The County Sheriff is an elected official who acts as the chief law enforcement officer in their county. They are tasked with operating the county jails, keeping courtrooms secure during trials, and keeping the public safe through proper law enforcement. Each Sheriff's Office in Georgia may look a little different in how they hire and run their teams, but all County Sheriffs have the same duties. These duties include the following:

- Operating the county jail
- Providing court security
- Serving civil papers
- Executing arrest warrants
- Providing primary law enforcement within unincorporated areas of the county
- Working with city law enforcement officers to keep municipalities safe

The County Sheriff and their office are unique to other law enforcement agencies in that it has to answer to the people it serves. Historically, a turnover in the Sheriff’s office will likely result in noticeable change within the office, so voting for this office is a very effective way to vote approval or disapproval for how county law enforcement is conducted.

The chief law enforcement officer in the county

Treutlen

Georgia

2024 Georgia General Elections

2024 GA Primary Election

2024 GA Primary Election Runoff

Public Safety

Jail Management

Criminal Justice

County Sheriff

- Despite their name, State Courts in Georgia have limited jurisdiction within their county. State Court Judges also have limited jurisdiction over the types of cases they hear, as opposed to Superior Court. 
- State Court Judges hear misdemeanors, like traffic tickets. They also issue arrest and search warrants and hold preliminary hearings in some criminal cases. 
- State Court Judges hear most civil matters that aren't related to land titles, divorce, or cases involving non-monetary damages (those matters are handled by the Superior Court).
- State Court Judges are elected in non-partisan county wide elections and serve four year terms. The Governor can appoint State Court Judges when vacancies arise. 


Local Judges who hear misdemeanors and some civil cases

Consumer Protection

Legal Experience

Ethics & Conduct

Judicial Philosophy

Judicial Administration

Community Involvement

State Court Judge

- The Solicitor General oversees the prosecution of any misdemeanors or minor infractions to Georgia statutes or local laws. Misdemeanors might include driving under the influence, disorderly conduct, or low-level theft. 
- Solicitor Generals have discretion over whether to press charges, whether to seek jail time, or whether to send individuals to a pre-trial diversion program. They also have the power to negotiate plea deals with defendants. 
- In addition to prosecuting cases, the Solicitor General provides advice and counseling to victims of crime.
- Solicitor Generals are elected in county elections to four year terms.

The chief lawyer representing your county in misdemeanor cases

Victim Assistance

Solicitor General

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay in property and sales taxes, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms in staggered years. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county

Taxes

Public Transportation

Public Services

Economy

Education

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

County Commissioner

The Superior Court Clerk is the official record keeper and legal administrator of the county, as they are responsible for receiving and maintaining criminal and civil court filings. They also manage the county’s land and property records. Their duties are numerous and include administrative tasks, like accounting and administering oaths, and judicial, like maintaining legal records. They can also potentially fill in for other roles, such as State Court Clerk and Passport Acceptance Agents.

Official record keeper and administrator of the county

Troup

Budget

Clerk of Superior Court

Probate court judges are a type of judge in Georgia who decides a type of civil court cases called a "probate" case. Probate cases can be many things, like cases about people's wills, appointing guardians to children or the elderly, and managing estates. Probate court judges also sometimes decide whether to give out marriage licenses and gun licenses, and they can also decide traffic cases. 

Decides court cases for topics like wills, licenses, and traffic tickets

Judicial Efficiency

Probate Court Judge

- The County Coroner runs the Coroner’s Office, which is responsible for determining the cause, manner, and circumstance of death under the Georgia Death Investigation Act.  
- Deaths that they are responsible for investigating include violent deaths, suicides, sudden deaths, deaths unattended by a physician, suspicious deaths, deaths of children younger than seven years old, executions, deaths of inmates, and deaths of people admitted to a hospital unconscious. 
- The Coroner is responsible for pronouncing someone dead, and for releasing remains to be cremated, transported to another state, or autopsied. 
- All Georgia Coroners are required to attend a 40 hour course at the Georgia State Patrol Training Center and receive 24 hours of in services training on death investigation procedures each year. 
- Coroners are elected to four year terms in nonpartisan elections. 

2024 Georgia candidates

Treutlen County Sheriff

2 candidates

Treutlen State Court Judge

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Treutlen Solicitor General

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Treutlen County Commissioner, District 1

How this impacts you

Troup Clerk of Superior Court, Republican Primary

2 candidates

Troup Probate Court Judge

1 candidate

Troup State Court Judge

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Troup Solicitor General, Republican Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Troup County Sheriff, Republican Primary

2 candidates

Troup Coroner, Republican Primary

2 candidates