---
title: "T. Craig Earnest | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/t-craig-earnest"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-25"
---

# T. Craig Earnest

Clay County Superior Court · Chief Judge

## Profile

- Court: Clay County Superior Court
- State: Georgia
- Role: Chief 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

### recording devices and courtroom access

Scope: statewide

For Georgia Superior Court proceedings, statewide Rule 22 governs recording devices and courtroom recording; counsel should confirm judge approval and courtroom conditions before using recording, photographic, or comparable electronic presentation equipment.

Evidence excerpt: The new version will take effect on May 1, 2018.

[Supreme Court of Georgia, New Rule 22 approved for use of recording devices in courtrooms](https://www.gasupreme.us/new-rule-22/)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af01cdce9168f520c4ce11/)
- [Official roster](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af01cdce9168f520c4ce11/)
- [Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules](https://www.gasupreme.us/rules/amendments-to-rules)
- [Supreme Court of Georgia, New Rule 22 approved for use of recording devices in courtrooms](https://www.gasupreme.us/new-rule-22/)
- [Judicial Council of Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af01cdce9168f520c4ce11/)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/t-craig-earnest",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/t-craig-earnest",
      "name": "T. Craig Earnest | KnowJudges",
      "description": "T. Craig Earnest, Clay County Superior 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/t-craig-earnest#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/t-craig-earnest#judge",
      "name": "T. Craig Earnest",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/t-craig-earnest",
      "jobTitle": "Chief Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Clay County Superior Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://georgiacourts.knack.com/gcd2/#directory-entries/entry-details/58af01cdce9168f520c4ce11/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@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": "T. Craig Earnest",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/t-craig-earnest"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Before becoming Chief Judge, Earnest held the role of District Attorney for the Pataula Judicial Circuit since 2009, and as an Assistant District Attorney from 1999 to 2008.
- The Chief Judge of the Pataula Judicial Circuit Superior Court in southwest Georgia, serving Clay, Early, Miller, Quitman, Randolph, Seminole, and Terrell counties

### Education



### Additional information

- As DA, he was credited with creating a Problem Solving Court in the circuit



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Uniform Superior Court Rules](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-815bee855bfd141a25d75d36) — Superior Court proceedings. Collected April 9, 2026 compilation; amendments effective November 5, 2026 are future on this collection date and are not applied. 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/4/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/14025702/UNIFORM-SUPERIOR-COURT-RULES-2026_04_09.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.