The Supreme Court of Georgia has vacated several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the Legislature's enactment of a bill that created a new judicial circuit by splitting an existing one, after ruling the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue.

The high court decision issued Tuesday upheld the validity of Senate Bill 9, which Gov. Brian Kemp enacted in 2021 to create the Columbia Judicial Circuit by splitting Columbia County from the existing Augusta Judicial Circuit. Following the split, the Augusta Judicial Circuit consists of Richmond and Burke counties.