History of and the

Judges of the Probate Court

of Bibb County, Georgia

Originally, the Probate Court was known as the “Inferior Court,” a name assigned to it from 1823 until 1851. In 1851, the General Assembly created the “Court of Ordinary,” which took over the Inferior Court. The presiding judicial officer over the Court of Ordinary was called the “Ordinary.” The Court remained so named until January 1, 1975, when, by Act of the General Assembly in 1974, the name was changed to the Probate Court, with the presiding judicial officer being called “Judge of the Probate Court.”

The following persons have served as Ordinary or Judge of the Probate Court of Bibb County:

 1. Jan., 1852 - Dec., 1855                   Philemon Tracy, Ordinary

 2. Jan., 1856 - Jan., 1860                    W. T. Massey, Ordinary

 3. Feb., 1860 - Jun., 1868                   William M. Riley, Ordinary

 4. Jul., 1868 - Mar., 1888                   C. T. Ward, Ordinary

 5. Apr., 1888 - Dec., 1888                  J. A. McManus, Ordinary

 6. Jan., 1889 - Feb., 1927                   C. M. Wiley, Ordinary

 * Feb., 1927 - Mar., 1927                  Vivian R. Roberts, Superior Court Clerk as Acting Ordinary

 7. Mar., 1927 - Jul., 1969                   Walter C. Stevens, Ordinary

 * Jul., 1969 - Oct., 1969                    J. Taylor Phillips, State Court Judge as Acting Ordinary

 8. Oct., 1969 - Dec., 1975                  William K. Stanley, Jr., Ordinary

      Jan. 1, 1969 - Jul. 9, 1980              William K. Stanley, Jr., Judge of Probate Court

 * Jul. 10, 1980 - Aug. 27, 1980        J. Taylor Phillips, State Court Judge as Acting Probate Judge

 9. Aug. 28, 1980 - Feb. 10, 1989        Tilman E. Self, Judge of Probate Court

 * Feb. 11, 1989 - Apr. 17, 1989         J. Taylor Phillips, State Court Judge as Acting Probate Judge

10.Apr. 18, 1989 -                              William J. Self, II, Judge of Probate Court

Since at least October, 1969, the Judge of the Probate Court of Bibb County has been an attorney admitted to the practice of law in Georgia. By Act of the General Assembly in 1986, there was created what are known as “Article 6 Probate Courts.” The Act first applied to probate courts in counties having a population of 150,000 or more according to the census of 1980; by subsequent Acts of the General Assembly, the provisions now apply in all counties having a population of 96,000 or more according to the next preceding census. In Article 6 Probate Courts, the Judge must be an attorney of the same age and practice experience as is required for Judges of the Superior Courts of the State. The law does provide that any sitting judge may continue to serve and be re-elected, in which event the provisions of Article 6 do not apply unless and until the Judge meets the necessary requirements. In Article 6 Probate Courts, the parties have a right to trial by jury and full adjudication of the case at the initial trial level, and the Court has enhanced jurisdiction, including concurrent jurisdiction with the Superior Court.. Appeals from Article 6 Probate Courts are taken directly to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court, as appropriate. In non-Article 6 Probate Courts (all other probate courts in Georgia) matters are taken on appeal for a de novo trial to the Superior Court, where the parties are entitled to trial by jury and the Judge is an attorney with the requisite experience.