2026 Georgia Primary Election

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As of March 11, 2026, John B. Cunningham did not have a website or any information online.

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John B. Cunningham

Isaac Brickman

Mauricio Mendez

Walter Ley

Matthew Swope appointed as State Court Judge

Gov. Kemp Announces Appointments to Superior Court, State Courts 

Matthew S. Swope earned a bachelor's degree from Elon University and a law degree from the Georgia State College of Law. He lives with his wife, Orren, and their kid in Newnan, Georgia.

Matthew currently serves as a judge on the State Court of Coweta County. He was appointed in 2024 and is in his first term.

Matthew previously worked as a senior assistant district attorney on the Coweta Judicial Circuit. He previously worked as an assistant solicitor general in Coweta County and an associate attorney at Rosenzweig, Jones, Horne, & Griffis, P.C.

As a judge on the State Court of Coweta County for two years, oversees traffic cases and civil and criminal jury and non-jury trials, and grants applications for search and arrest warrants.

As a senior assistant district attorney on the Coweta Judicial Circuit for seven years, prosecuted civil and criminal cases under state law on behalf of the district attorney’s office, supervised legal and clerical staff, and conducted interviews with victims and witnesses in ongoing cases.

- As a judge on the State Court of Coweta County for two years, oversees traffic cases and civil and criminal jury and non-jury trials, and grants applications for search and arrest warrants.
- As a senior assistant district attorney on the Coweta Judicial Circuit for seven years, prosecuted civil and criminal cases under state law on behalf of the district attorney’s office, supervised legal and clerical staff, and conducted interviews with victims and witnesses in ongoing cases.

As of March 11, 2026, Matthew S. Swope did not have a website or any information online.

Serves as a board member of Elevate Coweta Students and the Newnan-Coweta Boys and Girls Club.

- Serves as a board member of Elevate Coweta Students and the Newnan-Coweta Boys and Girls Club.

Matthew S. Swope

Rafael Perez

Judge Poulakos

Seay VanPatten Poulakos serves as the Chief Judge of the Coweta County State Court in Georgia. 

As of March 11, 2026, Seay Vanpatten Poulakos did not have a website or any information online.

Seay Vanpatten Poulakos

As of March 11, 2026, Seay Vanpatten Poulakis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Seay Vanpatten Poulakis

- 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

Coweta State Court Judge

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