Cases & Jurisdiction

Cartersville Municipal Court is a court of limited jurisdiction, given its authority by OCGA 36-32-1. The court is created and given its power of punishment by Article 6 of the City of Cartersville Charter. Authority and certain requirements of the Court are set forth in Section 13 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cartersville. 

The Cartersville Municipal Court may only hear cases brought against adults, ages 17 and over. All charges made against juveniles, ages 16 and under, must be turned over to Juvenile Court. 

The jurisdiction of the Cartersville Municipal Court extends to all misdemeanor traffic violations set forth in Title 40 of OCGA that are committed within the corporate limits of the City of Cartersville (by authority of OCGA 40-6-372 through 40-6-376 and adopted in section Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cartersville)

The jurisdiction of the Cartersville Municipal Court extends to all misdemeanor city ordinance violations committed within the corporate limits of the City of Cartersville, including but not limited to: occupation tax, animal control, building codes, utility codes, zoning, development regulations, alcohol regulations, and all other Ordinances adopted by the Mayor and City Council as provided for therein; as well as misdemeanor violations of the following laws, of the State of Georgia:

• Shoplifting 
• Underage possession of alcohol 
• Furnishing alcohol to underage persons 
• Sale of alcohol to underage persons 
• Public intoxication 
• Disorderly conduct 
• Violation of Georgia Controlled Substances Act-possession of less than one ounce of marijuana 
• Violations of probated sentences by subjects sentenced to probation by this court 

The Cartersville Municipal Court does have jurisdiction over public nuisance violations under OCGA 41-2-5. 

The Cartersville Municipal Court does have jurisdiction over condemnation of property for unfit buildings and structures under Chapter 6, Article X of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cartersville. 

The Cartersville Municipal Court does not hear any civil or property disputes (other than described above under public nuisances and condemnations). Those matters are dealt with in Magistrate or Probate Court of Bartow County.