Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Christopher Brasher has declared a “judicial emergency” due to the coronavirus pandemic and suspended jury trials for 30 days effective immediately.
Brasher issued the order this morning stating that no jurors or grand jurors should report and no jury trials will be held.
The order also declares that no non-essential matters shall be heard by the courts during the 30-day time period unless they can be conducted via video or teleconferencing.
The court suspended or extended all deadlines including statute of limitation; the time within which to try case for which demand for speedy trial has been filed;  the time within which to hold commitment hearing; the time within which to return bill of indictment or an accusation or to bring matter before grand jury; and/or  such other legal proceedings as determined to be necessary. including calendars involving large numbers of litigants. lawyers. or other persons.
 

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Collin Kelley is the executive editor of Atlanta Intown, Georgia Voice, and the Rough Draft newsletter. He has been a journalist for nearly four decades and is also an award-winning poet and novelist.

24 replies on “Fulton County Court declares ‘judicial emergency’ due to coronavirus, suspends jury trials for 30 days”

  11. Has this suspension time frame been extended? We’re nowhere near the end of this COVID-19 coronavirus crisis, and bringing lots of people to a jury duty room after only 30 days (when exactly was that suspension set to expire?), meaning starting jury duties up again in mid-April , seems dangerous to public health, especially given the recent early-April news that the Atlanta area hospitals will be overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases starting in mid-April and going for many weeks or months after that.

  12. Has this suspension time frame been extended? We’re nowhere near the end of this COVID-19 coronavirus crisis, and bringing lots of people to a jury duty room after only 30 days (when exactly was that suspension set to expire?), meaning starting jury duties up again in mid-April , seems dangerous to public health, especially given the recent early-April news that the Atlanta area hospitals will be overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases starting in mid-April and going for many weeks or months after that.

  13. UPDATE:
    At 9:30am on Wednesday morning, April 8, 2020, I found this written on the webpage linked below …

    This information applies to Superior, State, and Probate Court Jurors
    Attention Jurors:
    Pursuant to Court order, all jurors summoned for service from March 16th through May 13th are excused
    from reporting and service is complete.

    For all other jurors, please call 404-612-4600 (option 1) the evening prior to your service date, to determine
    reporting status.

    https://www.fultoncourt.org/jurors/

    I assume this means if your jury summons has a “SERVICE DATE” inside this time range (March 16 to May 13) you do not even have to fill out the online or paper juror questionnaire forms.

    And maybe they’ll again extend this suspension of jury duties and trials depending on how COVID-19 progresses in the Atlanta area? I guess (hope) the website linked above will be kept up-to-date, so check it often if you’re affected by any kind of jury summons.

  14. UPDATE:
    At 9:30am on Wednesday morning, April 8, 2020, I found this written on the webpage linked below …
    This information applies to Superior, State, and Probate Court Jurors
    Attention Jurors:
    Pursuant to Court order, all jurors summoned for service from March 16th through May 13th are excused
    from reporting and service is complete.
    For all other jurors, please call 404-612-4600 (option 1) the evening prior to your service date, to determine
    reporting status.
    https://www.fultoncourt.org/jurors/
    I assume this means if your jury summons has a “SERVICE DATE” inside this time range (March 16 to May 13) you do not even have to fill out the online or paper juror questionnaire forms.
    And maybe they’ll again extend this suspension of jury duties and trials depending on how COVID-19 progresses in the Atlanta area? I guess (hope) the website linked above will be kept up-to-date, so check it often if you’re affected by any kind of jury summons.

  15. I am 72 years old and have been summoned to jury duty on May 6, 2020. I am “sheltering at home” as of today, April 9, 2020 as required by the governor. Is it necessary for me to travel to my bank to get my questionnaire notarized that I prefer not to serve? Mary M Holladay

  16. I am 72 years old and have been summoned to jury duty on May 6, 2020. I am “sheltering at home” as of today, April 9, 2020 as required by the governor. Is it necessary for me to travel to my bank to get my questionnaire notarized that I prefer not to serve? Mary M Holladay

  17. Mary Holladay, from the notice on this official Fulton County Courts government website … https://www.fultoncourt.org/jurors/ … you don’t have to serve. And it would seem that you wouldn’t even need to do the questionnaire at all … because that same webpage says you are already “excused from reporting” and your “service is complete” since the May 6 date you said your jury duty notice has on it as the original report-to-court date falls inside the “summoned for service” date range they’re talking about on that court juror information webpage.

  18. Mary Holladay, from the notice on this official Fulton County Courts government website … https://www.fultoncourt.org/jurors/ … you don’t have to serve. And it would seem that you wouldn’t even need to do the questionnaire at all … because that same webpage says you are already “excused from reporting” and your “service is complete” since the May 6 date you said your jury duty notice has on it as the original report-to-court date falls inside the “summoned for service” date range they’re talking about on that court juror information webpage.

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