Courts; protection of personally identifiable information of judges and their spouses; modify provisions

More privacy for judges and their spouses

Georgia law protects current and former state and local judges, federal judges, and their spouses. Protected information includes personal phone numbers, home addresses, and property or tax records. State and local government entities must block public disclosure when records identify someone as a judge or spouse. This overrides Georgia’s open-records law and covers Secretary of State and State Ethics Commission filings. Covered entities include local court clerks, election boards, tax assessors, and ethics boards. For records that do not identify their role, protected people can submit a valid written request using the statewide form. The entity must restrict disclosure within 30 days. The Administrative Office of the Courts replaces its protected-person database with a form-based process and posts the form online. The form verifies protected status, and the office sets procedures for submitting phone numbers and addresses. Entities also have 30 days after written notice from the office to restrict information in public records and postings. That notice-based duty has exceptions for written consent to release phone numbers and addresses, or notice of resignation, retirement, or removal. Protected people can sue noncompliant government officers or employees, but can only seek a court order—not money damages. The office also arranges access to needed federal court information and coordinates statewide judicial security training and information sharing.