James Drane III
Chief Magistrate Judge
678-493-6583
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Types Of Cases
The Magistrate Court has statutory criminal jurisdiction over the following types of cases:
Criminal Matters
Trials of persons accused of violating County ordinances.
- Trials of certain misdemeanor criminal cases.
- Issuance of arrest warrants and search warrants.
- Issuance of arrest warrants for persons accused of violating terms of probation.
- Seeing all persons arrested within 72 hours to set bail at first appearance hearings.
- Prelimiary commitment hearings for arrested persons.
- Hearings on civilian arrest warrant applications.
- The execution or subscribing and the acceptance of written waivers of extradition.
Civil Matters
Trials of civil monetary lawsuits where the amount in controversy doesn't exceed
- Trials of Dispossessory (eviction) and distress cases
- Limited post-judgment discovery matters
- Foreclosures on personal property, abandoned vehicles, and abandoned vessels
- Wage and bank garnishment actions for the collection of judgments
The Magistrate Court's jurisdiction is limited in most civil matters (except dispossessory actions) to claims not exceeding $15,000.