---
title: "Samuel M. Barth | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-m-barth-ga-magistrate-5a6f6f4da5ddae58aaa43296"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-25"
---

# Samuel M. Barth

Oconee County Magistrate Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Oconee County Magistrate Court
- State: Georgia
- Role: Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-08-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### electronic devices and recording

Scope: statewide

Georgia's class-specific Uniform Court Rules govern electronic devices and recording in state trial courts. Before using recording, photography, livestreaming, or similar courtroom technology, confirm the governing rule and the assigned court's procedure.

Evidence excerpt: Uniform Superior, Juvenile, Magistrate, Municipal and Probate Court Rules

[Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules](https://www.gasupreme.us/rules/amendments-to-rules)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/5a6f6f4da5ddae58aaa43296/)
- [Official roster](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/5a6f6f4da5ddae58aaa43296/)
- [Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules](https://www.gasupreme.us/rules/amendments-to-rules)
- [Judicial Council of Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/6a7a0fbe21dbc76d8a7d573f/)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-m-barth-ga-magistrate-5a6f6f4da5ddae58aaa43296",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-m-barth-ga-magistrate-5a6f6f4da5ddae58aaa43296",
      "name": "Samuel M. Barth | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Samuel M. Barth, Oconee County Magistrate Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-08-25",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-m-barth-ga-magistrate-5a6f6f4da5ddae58aaa43296#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-m-barth-ga-magistrate-5a6f6f4da5ddae58aaa43296#judge",
      "name": "Samuel M. Barth",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-m-barth-ga-magistrate-5a6f6f4da5ddae58aaa43296",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Oconee County Magistrate Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/5a6f6f4da5ddae58aaa43296/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Georgia",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/georgia"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Samuel M. Barth",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-m-barth-ga-magistrate-5a6f6f4da5ddae58aaa43296"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Private practice at Hanks, Ballard & Barth, LLC since 2015
- Associate Magistrate Judge, Oconee County, GA (appointed 2016, reappointed 2020)
- Chief Municipal Judge, Walnut Grove, GA — Hired in 2017 to lead the Walnut Grove Municipal Court
- Associate Judge, City of Porterdale, GA — Serves when not in session at other municipal courts; practices law locally when court is closed
- John M. Ott, Chief Superior Court Judge, Alcovy Judicial Circuit

### Education


### Additional information

- Chief Municipal Judge, Social Circle, GA — Appointed June 15, 2026, following the retirement of Judge Robbie Ballard, with a two‐year contract authorized by the Social Circle City Council
- focusing on domestic relations, criminal defense, and other litigation
- Licensed Georgia judge serving as Chief Municipal Judge in multiple municipalities, including Walnut Grove and Social Circle, and as an Associate Judge in Porterdale, GA
- Judge Barth is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the Georgia Supreme Court, and the Georgia Court of Appeals



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Uniform Municipal Court Rules, December 31, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-9acfd5d59c7a383c114b177a) — Municipal Court proceedings, including expressly stated civil/criminal limitations. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://assets.georgiacourts.gov/2/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/01171708/UNIFORM-MUNICIPAL-COURT-RULES-12312025.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.
- [Georgia Magistrate Court Rule 15 — virtual proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-92c085addd8bb83007e0ba04) — Georgia Magistrate Courts only. Virtual proceedings; consent, exceptions and judicial orders control. Dated 2023 source, later amendments not exhaustively certified. [Official source](https://www.gasupreme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Order-approving-Magistrate-videoconferencing-rules_entered.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.