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Judicial Elections
Georgia Supreme Court Elections 2026
Georgia Supreme Court justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 6-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Georgia?
- Highest court
- Georgia Supreme Court — 9 justices
- How chosen
- Nonpartisan election
- Voters
- Voters elect justices
- Term
- 6 years
- To serve again
- Run for re-election
- 2026 ballot
- 3 seats, decided May 19, 2026
How Georgia chooses its judges
Georgia Supreme Court justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 6-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats.
- Seats: 9 justices on the Georgia Supreme Court.
- Term: 6 years.
- To serve again: Run for re-election.
- Other courts: Nearly all courts use nonpartisan elections; some probate judges are elected on a partisan ballot.
Elections are held with the May primary. Midterm vacancies are filled by the governor, and the appointee then faces voters.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Georgia Supreme Court elections in 2026
Georgia decided its 3 seats on May 19, 2026, so no Georgia Supreme Court race is on the November ballot.
Charlie Bethel’s seat
Decided- Charlie Bethel (winner)IncumbentWon
- Miracle Rankin
Sarah Hawkins Warren’s seat
Decided- Sarah Hawkins Warren (winner)IncumbentWon
- Jen Jordan
Ben Land’s seat
Decided- Ben Land (winner)IncumbentWon
Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia. Party labels are not shown because they do not appear on the ballot.
How to research judges on your Georgia ballot
- Your sample ballot: Georgia’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Georgia — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in Georgia
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Georgia’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Georgia’s senators: Raphael Warnock (Democratic) and Jon Ossoff (Democratic).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
No federal judge for a court in Georgia has been confirmed by roll-call vote in 2026.
District judges for courts in Georgia and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
- Northern District of Georgia: seat of Timothy C. Batten Sr. (retired, May 23, 2025) — no nominee yet.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Georgia?
Georgia Supreme Court justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 6-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats. Nearly all courts use nonpartisan elections; some probate judges are elected on a partisan ballot.
How long is a term on the Georgia Supreme Court?
6 years. At the end of a term, they must run again to keep their seats.
Who is running for the Georgia Supreme Court in 2026?
Georgia's 3 seats were decided on May 19, 2026: Charlie Bethel, Sarah Hawkins Warren, Ben Land.
How do I research judges on my Georgia ballot?
Your sample ballot from https://sos.ga.gov/elections-division-georgia-secretary-states-office lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in Georgia?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Georgia's senators, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Georgia
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Georgia Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.