Opinion ID: 76264
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Georgia's Constitution

Text: 23 At the outset, it is important to note that the only defendant in this case is the defendant Clayton County. Thus, we examine the governmental structure of the sheriff's office vis-á-vis the defendant Clayton County in Georgia's Constitution. Georgia's Constitution designates the sheriff as a county officer but, in the same paragraph, grants the state legislature the exclusive authority to establish and control a sheriff's powers, duties, qualifications, and minimum salary. Ga. Const. art. IX, § 1, ¶ 3(a)-(b). 11 Interpreting this constitutional provision, the Georgia Supreme Court has explained that county sheriffs are subject to the control of the Georgia legislature and are not county employees. Bd. of Comm'rs of Randolph County v. Wilson, 260 Ga. 482, 482, 396 S.E.2d 903 (1990) (The sheriff ... is an elected, constitutional officer; he is subject to the charge of the General Assembly and is not an employee of the county commission.); Chaffin v. Calhoun, 262 Ga. 202, 203, 415 S.E.2d 906 (1992); Warren v. Walton, 231 Ga. 495, 499, 202 S.E.2d 405 (1973). 24 In contrast to the control it gives the State, Georgia's Constitution does not grant counties legislative power or authority over sheriffs and expressly prevents counties from controlling or affecting the sheriff's elective county office. 12 Ga. Const. art. IX, § 2, ¶ 1(c)(1). In this regard, the Georgia Supreme Court has concluded that this constitutional restriction on the legislative power granted to counties (that is, Home Rule) prevents counties from taking action affecting the sheriff's office. Warren, 231 Ga. at 499, 202 S.E.2d 405; see Stephenson v. Bd. of Comm'rs of Cobb County, 261 Ga. 399, 401-02, 405 S.E.2d 488 (1991). 13 Thus, Georgia's Constitution has created the sheriff's office as a separate constitutionally protected entity independent from the defendant Clayton County. 25