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Judge Frank R. Cox
Chief Magistrate
Sheila H. Walker
Clerk of Court
Donna Tschappat
Court Administrator
32 Waddell Street
Marietta, GA - 30090-9656
(770) 528-8900
(770) 528-8947 fax
Privacy Statement
Cobb County...Expect the Best
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 The Magistrate Court was established in 1983 by the Georgia Legislature and replaced the former Justice of the Peace System. The Cobb County Magistrate Court is one of the largest Magistrate Courts in Georgia and is one of the very few courts in the United States which operates 24 hours a day. It is a court of inquiry with the primary responsibility in determining probable cause in criminal cases. There is no determination made as to guilt or innocence except in the case of county ordinance violations or small claims cases.
Criminal arrest and search warrants are issued by the Magistrate Court 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The victim or investigating agency must appear (in person or via video conferencing) before the magistrate to determine if sufficient evidence exists to issue a warrant. At the time of warrant issuance, the magistrate may set bond as authorized by law for the offenses committed.
After arrest, the Magistrate Court is required to hold first appearance hearings where the charges are read and bond is reviewed. Separate bond hearings are held at the request of parties involved to present into evidence reasons bond should be set, refused, raised or lowered. The magistrate will usually request a pretrial investigation and results of that investigation will be heard at the bond hearing.
All violations of county ordinances are tried in Magistrate Court. These cases generally consist of parking citations, leash law violations, disorderly conduct, minors in possession of alcohol, and fire lane violations.
The chief magistrate of Cobb County has been given the following additional duties as ordered by the Superior Court Judges Council:
- Setting of bonds including those exclusively reserved for Superior Court Judges;
- Presiding over the Cobb County Drug Court;
- Responsibility for the Pretrial Release Program; and
- Acting as assisting Superior Court Judge and taking pleas upon request.
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