Clerk  (706) 613-3313  Bad Checks/Evictions  (706) 613-3311  Civil  (706) 613-3315  Criminal  (706) 613-3312  Chief Magistrate Judge  Patricia Barron  Associate Magistrate Judge  Charles Auslander  Courtroom Location  ACC Courthouse  325 E. Washington St.  Suite 230  Mailing Address  P.O. Box 1868  Athens, GA 30603

The mission of the Athens-Clarke County Magistrate's Court is to provide assistance to the general public, police agencies, and attorneys in the prosecution of criminal and civil cases in Clarke County. O.C.G.A. Section 15-10-2 confers jurisdiction of the Court, with duties divided between the Civil, Criminal, and Bad Check Divisions.

The Magistrate's Court Civil Division (jurisdictional limit of $15,000) is a forum for the filing of small claims and civil actions, to include the processing of documents and collection of money on these claims. The types of claims filed with the court include but are not limited to civil claim law suits, garnishments, dispossessory warrants, foreclosure of personal property, abandoned motor vehicles, Fifa's writs of execution and post-judgment interrogatories.

The Magistrate's Court Criminal and Bad Check Division generates and processes applications for arrest and criminal arrest warrants. In addition the court collects and disburses restitution, penalties, court costs, and fines imposed on criminal and bad check cases.

The Magistrate's Court conducts hearings as follows: initial appearance hearings which are conducted at the Clarke County Jail (six days a week); arraignments on misdemeanor bad check cases; applications for arrest warrants, good behavior bonds, probation violations, dispossessory warrants, civil claims, garnishment traverse and hearings (daily and misdemeanor bad check bench trials, monthly).