Public access.

- Courthouse is a public building, and as a matter of course the public does not require any permission to enter therein at suitable times and under reasonable regulations. All persons must be allowed equal privileges, both as to access to documents and as to reasonable space within which to transact business incident to the examination of the public records. Atlanta Title & Trust Co. v. Tidwell, 173 Ga. 499, 160 S.E. 620 (1931).

The expression "county officers," as used in this section, refers to those officers who are such in the strict sense of the term - that is, those who are constitutional county officers; and the officers are such, under the provisions of the Constitution, as shall be elected under Ga. Const. 1976, Art. IX, Sec. I, Para. VIII (see, now, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. IX, Sec. I, Para. III). It does not apply to a city court solicitor. Graham v. Merritt, 165 Ga. 489, 141 S.E. 298 (1928) (see O.C.G.A. § 36-9-6).

Justice of the peace (now magistrate) elected by the people is not a "county officer" within the meaning of this section, and therefore is not, as a matter of law or right, entitled to have a room in the courthouse for use as an office or place of holding court. McDonald v. Marshall, 185 Ga. 438, 195 S.E. 571 (1938) (see O.C.G.A. § 36-9-6).

Cited in Turner v. Johnston, 183 Ga. 176, 187 S.E. 864 (1936); Truesdel v. Freeney, 186 Ga. 288, 197 S.E. 783 (1938).

Judges' and clerks' offices at courthouse.

- Judges of the probate courts and clerks of the superior courts, being constitutional county officers, have a right to maintain their offices in the county courthouse, unless special circumstances make it impractical for the judges and clerks to be located there. 1978 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 78-15.