court house

Superior Court Clerk Kelli Paradise Smith (center) works with bailiffs Mike Haler, Olin “Smiley” Taylor, Joe Williams and Dave Williams in the Oglethorpe County Courthouse in Lexington. About 150 people can be summoned for a criminal trial in the county. (Katherine Davis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Superior Court Clerk Kelli Paradise Smith (center) works with bailiffs Mike Haler, Olin “Smiley” Taylor, Joe Williams and Dave Williams in the Oglethorpe County Courthouse in Lexington. About 150 people can be summoned for a criminal trial in the county. (Katherine Davis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

An inside look to navigating the courthouse

Gabrielle Gruszynski and Katherine Davis
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
On any given weekday, the Oglethorpe County Courthouse hums with steady activity — civil filings, property records and jury selections all pass through its doors. From marriage licenses to mortgages, most residents will interact with the local court system at some point.