GA Code § 15-6-8 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 15 - Courts|Chapter 6 - Superior Courts|Article 1 - General Provisions|§ 15-6-8. Jurisdiction and Powers of Superior Courts

 The superior courts have authority:    To exercise original, exclusive, or concurrent jurisdiction, as the case may be, of all causes, both civil and criminal, granted to them by the Constitution and laws;   To exercise the powers of a court of equity;   To exercise appellate jurisdiction from judgments of the probate or magistrate courts as provided by law;   To exercise a general supervision over all inferior tribunals and to review and correct, in the manner prescribed by law, the judgments of:   Magistrates;   Municipal courts or councils;   Any inferior judicature;   Any person exercising judicial powers; and   Judges of the probate courts, except in cases touching the probate of wills and the granting of letters of administration, in which a jury must be impaneled;     To punish contempt by fines not exceeding $1,000.00, by imprisonment not exceeding 20 days, or both; and   To exercise such other powers, not contrary to the Constitution, as are or may be given to such courts by law.    (Laws 1799, Cobb's 1851 Digest, p. 1135; Code 1863, § 242; Code 1868, § 236; Code 1873, § 246; Code 1882, § 246; Civil Code 1895, § 4320; Penal Code 1895, § 791; Civil Code 1910, § 4849; Penal Code 1910, § 791; Code 1933, § 24-2615; Ga. L. 1982, p. 974, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1983, p. 884, § 3-10; Ga. L. 1987, p. 3, § 15; Ga. L. 2013, p. 561, § 1/SB 66.)   Cross references.   - Judicial dissolution of corporations, § 14-2-1430 et seq., § 14-3-1430 et seq.    Exercise of contempt power generally, § 15-1-4.    Requirement of availability of one judge in each circuit on primary or election days, § 21-2-412.    Jurisdiction of superior courts to hear cases pertaining to primary or election contests, § 21-2-523.    Proceedings before superior courts regarding exercise of power of eminent domain generally, § 22-2-130 et seq.    Jurisdiction of superior courts over questions regarding determination of legal heirs and their interests, § 53-4-30.   Law reviews.   - For article, "Jury Trials in Contempt Cases," see 20 Ga. B. J. 297 (1957). For survey article on legal ethics, see 34 Mercer L. Rev. 197 (1982). For article, "Contempt of Court in Georgia," see 23 Ga. St. B. J. 66 (1987). For annual survey of legal ethics decisions, see 58 Mercer L. Rev. 239 (2006). For article, "How Not to Get Thrown in Jail," see 22 Ga. Bar. J. 17 (June 2017).   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   ANALYSIS    General Consideration   Contempt    OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Choice of forum.   - Courts of Georgia may not restrict the suitor's choice of forum when jurisdiction of a cause of action is vested in more than one court. 1983 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U83-50.   Discretion of sheriff to choose when bond of traffic violator returnable.   - Sheriff has the discretionary right to choose, from the circumstances involved in the offense, whether a misdemeanor violator of the traffic laws shall be required to give bond returnable to the superior court or shall be taken before the probate court upon request. 1952-53 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 51.   Appeal by Public Service Commission.   - Public Service Commission as defendant in superior court action for injunction has right to appeal to Georgia Supreme Court. 1967 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 67-40.   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 20 Am. Jur. 2d, Courts, § 10.   ALR.    - Mandamus to compel court to assume or exercise jurisdiction where it has erroneously dismissed the cause or refused to proceed on the ground of supposed lack of jurisdiction, 4 A.L.R. 582; 82 A.L.R. 1163.    Formality in authentication of judicial acts, 30 A.L.R. 700.    Right of state or federal court to protect litigants by enjoining proceedings in bankruptcy, 32 A.L.R. 979.    Jurisdiction of equity courts in the United States, without the aid of statute expressly conferring it, to entertain independent suit for alimony or separate maintenance without divorce or judicial separation, 141 A.L.R. 399.    Propriety of disposition of pending action involving controversy within religious society or other nonprofit association, by ordering election, 158 A.L.R. 182.   Jurisdiction of court to award custody of child domiciled in state but physically outside it, 9 A.L.R.2d 434.   Appealability of order relating to transfer, on jurisdictional grounds, of cause from one state court to another, 78 A.L.R.2d 1204.   Attorney's failure to attend court, or tardiness, as contempt, 13 A.L.R.4th 122.   Modern status of rule relating to jurisdiction of state court to try criminal defendant brought within jurisdiction illegally or as result of fraud or mistake, 25 A.L.R.4th 157.   Personal jurisdiction over nonresident manufacturer of component incorporated in another product, 69 A.L.R.4th 14.   Media's dissemination of material in violation of injunction or restraining order as contempt - federal cases, 91 A.L.R. Fed. 270.