Chief Justice Melton of the Georgia Supreme Court extended the judicial emergency until May 13th. Courts are still advised to proceed as possible within the current public health guidelines. The Courts of each County are establishing their own rules on what and how hearings will be proceeding. Some courts are using Zoom video conferencing to still conduct routine conferences and hearings. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions.
For the complete text of the Order:
ORDER EXTENDING DECLARATION OF STATEWIDE
JUDICIAL EMERGENCY
Pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-61, and due to the continuing statewide
emergency involving the transmission of Coronavirus/COVID-19, the
Honorable Harold D. Melton, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Georgia, does hereby extend the March 14, 2020 (amended) Order
Declaring Statewide Judicial Emergency, which would have expired on
April 13, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., until Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at 11:59
p.m., unless otherwise further modified or extended. The Chief Justice
will provide notice as to the expected termination of the Order at least
one week in advance to allow courts to plan the transition to fuller
operations.
With regard to matters not deemed essential functions under the
Statewide Judicial Emergency Order, courts and litigants are
encouraged to proceed to the extent feasible and consistent with public
health guidance, for example through the use of teleconferences and
videoconferences, to reduce backlogs when the judicial emergency ends.
With regard to all matters in this challenging time, all lawyers are
reminded of their obligations of professionalism.
It is ordered, pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-63, that notice and service
of a copy of this Order shall immediately be sent to the judges and clerks
of all courts in this State and to the clerk of the Georgia Court of Appeals,
such service to be accomplished through means to assure expeditious
receipt, which include electronic means; and
It is further ordered that notice shall also be sent to the media, the
State Bar of Georgia, and the officials and entities listed below and shall
constitute sufficient notice of the issuance of this Order to the affected
parties, counsel for the affected parties, and the public.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 6th day of April, 2020
Chief Justice Harold D. Melton
Supreme Court of Georgia