Although he was the incumbent, Chief Magistrate Judge Michael J. McGirt has won his first election to the bench.
With all 12 precincts reporting, McGirt beat former Midway councilman Malcolm X. Williams by a better than 2-to-1 margin: McGirt claimed 68% with 3,411 votes, while Williams captured 32% or 1,605 votes.
McGirt was appointed associate magistrate judge in August 2023 when longtime Chief Magistrate Judge Melinda Anderson retired and named then-Magistrate Judge Paula Hendrix as her replacement. Soon after, Hendrix was appointed as Superior Court judge in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, and appointed McGirt as her replacement. McGirt told The Current he’s always balancing two things in the courtroom: the actual matter before the court and the emotional temperature between the litigants. Although he is the younger candidate, McGirt pointed out that he has more experience specific to the job, and has promised to “do the right thing, no matter the race, color, creed, background, ethnicity, sexual orientation — we are going to do what’s right, no matter what social status, political status, it does not matter….The only thing that will be upheld is the law, and it will be governed the proper way, with compassion, and with an accountability when that is due.”
Williams stepped down from his Midway City Council seat to run for Chief Magistrate Judge. In 2020, Williams hung onto his Midway council seat by one vote, edging out challenger Stanley E. Brown 255 to 254. He is a sales and leasing consultant for Chatham Subaru in Savannah and has served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Hinesville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which handles transportation planning concerns for Liberty County, the municipalities, Fort Stewart, and parts of Long County. He also is Rep. Al Williams’ son. Williams says that, because he is older and has connections in the community, he brings a different kind of experience to the job: that of someone who’s been around longer and who understands how some people might get into difficulties that bring them to court: “We all know someone who has almost been evicted before. You have to make decisions on that with discernment, honesty, and fairness.” He also suggested using the bench to point people struggling with addictions and at risk of homelessness to treatment and support resources.
All results are unofficial until certified by the Georgia Secretary of State.