March 10, 2010

ATLANTA (AP) -- Sen. Mitch Seabaugh is proposing cutting 19 superior court judges -- a move he says could save the state up to $14 million.

Seabaugh says S.B. 485 would reduce the number of superior court judges from 205 to 186.

Lawmakers have been hard-pressed to find further ways to cut costs to address Georgia's $1.1 billion budget shortfall.

Seabaugh says the superior court system has not been carrying its weight during the state's budget crisis and has made far fewer cuts than many other departments. He also points out that the number of superior court judges in the state has increased in the past few years and that under the state constitution, the General Assembly does have the right to eliminate judgeships.

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