Rule 2 Definitions

When you see certain words used in these court rules, they have specific meanings. "Magistrate court" means any court in Georgia that handles the types of cases covered by these rules. A "magistrate" is the judge who runs that court. The "chief magistrate" is the head judge of that court.

Some other key terms: a "party" is any person involved in a case, either as the one filing the complaint or the one being sued. A "pleading" is any official written document filed with the court. "Process" refers to the official papers the court uses to notify someone that they are part of a legal case.

These definitions matter because the rules use these words throughout, and knowing what they mean helps you understand your rights and responsibilities in court.