Gilmer County Criminal Court Records

Gilmer County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse in Ellijay. This north Georgia mountain county handles felony and misdemeanor cases through its court system, and all case files are stored at the clerk office on Broad Street. You can search criminal records in person at the Ellijay courthouse or use statewide online tools to check on cases from home. The clerk staff assists with walk-in requests, copy orders, court date lookups, and docket searches during regular hours. Gilmer County sits in the Appalachian foothills and serves residents from Ellijay, East Ellijay, and the surrounding rural areas.

Gilmer County Court Clerk Office

The Clerk of Superior Court in Gilmer County handles all criminal court records for the county. The office is at 1 Broad Street, Suite 105, in Ellijay. Call (706) 635-4462 to ask about a case or check on a filing. This is where you go to get copies of criminal case files, look up court dates, and access docket info. Staff are on site during normal business hours and can handle most requests while you wait. Older case files that have been moved to storage may need some extra time to pull.

The GSCCCA page for Gilmer County has the clerk contact info and links to statewide filing records that cover Gilmer County data.

This page shows the Gilmer County clerk address and phone number, plus connects you to the statewide index of court filings maintained by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.

How to Search Gilmer County Criminal Records

Going to the clerk office in Ellijay is the fastest way to search criminal court records in Gilmer County. Staff can look up cases by name or case number and make copies for you. Copy fees are $0.10 per page under Georgia law. The first 15 minutes of search time cost nothing under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71. After that, the office can charge the hourly rate of the lowest paid employee who can do the work. Most criminal record lookups in Gilmer County are quick. They rarely take more than a few minutes for a single case.

Criminal court records in Georgia are public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70. You can ask to see them without giving a reason. The clerk has three business days to respond. This rule covers Gilmer County and all 158 other Georgia counties. You can also mail a written request to 1 Broad Street, Suite 105, Ellijay, GA 30540 if you cannot visit in person. Include the full name of the person, case numbers if you have them, and payment for copies.

When searching Gilmer County criminal records, these details help:

• Full name of the person you want to look up
• Date of birth or age if known
• Case number if available
• Whether the case is a felony or misdemeanor

Criminal Case Types in Gilmer County

Gilmer County Superior Court takes felony cases. These include drug trafficking, armed robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and other serious crimes. State Court handles misdemeanors. Simple battery, minor drug possession, DUI, shoplifting, and criminal trespass are common charges at this level. Magistrate Court deals with preliminary hearings, bond settings, and warrant applications. Each of these courts creates records that the Gilmer County Clerk of Superior Court stores and maintains.

Gilmer County is part of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit, sharing judicial resources with Fannin County and other mountain counties. The District Attorney handles felony prosecutions across the circuit, while the Solicitor General manages misdemeanor cases. Both offices create documents that become part of the criminal court record. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72, records from pending criminal investigations may not be open to the public. Once the investigation ends, most records become available. Basic docket info and court dates are usually available even for open cases in Gilmer County.

Note: Juvenile cases in Gilmer County have different access rules and are not typically open to public view.

Gilmer County Records Online Access

Gilmer County does not run its own online court records search portal. For online access, use statewide tools. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority indexes filings from all 159 Georgia counties. GSCCCA mostly tracks real estate and lien records, but it can point you to the right clerk for criminal case data. A standard account is $14.95 per month. Premium access costs $29.95 monthly.

The E-Access to Court Records portal is another option. It connects you to case data from courts across the state. You need an account to search. For Gilmer County criminal records, this lets you check case status from home without driving up to Ellijay. The Georgia Supreme Court Docket Search covers appellate cases if a criminal case from Gilmer County went to a higher court.

To get your own criminal history, visit the Gilmer County Sheriff's Office and ask for a Purpose Code U report. The GBI Criminal History Records Helpline at (404) 244-2639 option 3 can answer questions about your record. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, some criminal records can be restricted from public view. Arrests without a conviction, certain misdemeanor convictions after four years, and cases on the dead docket for more than 12 months may qualify. For arrests on or after July 1, 2013, Gilmer County residents contact the District Attorney to start the restriction process.

Record Restriction in Gilmer County

Record restriction in Georgia hides certain criminal records from public searches. It replaced the old term expungement. The records stay in the system, but the public cannot see them. Law enforcement and courts still have access. In Gilmer County, the process follows the same state rules. For arrests after July 1, 2013, contact the District Attorney. For older arrests, go through the arresting law enforcement agency. Agencies can charge up to $50, and the timeline is two weeks to 90 days.

Georgia limits each person to two misdemeanor conviction restrictions in their lifetime. Violent felonies and sexual offenses cannot be restricted. Time-expired restrictions may happen on their own if GCIC does not get a final disposition within the required timeframe. To check if your Gilmer County record qualifies, call the GBI at (404) 244-2639 option 3 for guidance.

Cities in Gilmer County

All criminal cases from cities and towns in Gilmer County go through the Superior Court or State Court in Ellijay. The courthouse on Broad Street processes and stores felony and misdemeanor filings from the entire county.

Cities and towns in Gilmer County include Ellijay and East Ellijay. Criminal cases from both areas and the surrounding unincorporated parts of the county are handled by the Gilmer County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Gilmer County in the north Georgia mountains. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the alleged crime happened. Check the arrest location if you are not sure which county to contact.