Georgia Supreme Court Election a Sign of Things to Come

CONTACT
Zack Ford, Press Secretary
(202) 464-7370 / zack.ford@afjac.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 21, 2024 – Georgia Supreme Court Justice Andrew Pinson has won reelection to his seat, defeating challenger John Barrow. While there were four seats under consideration in Tuesday’s election, Barrow was the only challenger to any of the incumbents. Competitive judicial elections are rare in Georgia because the secretary of state’s control over the elections allows them to effectively curtail efforts to challenge incumbents they wish to keep in power. Barrow called out Pinson’s role in helping defend a six-week abortion ban and was accused of ethical violations for implying as a judicial candidate how he’d rule in such cases. 

While the outcome is not surprising given the incumbent advantage and the way “judicial ethics” were weaponized to protect Justice Pinson, the race sparked important conversations about the importance of state supreme court elections. As the conservative supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court rules against cherished rights and freedoms, state supreme courts can be an important stopgap — one that voters in many states can directly impact. 

Jake Faleschini, Justice Program Director at Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, issued the following statement: 

“The outcome in the Georgia Supreme Court race is disappointing, but this race opened a Pandora’s Box that won’t so easily be closed. How else should voters be expected to select a justice but for their understanding of the law and the way it protects them? The U.S. Supreme Court has specifically upheld the free speech rights of judges who are forced to run in elections. Our state constitutions can be more protective of our rights than the U.S. Constitution, and Barrow had every right to talk about his values on the campaign trail. 

“Georgia’s supreme court may not have become a safer place for reproductive rights, but we are encouraged by the discourse around this race. Voters deserve justices who care about the integrity of the law and not just a partisan agenda. This was only one election out of the 33 states holding supreme court elections across the country this year, and we look forward to state supreme court races where these vital issues receive the attention and scrutiny they deserve. Sunlight, as they say, is the best disinfectant.”