Deputy Court Administrator II: Amy Stewart

The State Court handles criminal misdemeanor and traffic matters from all jurisdictions within Chatham County, Georgia. The Criminal Division is the office of record for all matters addressed in the Court. In addition to organizing and maintaining the Court's official records, the Criminal Division also provides for required administrative support to the Court. Major events include docket scheduling for arraignments, motion hearings, pleas, bench and jury trials, probation revocation, show cause hearings and other dockets.

Notice to all persons filing papers in the Clerk of State Court's Office

Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 10-1-393.8, effective July 1, 2006, it became illegal in the State of Georgia to publicly post or publicly display in any manner an individual's social security number. As used in this Code Section, "publicly post" means to "intentionally communicate or otherwise make available to the general public." Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 9-11-7.1, effective July 1, 2014, social security numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, financial account numbers and birthdates require some degree of redaction before the pleading/documentation can be admitted into evidence. Domestic practitioners with financial affidavits, worksheets and standing order responses usually have a number of these numbers in the documents.

Pertinent portions of the statute are as follows:

1. Redacted filings. Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Code section or unless the court orders otherwise, a filing with the court that contains a social security number, taxpayer identification number, financial account number, or birth date shall include only:
   1. The last four digits of a social security number;
   2. The last four digits of a taxpayer identification number;
   3. The last four digits of a financial account number; and
   4. The year of an individual’s birth.

All records in the State Court Clerks' offices are generally public records and the inclusion of the social security number is prohibited and is in violation of the law. If additional personal information is necessary for credit, criminal history or other legitimate purposes, please review O.C.G.A. 10-1-393.8 and O.C.G.A. 9-11-7.1(a) before filing.

This office will not refuse to file a document that we are otherwise required by law to file, publicly post or publicly display for public inspection if O.C.G.A. 9-11-7.1(a) is not followed. The Clerk shall be held harmless for such filings in accordance with O.C.G.A. §10-1-393.8(d).

Please join us in reducing the opportunity of identity theft and the abuse of personal information.