Muscogee County is situated in the west-central part of Georgia and was named after the original residents of the area. According to the 2020 census, the county has an estimated population of 206,922 people and occupies 216.50 square miles of land area. Columbus City is the county’s seat.

Courts in Muscogee County

Muscogee County is part of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit of Georgia. The county has a Superior Court that has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters arising from the county. In particular, the court hears felony, equity, domestic, and land title cases to the exclusion of other courts. However, it shares jurisdiction with lower courts in other matters. Additionally, the court has appellate jurisdiction over certain cases from the Probate, Juvenile, and Municipal Courts.

Muscogee County also has a State Court. The court’s criminal jurisdiction is limited to misdemeanor cases and criminal appeals from lower courts. It also hears civil matters that are not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Court.

Furthermore, matters involving minors, such as juvenile delinquency and dependency, are within the authority of the county’s Juvenile Court. Meanwhile, the Muscogee County Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over matters relating to wills, estate administration, guardianships, and mental health. 

Muscogee County also has a Magistrate Court. The court handles civil and garnishment cases where the plaintiff’s claim does not exceed $15,000. It also hears cases involving abandoned motor vehicles and mobile homes. The Columbus Municipal Court has civil jurisdiction similar to that of the Magistrate Court. However, in addition to its civil jurisdiction, the Municipal Court handles municipal ordinance violations, minor offenses, and preliminary hearings of some criminal cases.

Finally, Muscogee County also has the Recorder’s Court of Columbus. The court’s jurisdiction is limited to minor offenses, ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and certain preliminary hearings.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Muscogee County

Courts in Muscogee County maintain records of cases they handle and grant public access to such records. Records of the Superior and State Court are in the custody of the Clerk of the Superior and State Court. Interested persons can request copies from the clerk’s office in person as well as via phone call or email. Requesters can also send a completed civil or criminal record request form by mail.

To access records of other courts, contact the courthouse where the case was heard. Also, note that all Muscogee County court records are available online on the county’s eCourt portal.

Types of Public Court Records in Muscogee County

Court records in Muscogee County include documents, files, and other materials relating to court proceedings in the county. Most case records in Muscogee County are open to the public, including: 

• Civil case records
• Traffic case records
• Probate records
• Criminal case records

Confidential Court Records in Muscogee County

Certain court records in Muscogee County are not open to the public. Such restrictions are usually a result of the provisions of a federal or state law. Some examples of confidential records in Muscogee County are:

• Probation and parole records
• Adoption records
• Juvenile records
• Records sealed by court order

Juvenile Delinquency in Muscogee, GA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Muscogee County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Georgia often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1192 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Muscogee County. Of that total, 70% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 831 court cases. Another 11% were dependency cases that accounted for 135 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Muscogee County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Muscogee County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Muscogee County, GA

https://georgia.gov/

County Seat:	Columbus
Government Type:	City-County Consolidation
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1826
Total Square Miles:	221
2019 Population:	194,058
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	PO BOX 1340 County Courthouse Columbus , GA 31902-1340 http://www.columbusga.org/

Muscogee County, GA Courts