DeKalb County Superior Court Case Search

Dekalb Superior Court records refer to the aggregate of cases the Superior Court has decided. A record is created whenever information about a concluded legal action is retained, archived, and indexed by the Dekalb Superior Court Clerk. A common feature of all Superior Court records is the jury verdict or judgment they contain, as well as details of all events leading up to that judgment. These include complaints, answers, motions, arguments, outcomes, affidavits, and other documents filed by attorneys.

Common situations that may necessitate a search for court records include providing them to support arguments in legal proceedings. Employers may seek court records to verify claims such as the exoneration of a criminal charge or divorce. In many circumstances, they are needed to track case progress.

What Kinds of cases have been heard in DeKalb Superior Court?

The Dekalb County Superior Court has jurisdiction over civil and criminal law actions, as well as cases involving misdemeanors, premises liability, contract disputes, divorce, real estate claims, and felonies involving jury trials. Furthermore, there are several specialized departments and divisions within the court. Some of these include:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Center: This department handles mediation and arbitration to help resolve disputes outside of court.
• Accountability Courts: This department consists of the Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Veterans Treatment Court, which provide specialized programs for individuals with specific needs.
• Family Law Information Center: This center offers resources and assistance for family law matters.

DeKalb County Superior Court

The Dekalb County Superior Court is a trial court consisting of ten judges. Most of these judges operate from the different divisions of the court; there are at least ten recognized divisions. Consequently, cases filed with the Superior court clerk will be assigned to one of these judges.

For criminal cases, however, the district attorney must have officially charged the suspect with the crime and filed them with the Superior Court Clerk before the case file is tabled before a judge. To file a charge, a grand jury typically listens to the evidence and decides whether the DA has enough to support a charge. Unfiled cases are tagged with the letter "D". This means no judge has it yet.

The Dekalb County Superior Court address is listed below:

Dekalb County Superior Court
556 N. McDonough Street
Decatur, Georgia 30030

DeKalb County Case Lookup

There are several ways to look up court records in Dekalb County. One common method is to use the Judicial Information System (Portal). Through this platform, users can view and print record copies of all cases filed after 2010 with the Magistrate, State, and Superior Court Clerks.

To begin:

• Visit the Judicial Information System (Portal)
• Register and proceed to log in
• Click on the smart search icon
• Enter the search criteria (record number or a party’s full name)
• Use the advanced filtering option to change the default "all court setting" to a more specific court like the Superior Court.
• If it is not necessary, indicate that you are not a robot and click on submit to facilitate a general search.

For copies of records filed before 2010, visit the Archives page to download the Archive Record Request Form. Fill out the form and mail it along with the applicable fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Clerk of Superior Court
Attn: Archives/Records
556 North McDonough Street
Decatur GA, 30030.

Searching for records through the eCertification portal is also common. The GSCCCA eCertification portal is a state-wide program that enables individuals to search and request certified digital records of participating county courts across Georgia.

To begin a search via this platform:

• Go to the eCertification portal
• Create an account
• Log in and click on "New request".
• Select the County
• Select the document type
• Proceed by clicking on the "Continue to Submit a Request" button
• If the request is fulfilled, the clerk will send an email notification requesting payment information.

Users may also observe the "look up a certified document" search bar on the right-hand section of the home page. The resource serves as a tool for authenticating an existing certified document.

For more inquiries, you can contact the Superior Court Clerk.

DeKalb Superior Court Case Search by Name

Unique case identifiers like names and record numbers are crucial for a successful record search. Actions filed with the Dekalb Superior Court Clerk are identified by a name or number and concluded cases are given citation numbers for easy retrieval. To make searches easier and time-saving for court staff, individuals requesting records via mail must fill in these case identifiers in the request form.

Similarly, search engines use these criteria to filter their databases and locate specific records. Users can search by name and case number or use the advanced filtering option to filter search results using criteria such as the judicial officer's name, case type, court name, case status, date, booking number, and other relevant details.

DeKalb Superior Court Docket Search

A court docket is a schedule or list that keeps track of everything happening in a court case. It includes details like:

• Case Number: A unique ID for the case.
• Names of Parties: The plaintiff and defendant. For criminal trials, the state and the defendant.
• Hearing Dates: When the case will be in court.
• Judge’s Name: The judge assigned to the case.
• Case Status: Whether the case is open, closed, or pending.
• Filed Documents: Motions, orders, and other legal filings.

Dockets help lawyers, judges, and the public follow a case's progress. It’s a tracking system for court cases, showing what has happened and what will happen next.

The Dekalb County Superior Court dockets are accessible through the Judicial Information System portal.

Lookup DeKalb County Superior Court Online

The following case management systems provide direct access to the Dekalb County Superior Court records:

• The Judicial Information System (Portal): provides access to record copies of all cases filed after 2010 with the Superior Court Clerk.
• The Archives page provides access to copies of records filed before 2010
• The eCertification portal provides access to certified copies of civil, criminal, real estate, and UCC non-real estate court documents.

Third-party sites like Georgiacourtrecords.us also provide access to Dekalb County Superior Court records. While these sites typically provide a user-friendly alternative, they operate independently from government entities and do not represent that the records displayed are current, complete, or error-free, such as those available through official platforms. Consequently, users are advised to be careful and conduct their own verification to ensure the information received is accurate and reliable.

Supreme Court vs. Superior Court

In Georgia, the Supreme Court and the Superior Court have their respective jurisdiction and typically serve different functions. The Superior Court is a trial court with general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, including felonies, divorces, real estate disputes, and appeals from lower courts (the Probate and Magistrate Courts). Its judges oversee jury trials, issue rulings, and determine legal remedies.

In contrast, as the highest judicial authority in the state, the Supreme Court reviews constitutional questions and interprets perplexing statutory provisions. Unlike the superior court, which is a trial court, the Supreme Court does not conduct trials; instead, it ensures that lower courts apply the law correctly. Decisions of the Supreme Court are given priority over those of other courts. Nevertheless, the Superior Court’s jurisdiction is limited to state constitutional matters and state law. Matters bordering on federal law or the Constitution of the United States fall within the jurisdiction of the US Supreme Court and other federal courts.