Cobb County Criminal Court Records

Cobb County criminal court records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk in Marietta. This is one of the most populous counties in Georgia, with more than 770,000 residents in the metro Atlanta area. Three court levels handle criminal cases here: Superior Court, State Court, and Magistrate Court. Cobb County falls in the Cobb Judicial Circuit, which serves only this county. You can search for criminal records online through several Cobb County portals or visit the clerk office in person. The county runs its own case search tools, and most basic lookups are free. Whether you need to pull up a felony case, check on a misdemeanor charge, or find a traffic citation, Cobb County gives you multiple ways to get criminal court records.

Cobb County Superior Court Clerk

The Superior Court Clerk is the main keeper of criminal court records in Cobb County. Connie Taylor serves as the current clerk. Her office files and stores all felony cases, along with many civil matters. If a crime is charged as a felony in Cobb County, the case goes through Superior Court. The clerk office is in the Cobb County Courthouse on Haynes Street in Marietta. You can visit in person to search records, get copies, or ask questions about a case. Staff will look up records by name or case number for you.

The Cobb County Superior Court Clerk website has info on court filings, fees, and how to request records from Cobb County.

The clerk office also handles jury management and real estate filings. For criminal court records, call the Criminal Division at 770-528-1246. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, criminal court records in Cobb County are public. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need to give a reason.

Search Cobb County Criminal Records Online

Cobb County has its own online tools for searching criminal court records. The best one for State Court cases is the CourtConnect system. It lets you search by name, case number, citation number, tag number, or date range. Results show case details, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. CourtConnect is free to use and runs around the clock. The system updates overnight, so new cases may not show up until the next day.

You can access the Cobb County CourtConnect portal to search State Court criminal records, traffic cases, and citations filed in Cobb County.

Keep a few things in mind when you search. Criminal cases may take 10 to 14 business days after an arrest to show up in the system. The search caps results at 5,000 records per query. If your search pulls back too many hits, try to narrow it down with a date range or case number. CourtConnect covers State Court cases, which include most misdemeanors and all traffic offenses in Cobb County.

For Superior Court criminal records in Cobb County, use the separate records search tool. The Cobb County State Court Records Search page lets you look up cases by name or case number with a clean, simple interface.

This tool works well for quick lookups on recent cases. For older records that may not be in the online system, call the clerk office or visit in person at the Marietta courthouse.

Cobb County Magistrate Court Criminal Cases

Magistrate Court handles a different set of criminal matters in Cobb County. This court deals with arrest warrants, county ordinance violations, bad check cases, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. The criminal division of Magistrate Court is at 32 Waddell Street in Marietta. Chief Judge Gregory Poole runs this court. If someone gets arrested in Cobb County, their first court hearing often takes place here before the case moves to Superior Court or State Court for trial.

The Cobb County Magistrate Court page has details on court hours, the warrant division, and how to get records from this court.

The Warrant Division handles arrest warrants and criminal warrants. Call (770) 528-8900 to reach the main Magistrate Court line or (770) 528-8917 for the criminal division. If you need records from a preliminary hearing or want to check the status of a warrant in Cobb County, this is where to start.

Criminal Records at Cobb County State Court

Cobb County State Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases and all traffic violations. This is where most low-level criminal charges end up. DUIs, shoplifting, simple assault, and drug possession cases often go through State Court rather than Superior Court. The State Court Clerk office is at 12 East Park Square in Marietta. You can call 770-528-2660 for general questions or to ask about a case.

State Court records in Cobb County are public under Georgia's Open Records Act. You can request copies of case files, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. Copy fees in Georgia are $0.10 per page for standard copies, and the first 15 minutes of search time must be free per O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. For traffic citations, call the same number at 770-528-2660. The CourtConnect portal covers State Court cases too, so you can often pull up the info you need without leaving home.

Note: Agencies in Cobb County must respond to open records requests within three business days under Georgia law.

Cobb County Criminal Record Restriction

Some criminal records in Cobb County can be restricted from public view. Georgia no longer uses the term "expungement" for most cases. Instead, the process is called record restriction. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain arrests and convictions can be sealed so they do not show up in public searches. Law enforcement and courts can still see them. The rules depend on the outcome of the case and when the arrest took place.

Records that may qualify for restriction in Cobb County include:

• Arrests that did not lead to a conviction
• Cases dismissed or not prosecuted
• Certain misdemeanor convictions after a four-year wait
• Dead docket cases sitting for more than 12 months
• Convictions reversed on appeal

For arrests before July 1, 2013, you go through the arresting law enforcement agency in Cobb County. Arrests after that date go through the prosecuting attorney's office. The fee can be up to $50. Georgia limits you to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions in your lifetime. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses cannot be restricted. If you are not sure whether your Cobb County criminal record qualifies, talk to a local attorney or contact the Cobb County District Attorney's office for guidance.

Public Access to Cobb County Court Records

Criminal court records in Cobb County are public documents. The Georgia Open Records Act gives anyone the right to see them. You do not have to be a party in the case. You do not need to explain why you want the records. Just ask. The clerk must respond within three business days.

There are some limits. Pending criminal investigations may be exempt from public view under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72. Juvenile records are usually sealed. Confidential informant data stays hidden. But once a criminal case reaches a final disposition in Cobb County, the full file is generally open to the public. This includes the charges, plea details, trial records, and sentencing orders.

To get copies in person, visit the clerk office in Marietta. Bring a valid ID. Standard copies cost $0.10 per page in Georgia. Certified copies cost more, and the clerk can tell you the exact amount when you visit. You can also send a written open records request by mail or email to the Cobb County Superior Court Clerk office at 70 Haynes Street, Marietta, GA 30090.

Other Cobb County Court Records

The Cobb County Probate Court sits at 331 North Marietta Parkway NE. Chief Judge Kelli Wolk leads this court. Probate Court does not handle criminal cases directly, but it does process certain matters that can overlap with criminal records. Guardianship cases, firearm carry permits, and involuntary commitments all run through this court. Call 770-796-4865 for questions about Probate Court records in Cobb County.

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority ties all 159 county clerk offices into one search system. It holds indexes for real estate filings, liens, and some court documents across the state. While GSCCCA does not store full criminal case files, it can help point you to the right records in Cobb County. A monthly subscription costs $14.95 for a standard account.

For criminal history records held at the state level, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the GBI Criminal History page. You can get your own record from most sheriff offices or police departments in Cobb County. Ask for a "Purpose Code U" report to pull your own criminal history.

Cities in Cobb County

Cobb County has several cities and towns. All criminal cases from these cities go through Cobb County courts in Marietta. Which court hears the case depends on the charge level. Felonies go to Superior Court. Misdemeanors and traffic offenses go to State Court.

Other cities in Cobb County include Acworth, Austell, and Powder Springs. These smaller cities also file criminal cases at the Cobb County courts in Marietta.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cobb County. If you are not sure which county handles your criminal case, check the address where the arrest or crime took place. Cases must be filed in the right county for the court to have jurisdiction.