The Clerk of State Court and the deputy clerks in this office are committed to providing you with excellent customer service. We will be happy to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about the services of this office or the procedures you must follow for a particular state court process. Please be advised, however, that state law prohibits our staff from rendering legal advice, restating the law or recommending specific ways to pursue legal action. Nothing on this web site is intended to advise anyone as to legal remedies for a particular circumstance.

Many matters of law are quite complex and may require special knowledge of legal principles and procedures. If you have a problem involving the interpretation of the law, we suggest you contact an attorney licensed in the State of Georgia. Although we cannot recommend a specific attorney, you may contact the Cobb County Attorney Referral Service at (770) 424-2947.

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The Clerk of the State Court performs all administrative functions of the State Court as prescribed by law and court rules. This office is responsible for maintaining accurate and complete records of all court proceedings, including all traffic offenses, misdemeanors and certain civil actions. In addition, all monies of the court are received and disbursed by the clerk.

The office is organized into divisions that enable the office to perform its functions more efficiently for the judges and the general public. These divisions are Criminal, Civil, Courtroom Deputies and Accounting.

History of State Court

The State Court of Cobb County was established by the Georgia General Assembly in 1964 and began operating January 1, 1965. Originally named the Civil and Criminal Court of Cobb County, the name was subsequently changed to State Court of Cobb County. The Court has evolved from a Small Claims Court to one of unlimited jurisdiction over certain civil matters.

Having been created by local legislation, the State Court of Cobb County differs from State Courts in other Georgia counties. Jurisdictional questions may be found under local legislation in the Georgia Code Annotated. The Court currently has twelve (12) elected Judges, an elected Clerk and Chief Deputy Clerk, an elected Solicitor General and an appointed Director of State Court Services. All elected officials serve 4-year terms.

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Tahnicia Phillips, the first African American to be elected as Clerk of State Court for Cobb County and in the State of Georgia, brings a wealth of experience, a commitment to public service, and a passion for justice to her role. With a proven track record of leadership and innovation in court administration, she is committed to ensuring that the State Court operates efficiently, transparently, and in service to the community.

Prior to her historic election as State Court Clerk, Tahnicia served in the Cobb County Magistrate Court, where she oversaw a staff of 90 employees and managed a $7.6 million budget. From 2012 to 2019, she also served as the Magistrate’s Clerk of Court. During her tenure, Tahnicia modernized case management systems, enhanced customer service protocols, and led community outreach initiatives to improve access to justice.

A lifelong resident of Marietta, Georgia, Tahnicia is a proud graduate of Marietta High School, Clark Atlanta University, and Keller Graduate School of Management, where she earned an MBA with a concentration in Public Administration. She further honed her leadership skills by completing the Cobb County/University of Georgia EXCEL Leadership Management Program. Tahnicia is also an active member of the National Association of Court Management and the Georgia Council of Court Administrators, serving as a committee chair.

Beyond the courtroom, Tahnicia is deeply involved in her community. She is the co-founder and executive director of the Leonard Phillips Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit established in honor of her late father, which provides financial assistance to motorcyclists injured while riding. She also serves on the boards of organizations such as the Ezra Williams SCORE for Kids Foundation and the Happy Mama, Happy Mini Foundation, Inc., mentors young professionals, and volunteers with Marietta Mentoring for Leadership. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Tahnicia was also inducted into LiveSafe Resources’ Academy of Women Leaders—further demonstrating her steadfast commitment to service and giving back to the community that has supported her throughout her career.

As Clerk of State Court, Tahnicia focuses on enhancing court accessibility, streamlining operations, and fostering trust between the judicial system and the public. She is honored to serve the people of Cobb County and is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of integrity and excellence in this role.

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Alisha Hargett was sworn in as the first Afro-Caribbean Chief Deputy Clerk of State Court on December 18th, 2024. 

Alisha comes to the Cobb County Court system after almost 25 years with SCANA Energy, a natural gas marketer in Georgia. Her professional background is in Regulatory/Legislative & External Affairs, Corporate and Community Engagement, Corporate Relations, Strategic Partnerships, and Office Operations Management. She also served as the Cobb Chamber representative for the company for 20+ years.

Alisha attended the University of Georgia, majoring in Psychology. She later graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS/BA in Marketing/Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She holds professional certifications in Time Management, Women’s Leadership, Executive Leadership, Leadership Management, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Corporate Communications. Alisha is a graduate of the Leadership Cobb Class of 2024, member of LC25 Spotlight on Leadership Committee, an active member of the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association (LCAA), and a former Board Member (Secretary) of the Natural Gas Association of Georgia (NGA). She currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors for LiveSafe Resources, MUST Ministries, and the American Association of Blacks in Energy’s (AABE) Atlanta Chapter, as the 2nd Vice President.

Alisha is a graduate of Wheeler High School and is a mentor, who has volunteered at several schools in the Wheeler High cluster area. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and serves as the Chair of the International Awareness and Involvement (IAI) Committee and as a GEM Pal in the Delta GEMS Educational Development program. Alisha is also a Notary Public and CPR certified.

A native of Brooklyn and Elmont, New York, Alisha resides in the Cobb County area where she raised her two children, Jasmine and Justin. Her civic and community service activities include: AABE Membership Committee Chair (2020-2024), AABE Secretary (2016-2019), AABE Assistant Secretary (2012-2015), and served as a Business Community Leader on the East Cobb Middle School Principal's Council. Alisha was inducted into LiveSafe Resources' Academy of Women Leaders in March of 2024 and is a member of the Cobb Chamber’s Cobb Executive Women’s Program.

The principal function of the Courtroom Deputies Division is to assist the Judges in the courtrooms with all cases that are to be disposed of through the State Court. Courtroom Deputies assist in all court sessions and complete the records from court. They are the liaison between the Clerk’s Office, the Judges, and the courtroom. It is their responsibility to prepare all necessary paperwork and transport the cases to court where they are disposed of either by Settlement, Plea, Jury or Non-Jury trials. Courtroom Deputies are the keepers of all cases while in the courtrooms. They handle in rapid and accurate succession all paperwork necessary to complete the cases. The Courtroom Deputies are also responsible for distributing cases to the appropriate division of the Clerk’s Office after filing pleadings and docketing the necessary paperwork submitted during court.

Evidence

Courtroom Deputies mark and retain custody of all evidence presented at the time of a trial or hearing. Evidence is kept for 30 days pending appeal and will be destroyed after 150 days if it is not picked up or returned electronically.  Evidence will be released to the party/attorney that tendered it at trial or hearing after 30 days. The party/attorney who wishes to retrieve evidence will need to speak to a Courtroom Deputy, as each clerk is responsible for disposing of the evidence once the appeal time has expired according to the law and the standing order for evidence for this court.