Cobb’s magistrate and probate courts recognized by statewide group for clearing cases

The Judicial Council of Georgia, the state council responsible for policymaking in Georgia’s judiciary, has commended two Cobb County courts for their exceptional caseload management.

Cobb’s Magistrate and Probate Courts were recently honored with a statewide award for their outstanding performance. The Cobb courts were notified of this award by the Judicial Council earlier this month. 

The award letter acknowledged that this achievement reflects the court’s dedication, efficiency, and commitment to ensuring the timely resolution of cases. 

According to the Council, these courts rank in the Top 10% of Georgia courts in terms of clearance rates, a crucial indicator of effective case management. This recognition is based on court activity in 2022.

Chief Magistrate Judge Brendan Murphy emphasized the importance of ensuring access to justice by stating, “Access to justice starts with making sure folks literally have their day in court. I’m proud of our dedicated team of judges and clerks that have put Cobb in the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ of Magistrate Courts across the State. Our community expects the best, and our courts efficiently deliver.”

Here’s a summary of the achievements of the Magistrate Court in 2022:

• Resolved over 39,000 civil cases.
• Closed more than 2,900 county code violation matters.
• Conducted over 10,000 first appearance hearings.
• Issued over 14,000 combined arrest and search warrants.

Cobb’s Probate Court has a broad jurisdiction, covering various matters such as probate of wills, estate issues, guardianships, commitments, marriage licenses, weapons permits, and other miscellaneous court services. Chief Judge Kelli L. Wolk of the Probate Court expressed their commitment to providing efficient and effective service during families’ times of need, stating, “The incapacity or loss of loved ones is a hardship borne by all families at one time or another. These hardships don’t wait for a convenient time. The Cobb County Probate Court is dedicated to working together to provide the best possible service in families’ times of need. We are committed not only to the efficient and effective service recognized by this award but to simultaneously improving the public’s access to and confidence in the Court and our processes.”

Here’s a summary of the achievements of the Probate Court in 2022:

• Disposed of 4,280 Estate and Guardianship Cases.
• Processed 7,353 Weapons Carry Applications.
• Issued 3,529 Marriage Licenses.