Georgia's Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges have recently completed a security training program focused on personal safety and situational awareness. This initiative is part of the Judicial Council of Georgia’s Standing Committee on Judicial Security's ongoing efforts to enhance the protection of state-level judges.
The training, developed by the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), is available to all 1,600 state-level judges in Georgia. Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs highlighted the importance of this training due to increasing threats and attacks on judges nationwide. "While judges in Georgia have protection provided by state and local law enforcement inside their courtrooms, this training focuses on ensuring that judges understand how to better protect themselves and their families at home or out in their communities," he stated.
The Standing Committee on Judicial Security was established in February 2023 under Chief Justice Boggs' direction. The committee aims to identify measures for safeguarding Georgia’s judiciary. It is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Shawn Ellen LaGrua, with Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Brian Rickman serving as vice chair. The committee includes representatives from various courts and the State Bar of Georgia.
GPSTC Director Chris Wigginton and his staff administered the recent training sessions, which have previously included members from several judicial councils such as those for Superior Courts, Juvenile Courts, and Magistrate Courts.
An earlier effort by the committee involved collaborating with state lawmakers to draft Senate Bill 508. This bill allows for redacting personal identifying information of judges and their spouses from public records. Governor Brian Kemp has signed this legislation into law, set to take effect in July 2025.
Chief Justice Boggs expressed gratitude towards legislators for addressing safety concerns raised by judges: “My fellow Justices and Judges and I are appreciative of the cooperative work of Georgia legislators who take seriously the safety concerns expressed by our judges, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with them on future recommendations of the committee.”