Role of the Clerk of State Court
The Clerk of State Court page describes the office under Clayton County Court Services. State Court is a limited-jurisdiction court that hears misdemeanor crimes, traffic violations prosecuted by the Solicitor-General, and civil matters that are not exclusively Superior Court business. The clerk keeps the official record for those cases. The clerk's counter is at the Banke Justice Center on Tara Boulevard.
The official page above lists the office address and notes the misdemeanor, traffic, and civil scope of State Court records.
State Court Records the Clerk Holds
State Court records cover three main slices of the Clayton case load. Each slice has its own typical case type codes in the Court Case Inquiry portal.
- Misdemeanor criminal cases (CR or similar codes), including simple battery, shoplifting, and DUI first offense.
- Traffic citation cases (TK), including stop-sign violations, speeding, and no proof of insurance.
- Civil cases not exclusively Superior Court (CS, CV style codes).
The portal exposes State Court name searches through the same interface used for Superior and Magistrate Court. The court dropdown lets users restrict the search to State Court when needed.
Pay a Traffic Citation
Many Clayton traffic citations are payable through the State Court system. The county navigation includes a Pay Traffic Citations option routed through the Clerk of State Court. Payments accept a guilty plea by payment in most cases unless the citation requires a court appearance. Some offenses, including DUI and several moving violations, require a court appearance.
The traffic court records page covers the full pay-or-contest workflow and the difference between the court traffic record and the state driver record at Georgia DDS.
How to Search Clayton State Court Records
The Court Case Inquiry portal is the same starting point used for every Clayton case search. Users who only want State Court results should select State Court on the court dropdown.
- Open the official Court Case Inquiry portal.
- Choose Civil Search for civil matters or Criminal Case Search for misdemeanors and traffic.
- Choose Name Search or Case Search.
- On the court dropdown, select State Court.
- Enter the last name, or enter year, two-letter type, five-digit sequence, and optional division.
- Click the linked case number on the result row to open the docket.
Certified Copies from State Court
Certified copies of State Court records carry the clerk's seal and certification. They are usually required for license reinstatement, employment proof of disposition, or out-of-state probation transfers. The clerk's counter at the Banke Justice Center handles certified copy requests. Requesters should bring the case number, party name, and approximate filing year, plus payment for the per-page and certification fees.
Clerk of State Court Fees
Specific fee amounts should be confirmed at the office. The table below covers the standard fee categories.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Plain copy per page | Standard reproduction fee. |
| Certified copy per page | Per-page fee plus a clerk certification fee. |
| Misdemeanor filing fees | Set by Georgia statute and the court fee schedule. |
| Civil filing fees | Set by State Court schedule for non-Superior civil matters. |
| Traffic citation payment | Routed through the clerk; fines set by the court. |
Office Contact
Clerk of State Court
Harold R. Banke Justice Center
9151 Tara Boulevard
Jonesboro, GA 30236
(770) 477-3450
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
How This Clerk Differs from the Clerk of Superior Court
Georgia uses separate clerks for separate courts. The Clerk of Superior Court handles felony, divorce, equity, and land cases. The Clerk of State Court handles misdemeanor, traffic, and many civil cases that are not exclusively Superior Court. Filers should send each case to the right office. A divorce filed in State Court will be sent back. A traffic ticket payment sent to Superior Court will be sent back. Picking the right clerk first saves time.
State Court Civil Cases
State Court can hear a wide range of civil matters in Clayton County. The civil docket includes contract disputes, personal injury, automobile collision claims, and other civil actions that are not exclusively assigned to Superior Court. The State Court civil judges hear bench trials and jury trials depending on the case type and the parties' demands.
Filers should use Odyssey eFileGA for State Court civil filings where the court accepts e-filing. The clerk's counter still accepts paper filings for pro se litigants who are not registered for e-filing. A civil filing fee is required at the time of filing, with a poverty affidavit available for fee waiver in qualifying cases.
DUI and Reckless Driving in State Court
DUI charges in Clayton County are prosecuted in State Court by the Solicitor-General. The Clerk of State Court holds the case file. The court runs a DUI Court program coordinated by Superior and State Court administration. Reckless driving and other serious moving violations also sit in State Court. Each charge can carry license consequences reported separately by Georgia DDS. The court case file and the driver record at DDS are two different documents that need to be checked together.
State Court Judges
The official Clayton State Court page lists the State Court judges who hear cases at the Banke Justice Center. State Court rotates judges across misdemeanor, traffic, and civil calendars. Each judge handles a mix of bench trials, jury trials, plea calendars, and traffic arraignments. The Clerk of State Court keeps the official record of cases assigned to each judge.
| Position | Role |
|---|---|
| Chief Judge | Manages State Court calendar and administration. |
| Associate Judges | Hear misdemeanor, traffic, and civil dockets. |
| Senior Judges | Cover calendars as needed under Georgia Senior Judge program rules. |
State Court Divisions
The Clayton State Court runs separate divisions for civil, misdemeanor, and traffic cases. The Clerk of State Court intake routes each filing to the right division. Civil division cases cover personal injury, contract, and other non-Superior civil matters. The criminal division covers misdemeanors and DUI cases. The traffic division handles state traffic citations in Room 205 and other traffic-arraignment calendars at the Banke Justice Center. Each division uses its own calendar template under the Chief Judge's administration. Filings in the wrong division can be transferred internally by the clerk, but filers save time by picking the right division at intake.