@spaldingcounty.com
(770) 467-8824
Facsimile: (770) 467-8824
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1590, Griffin, GA 30224

DISCLAIMER

Please note that all information posted is subject to our disclaimer.

Persons having business before the court should not rely on the information presented here, but should instead rely solely on printed notices received in the mail. Whenever the information contained in these pages conflicts with a printed notice, the printed notice controls.

MISSION STATEMENT

It is the mission of the Spalding County State Court to:

1. Uphold and defend the Constitution and laws of the State of Georgia and the United States of America;
2. Treat each and every individual with the utmost respect and dignity;
3. To act with Integrity at all time, in all matters; 
4. To act impartially in all matters without fear, favor, or affection;
5. To provide all individuals a public, open, and transparent courtroom;
6. To resolve all matters brought before the court in an efficient manner and in accordance with law.

HISTORY AND JUDGES OF THE SPALDING COUNTY STATE COURT

The Spalding County State Court was created on December 14, 1897, by local legislation of the Georgia General Assembly (Ga. L. 1897, p. 462). 

The Judges of the Spalding County State Court have been:

E. W. Hammond (1898 – 1908)
T. E. Patterson (1908)
J. J. Flynt (1909 – 1922)
J. A. Darsey (1922 – 1928)
A. K. Maddox (1929 – 1941)
W. H. Conner (1941 – 1944)
William H. Beck (1944)
Leward Hightower (1945 – 1948)
John H. Goddard (1949 – 1979)
Tom E. Lewis (1979 – 1988)
Tim C. Cramer (1989 – 2000)
Sidney R. Esary (2001 – 2016)
Josh W. Thacker (2017-present)

JURISDICTION

State Court of Spalding County is a court of limited jurisdiction. State Court has jurisdiction, within the territorial limits of the county, over all criminal matters below the grade of felony, including misdemeanors, traffic violations, and county ordinance violations. State Court has jurisdiction over all civil matters, without regard to the amount in controversy, concurrent with the Superior Courts, unless the Superior Courts have exclusive jurisdiction (i.e. disputes concerning title to land, divorce, child custody, etc.). The State Court also has jurisdiction over the review of decisions of other courts as provided by law.

SOLICITOR GENERAL

Criminal violations handled in State Court are prosecuted by the Office of the Solicitor General.  

CLERK OF THE STATE COURT

All matters that come before this court must be filed with the Clerk of the State Court.

COURT APPEARANCES

If you are scheduled to appear in State Court at a certain date and time, it is very important that you appear promptly at the time shown on the notice you receive in the mail. You should plan to arrive sufficiently early to avoid serious adverse consequences which may result from your absence. 

You should dress in a manner appropriate for your appearance in court. 

If you have children, and if possible, you should make arrangements for their care well in advance of your court date so that they do not disrupt court proceedings. Cell phones, pagers, and other devices that disrupt court proceedings are not allowed in the courtroom. 

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

In the event of inclement weather, the State Court follows the policy for Spalding County Government offices. Any missed hearings will be re-scheduled with notice to the parties.

COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEYS FOR CRIMINAL MATTERS

If you are charged with a crime and cannot afford to hire an attorney, you may apply for representation by the Public Defenders Office:

ATTORNEYS FOR CIVIL MATTERS

The Court cannot appoint attorneys to represent parties in civil matters (private disputes between two or more parties), nor may courthouse personnel recommend attorneys. Courthouse personnel are legally and ethically prohibited from giving legal advice.

You may wish to contact the local bar association in the county where you are located for an attorney referral. In Spalding County, you may contact the Spalding County Bar Association for a directory of local attorneys. 

The website for the Spalding County Bar Association is https://www.spaldingbar.com/ 

If you cannot afford an attorney on a civil matter, you may wish to contact the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.

LAW LIBRARY

The Spalding County Law Library is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except for those dates designated as legal holidays in Spalding County. To visit the page of the Spalding County Courthouse Law Library’s page, click on the link below. 
https://www.spaldingcounty.com/law-library/

PROBATION INFORMATION

Questions regarding criminal probation and revocation hearings in the State Court should be directed to:

Spalding County Sentence Enforcement
141 W. Solomon Street
Griffin, GA 30224
Voice: 770 467-4206
Website: Spalding County Sentence Enforcement