2020 Georgia Code
Title 15 - Courts
Chapter 25 - Personal Identification Cards for Justices
§ 15-25-2. Issuance; Security of Cards; Required Information; Valid Period; Acceptance by Other Agencies

1. 1. The judge of the probate court of each county shall issue personal identification cards to each judge or Justice as provided for under paragraphs (12), (12.1), and (12.2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 16-11-130 who makes application to the judge of the probate court in the county of his or her domicile in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by The Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia; provided, however, that it shall be permissible for a person elected or appointed as such judge or Justice to make application to the judge of the probate court upon his or her election or appointment but prior to his or her taking an oath for the issuance of such personal identification card upon taking oath; and provided, further, that a judge of the probate court shall make application to the judge of the probate court of a neighboring county of his or her domicile for the issuance of a personal identification card to himself or herself. The Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia may work with judicial offices of the federal courts, the clerk of the Supreme Court, the clerk of the Court of Appeals, and the various other councils of court judges as provided for under this title to facilitate the submission of applications or the surrender of personal identification cards under this chapter.
   2. When a judge or Justice is required to otherwise be qualified to be issued a weapons carry license for the exemptions of Code Section 16-11-130 to apply to such judge or Justice, the judge of the probate court shall verify such qualifications of such judge or Justice and shall base his or her verification of qualifications on a fingerprint based criminal history records check from the Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other information ordinarily required of applicants for a weapons carry license.
2. 1. Every personal identification card issued under this chapter shall incorporate overt and covert security features which shall be blended with the personal data printed on such identification card to form a significant barrier to imitation, replication, and duplication. There shall be a minimum of three different ultraviolet colors used to enhance the security of such identification card, incorporating variable data, color shifting characteristics, and front edge only perimeter visibility. The personal identification card shall have a color photograph viewable under ambient light on both the front and back of such identification card. Such identification card shall incorporate custom optical variable devices featuring the great seal of the State of Georgia as well as matching demetalized optical variable devices viewable under ambient light from the front and back of such identification card, incorporating microtext and unique alphanumeric serialization specific to the cardholder. Such identification card shall be of similar material, size, and thickness of a credit card and have a holographic laminate to secure and protect such identification card for the duration of the personal identification card period.
   2. Every personal identification card issued under this chapter shall include the following information of the judge or Justice identified on the front of such identification card:
      1. A recent photograph;
      2. Full legal name;
      3. Address of residence;
      4. Birth date;
      5. Date such identification card was issued;
      6. Sex;
      7. Height;
      8. Weight;
      9. Eye color;
      10. His or her signature or facsimile thereof; and
      11. The term "FEDERAL COURT JUDGE", "FORMER FEDERAL COURT JUDGE", "SUPREME COURT JUSTICE", "FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE", "COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE", "FORMER COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE", "SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE", "FORMER SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE", "STATE COURT JUDGE", "FORMER STATE COURT JUDGE", "PROBATE COURT JUDGE", "FORMER PROBATE COURT JUDGE", "JUVENILE COURT JUDGE", "FORMER JUVENILE COURT JUDGE", "MAGISTRATE COURT JUDGE", "FORMER MAGISTRATE COURT JUDGE", "MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE", "FORMER MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE", "CITY COURT JUDGE", "FORMER CITY COURT JUDGE", "ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE", or "FORMER ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE", or a coherent abbreviation of such terms, respectively, as the case may be, in distinctive, bold font.

          The back of such identification card shall include the following: "Pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 16-11-130, the provisions of Code Sections 16-11-126 through 16-11-127.2 pertaining to carrying a weapon and weapons offenses DO NOT apply to or affect the judge or Justice whose name, photograph, and signature appear upon the face of this card."

   3. Every personal identification card issued under this chapter shall bear the signatures of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Governor and shall bear an identification card number.
   4. Using the physical characteristics of the license set forth in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection, The Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia shall design, create specifications for, produce, and issue personal identification cards as provided for under this chapter.
3. Every personal identification card issued under this chapter shall be valid for a period of four years and shall be renewable for as long as such person meets the qualifications of paragraph (12), (12.1), or (12.2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 16-11-130; provided, however, that upon such person becoming a former judge or Justice, he or she shall surrender the personal identification card that designates him or her as a judge or Justice and may submit an application for a personal identification card which shall reflect his or her status as a former judge or Justice.
4. The Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia shall require appropriate documentation from judges or Justices and provide for any further design of the personal identification card under this chapter, such that, to the extent practicable while meeting requirements under this chapter, such personal identification card may meet the requirements of acceptable identification by the Transportation Security Administration of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

(Code 1981, §15-25-2, enacted by Ga. L. 2016, p. 263, § 3/SB 332; Ga. L. 2017, p. 774, § 15/HB 323.)

The 2017 amendment, effective May 9, 2017, part of an Act to revise, modernize, and correct the Code, revised punctuation in subsection (d).