‘The Little Justice Engine that Does’: The Magistrate Court of Fulton County

Recently, you may have heard about the challenges facing the Magistrate Court of Fulton County. For nearly a decade, we’ve focused on internal solutions, but as we approach our 10-year milestone, it’s time to share with the public who we are, what we do, and why our work matters to everyone in the County.

Magistrate Courts are a part of Georgia’s judicial fabric, established by the 1983 Georgia Constitution in all 159 counties. In 2012, a task force recommended restructuring Fulton’s Magistrate Court to improve accountability to both litigants and the electorate. Throughout 2013-14, state legislators transformed our court into the entity it is today. I was appointed by then-Governor Nathan Deal as the first Chief Magistrate Judge under this new structure and have been honored to lead this court ever since. Our mission is simple: Inform, Engage, and Empower Our Community. 

Like many businesses, we strive to operate efficiently, upholding the highest standards in our work. We’ve built a court that is fiscally responsive, sensitive to litigants’ time, and deeply committed to customer service. However, this promise is now at risk, and I write to explain why this matters to you and the future of Fulton County.

The Magistrate Court is an essential but often invisible part of the system that keeps our community going. We are the busiest Magistrate Court in the State, handling over 80,000 cases annually and providing legal resolution for issues that directly impact people’s lives. Our jurisdiction covers civil matters such as landlord-tenant disputes, small claims, garnishments, and abandoned motor vehicles, along with criminal matters such as search and arrest warrants 24/7 and first appearance hearings six days a week. We operate in four locations — North and South Annexes, the Rice Street Jail, and downtown.

We also offer services such as mediation through the Justice Center of Atlanta and Atlanta Arbitration and Mediation, informational brochures, Maggie, our Chatbot, and a Visual Information Center. 

Our highest-volume cases involve small claims and landlord-tenant disputes, and we’ve actively engaged community stakeholders to improve processes and explore alternatives. For example, in June 2024, we joined Big Bethel AME Church to host a legislative town hall with local attorneys, the Fulton Marshal, and advocacy groups. We discussed changes in Georgia’s housing laws and highlighted crucial issues, including squatters reform, rental assistance programs, and new eviction procedures. We are committed to not only resolving disputes but also educating the public about their legal rights and options. 

As you can see, our work extends far beyond routine case processing. In 2018, we launched the Misdemeanor Mental Health Court, a program aimed at diverting defendants with mental health concerns into treatment instead of jail. This 12-month joint Justice program has a remarkable 72 percent graduation rate, with less than 3 percent recidivism. 

We have added recovery support and continue to provide events like our Annual Resource Fair. In 2021, we launched the R.E.A.C.H. Clinic to assist parties in civil cases. In 2024, the clinic served over 1,000 parties and helped with over 3,000 services. Our court accessibility efforts continue through our partnership with the Fulton Public Library, where we bring the Magistrate Court 101 series into the community. We engage in youth outreach through our “Bang the Gavel” program, giving high school students hands-on courtroom experience and impacting over 250 students. This program is supported by community volunteers as well as noted community advocate Dr. Rashad Richey, who has consistently provided lunch for each session. 

Despite our successes, the court is now facing a severe crisis. In January 2024, $780,000 was stripped from our $5.05M budget, and in August 2024, crucial funding for temporary staff who helped manage our case backlog ceased abruptly. As a result, the court has been forced to operate at half capacity. Where we once processed 250-400 cases per day, we now struggle to handle 125-200 cases with only three full-time staff members supporting the judges. 

This resource reduction will create a backlog. There are currently over 41,000 open cases. These are not abstract numbers — they represent real people waiting for resolutions to disputes over rent, unpaid contracts, and personal claims. Without immediate intervention, this backlog will continue to grow, causing delays that affect businesses, tenants, homeowners, and the broader community. 

Since 2015, the Magistrate Court has successfully closed approximately 650,000 cases, maintaining a clearance rate average of over 95 percent from 2019 to 2023 despite chronic staff shortages. In 2024 alone, we’ve closed over 50,000 cases and processed 25,000 arrest warrants, 5,000 search warrants, and nearly 10,000 writs. These achievements underscore our team’s dedication and resilience, but the reality is that we cannot sustain this level of performance without proper staffing and resources. 

The Magistrate Court touches everyone in this community. We are a critical part of Fulton County’s civil and criminal justice system. Without adequate resources, justice will be delayed, and when justice is delayed, everyone suffers.

For the first time, we are asking for help from outside our usual channels. We are asking that you learn more about our court and how we are living our mission. Then, we ask that you:

1. Contact the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. Urge them to restore the $780,000 that was cut from our budget and to fully fund and staff the Court. 
2. Advocate for Justice. As business owners and residents, you understand the importance of functioning systems. Our court is no different — without it, the entire community suffers. 
3. Stay Informed. Visit our website and follow us on social media to learn more about our efforts and how you can support us. 

Over the past decade, I’ve built this Court and team with the same dedication and vision many of you have used to build your businesses. We now need your help to keep going. Together, we can ensure that our Magistrate Court continues to provide the justice that our community deserves — fair, timely, and accessible to all. Thank you for standing with us during this critical time.