The Dublin Judicial Circuit includes Johnson, Laurens, Treutlen and Twiggs Counties. The following courts are available:
Superior Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction. The court has exclusive, constitutional authority over felony cases, prosecuted by the District Attorney's Office, cases regarding title to land, equity, declaratory judgments, habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, prohibition, adoptions, and divorce. In contested domestic relations cases and other civil cases deemed appropriate, the ADR Program provides mediation services to assist parties in settling their cases. A Parenting Seminar is provided in Laurens County by the court for all parties in divorce, separate maintenance, paternity, change of custody, visitation, legitimation and other domestic relations actions. Drug Court is available to some defendants involved in non-violent drug or alcohol related crimes. Except for certain probate or juvenile matters this court may exercise jurisdiction over other cases concurrently with the limited jurisdiction courts. This court is authorized to correct errors made by lower courts by issuing certiorari and, for some lower courts, the right to direct review by this court applies.
State Court is only available in Treutlen County. State Court is a trial court with limited jurisdiction covering misdemeanor and traffic violations, prosecuted by the Solicitor, and all civil actions, regardless of the amount, unless the superior court has exclusive jurisdiction.
Juvenile Court exercises exclusive jurisdiction in cases involving delinquent, unruly, and deprived children under the age of 17. Juvenile court has concurrent jurisdiction with the superior courts involving non-capital offenses, custody, child support, and legitimation cases, and termination of parental rights.
Probate Court exercises jurisdiction in traffic violations, the probate of wills, the administration of estates, the appointment of guardians, and the involuntary hospitalization of incapacitated adults and other dependent individuals. This court also administers oaths of office and issues marriage licenses and gun permits. The ADR Program provides mediation services in probate court for civil matters.
Magistrate Court is a court for civil claims of $15,000 or less, county ordinance violations, applications for and issuance of arrest and search warrants, warrant application hearings, preliminary hearings, dispossessory writs, distress warrants, and deposit account fraud (bad checks). The ADR Program provides mediation services in magistrate court for civil matters and certain warrant applications. No jury trials are held in this court. Appeals from this court are made to the superior and state courts.
