Emergency Judicial Orders

A judicial emergency is defined as a state of emergency declared by the Governor, a public health emergency under O.C.G.A. 31-12-1.1, a local emergency under O.C.G.A. § 36-69-2, or another serious emergency when the emergency substantially endangers or infringes upon the normal functioning of the judicial system, including the ability of persons or litigants to have access to the court or meet time deadlines imposed by court order or rule, statute, or administrative rule or regulation. O.C.G.A. § 38-3-60(2).

Below is a list of circuits and courts that have filed judicial emergency orders. Each order contains specific details for each county. Click on the links to view an order for a particular circuit or county. Please see our COVID-19 Preparedness site for more resources.

Supreme Court of Georgia Information on COVID-19 Court Operating Guidelines and Court Guidance

Orders regarding the Statewide Judicial Emergency, which expired on June 30, 2021, at 11:59 p.m., remain on this page for informational purposes. Subsequent orders regarding local judicial emergencies and orders granting relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements are found in the column “Orders Granting Relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements and Local Emergency Orders.”

Judicial Circuit Impacted Counties Orders Granting Relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements and Local Emergency Orders Notes/General Information
Alapaha Circuit Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook, Lanier Magistrate Court of Cook (Notice)
Probate Court of Cook
The Magistrate Court of Berrien County is closed and will reopen December 4, 2020,
Probate court of Cook county is closed reopening - 01/18/2021
Alapaha- Notice sites for Berrien, Cook Probate,
Lanier County Clerk of Court's office closed through January 13, 2021 (12/30/20)
Alcovy Circuit
Updated 07/01/2020
Newton, Walton Public notices regarding judicial emergency can be found at https://www.alcovycircuit.com/,
Walton County Courthouse closure has been extended through July 21, 2020.
Appalachian Judicial Circuit
Updated 03/17/21
Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens Order Establishing Jury Committee (09/21/20),
Gilmer County Courthouse has reopened as of July 13, 2020. ,
Temporary Safety Measures Regarding Operations for All Classes of Court (10/29/21)
Atlanta Circuit Fulton Superior Court of Fulton County Order Granting Relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements Atlanta Circuit – Notice sites for Superior, State, Juvenile, Probate, Magistrate
Fulton State Court Standing Orders (3) during the Judicial Emergency Order
Magistrate Court of Fulton County Standing Order on Proceedings (7/13/20)
Atlantic Circuit
Updated 05/29/20
Bryan, Evans, Liberty, Long, McIntosh (12/15/20), Tattnall Superior Court of Bryan County Declaration of Judicial Emergency - 4/6/22,
Superior Court of Bryan County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements,
Superior Court of Evans County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements,
Superior Court of Liberty County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements,
Superior Court of Long County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements,
Superior Court of McIntosh County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements,
Superior Court of Tattnall County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements,
McIntosh County Local Judicial Emergency Order
Notice sites for Bryan, Liberty, Evans, Long, Tattnall,
Alternate Facilities Orders, Evans, McIntosh & Long Counties (May 4, 2021), Alternate Facility Order for Bryan Superior Court
Municipal Court of Ludowici, Long
Augusta Circuit Burke, Columbia, Richmond Richmond County Local Emergency Order (8/24/21 extension)
Superior Court of Burke County Local Emergency Order (8/24/21 extension)
Superior Court of Columbia County Local Emergency Order
Notice sites for Columbia, Richmond,
401 WAL TON WAY & CRAIG-BOUGHTON elementary school as the Augusta-Richmond County Judicial Center John B. Ruffin, Jr. Courthouse Annexes are designated for the conduct of judicial business,
Richmond County Alternate Facility for Jury Selection (11/05/20)
Bell-Forsyth
Judicial
Circuit update
05/15/20
Forsyth Notice site for Forsyth,
Forsyth County Courthouse Closure, January 5, 2021
Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit
(01/15/21)
Cherokee Superior Court of Cherokee County Local Emergency Order (8/16/21 extension),
Superior Court of Cherokee County Order Granting Relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Amended Order on Public Access
Notice site for Cherokee
Brunswick Judicial Circuit Appling, Camden, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Wayne Superior Court of Appling County Local Emergency Order Wayne County Courthouse Closure - January 26-February 1, 2021,
Glynn County Courthouse Closure, June 5 Order,
Clerk of Superior Court of Camden closure Order - October 21st - 26th
Chattahoochee Circuit
Updated 3/16/20
Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Talbot, Taylor Superior Court of Muscogee County Order Granting Relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements,
Taylor County Local Emergency Order
The Chattahoochee County Courthouse is closed, reopening August 5, 2020. Court business will be conducted at Chattahoochee Recreation Center and Old City Hall
Notice site for the Chattahoochee Circuit,
Talbot County Alternate Court Facility Order (June 15-22)
Cherokee Judicial Circuit Bartow, Gordon Superior Court of Bartow County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Superior Court of Gordon County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Clayton Judicial Circuit
Updated 2/08/21
Clayton Notice site for Clayton (separated by court class in the left menu).
Cobb Judicial Circuit
Updated 2/23/21
Cobb Superior Court of Cobb County Order Granting Relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements Notice site for Cobb
Municipal Court of Acworth (09/11/20),
Municipal Court of Kennesaw (11/10/20),
Municipal Court Notice of Clarification,
Municipal Court of Marietta (12/09/20) ,
Magistrate Court of Cobb (Notice)
Probate Court of Cobb (Notice)
Columbia Circuit Columbia Superior Court of Columbia County Local Emergency Order,
Columbia County Speedy Trial
Conasauga Judicial Circuit Murry
(5/4/21)
, Whitfield
(5/4/21)
Cordele Judicial Circuit Ben Hill, Crisp, Dooly, Wilcox Superior Court of Ben Hill County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Superior Court of Crisp County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Superior Court of Dooly County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Superior Court of Wilcox County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
The Wilcox County Courthouse is closed and will reopen November 20, 2020.
Coweta Judicial Circuit
Updated 09/21/20
Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether, Troup Municipal Court of Grantville, Coweta
Meriwether Superior Court Clerk's office closure, January 5, 2021
Dougherty Judicial Circuit
(02/09/21)
Dougherty Superior Court of Dougherty County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements Municipal Court of Albany, Dougherty
Douglas Judicial Circuit Douglas Superior Court of Douglas County Local Emergency Order Douglas County Court Operating Procedures (03/03/22)
Eastern Circuit
Updated 3/24/20
Chatham Superior Court of Chatham County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements,
Eastern Judicial Circuit Local Emergency Order
Order Establishing Guidelines for In-Person Court Proceedings (06/03/20) Juvenile Court of Chatham
Municipal Court of Bloomingdale, Chatham
Notice site for Chatham
Order on Temporary Designation of an Alternative Facility for the Conduct of Judicial Business (Grand Jury)
Enotah Circuit Lumpkin, Towns, Union, White Notice sites for Lumpkin, Towns, Union, White
Flint Judicial Circuit
(07/01/20)
Henry Superior Court of Henry County First Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Superior Court of Henry County Second Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Notice sites for Superior, Juvenile, State, Probate, Magistrate
Griffin Judicial Circuit Fayette, Spalding, Pike, Upson Superior Court of Spalding County Local Emergency Order Upson County Courthouse closure order (01/11/21)
Gwinnett Circuit
Updated 3/30/20
Gwinnett Municipal Court of Duluth (04/08/20) ,
Municipal Court of Suwanee (02/08/21)
Notice site for Gwinnett
Houston Circuit Houston Notice site for Houston
Lookout Mountain Circuit (1/29/2021) Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker The Walker County Courthouse is closed and will reopen December 7, 2020
Media Advisory for Catoosa County court operations for 11/20 through 11/27
Order for Closure of Offices at Catoosa County Court House
Notice site for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit
Macon Circuit Bibb, Crawford, Peach Superior Court of Bibb County Local Emergency Order Macon-Bibb Guidelines for Court Proceedings for Courts in the Macon Judicial Circuit.
Notice site for Peach
Middle Judicial Circuit Candler, Emanuel, Jefferson, Toombs, Washington Jefferson County Courthouse is CLOSED from June 29, 2020 through until July 9, 2020.
Washington County Courthouse is CLOSED and will reopen July 16, 2020
Mountain Circuit
Updated 09/18/20
Habersham (09/23/20), Rabun, Stephens Notice site for Habersham, Stephens. See the Mountain Circuit 04/06 Emergency Order Amendment for information regarding the use of video conferences,
Order Establishing Jury Committee (07/30/20)
Northeastern Judicial Circuit Dawson ( 5/7/21),
Hall( 10/16/20)
Notice site for the Northeastern Circuit,
Hall County Superior and State Court Clerk's Office alternative location order (07/01/20),
Hall County alternate facility - Municipal Courtroom (10/16/20),
Flowery Branch Municipal Court - order to appear via video conference (1/12/22),
Dawson - order for temporary health measures (5/7/21 - 6/7/21),
Hall - order for temporary health measures (12/31/20 - 02/28/21)
Northern Circuit
Updated 05/29/20
Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison, Oglethorpe Superior Court of Hart County Order Granting Relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements (2.16.22),
Superior Court of Franklin County Order Granting Relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Superior Court of Oglethorpe (11/02/20)
Superior Court of Hart (02/01/21)
Superior Court of Franklin County
Emergency Order Authorizing Off-Site Jury Trial Proceedings in Hart County, Georgia (03/23/21),
Offsite Grand Jury Proceedings will convene at the Carnesville Elementary Primary School, 825 Hull Drive, Carnesville, GA 30521
Ocmulgee Circuit Baldwin, Greene, Hancock, Jasper, Jones, Morgan, Putnam , Wilkinson Notice sites for Baldwin, Jasper, Jones, Putnam.
Jones County Courthouse is closed to the public until further notice.
Oconee Judicial Circuit Bleckley, Dodge, Montgomery, Pulaski, Telfair, Wheeler Superior Court of Pulaski County Local Emergency Order Telfair Magistrate court: Closed immediately until 10/22/20
Dodge County Courthouse Annex closed through 6/28/20 .,
Telfair Magistrate court: Closed immediately until 10/22
Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Bulloch, Effingham, Jenkins, Screven Superior Court of Bulloch County Local Emergency Order,
Effingham County Local Emergency Order
Order Abolishing COVID -19 Guidelines and Local Committee - Bulloch
Order Abolishing COVID -19 Guidelines and Local Committee - Effingham
Order Abolishing COVID -19 Guidelines and Local Committee - Screven
Pataula Judicial Circuit (04/09/20) Clay, Early, Miller, Quitman, Randolph, Seminole, Terrell Municipal Court of Dawson, Terrell
Pataula Circuit notice site with Guidelines for Conducting In-Person Court Proceedings.
Paulding Circuit Paulding
Piedmont Circuit Banks, Barrow, Jackson Magistrate Court of Barrow (Notice: 3/17/20),
Municipal Court of Jefferson Updated 4/08/20
Banks, Barrow, and Jackson Order Regarding COVID Protocols(1/28/22)
Rockdale Circuit
Updated 5/11/21
Rockdale Rockdale County State Court Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements A mask is required when enter the Rockdale County Courthouse.,
Order Regarding Grand Jury - October 2020 Term of the Rockdale County
Rome Judicial Circuit
Updated 6/5/20
Floyd The Floyd County Courthouse is CLOSED to the public until June 22, 2020 (June 8 order).
Southern Circuit Brooks, Colquitt, Echols, Lowndes, Thomas Superior Court of Brooks County Local Emergency Order
Superior Court of Brooks County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Superior Court of Colquitt Local Emergency Order
Superior Court of Colquitt County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Superior Court of Echols County Local Emergency Order
Superior Court of Lowndes County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
State Court of Lowndes County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Superior Court of Thomas County Local Emergency Order
Superior Court of Thomas County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements
Brooks County Magistrate Court Closure ( 01/05/22)
South Georgia Circuit Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Grady, Mitchell The Baker County Courthouse is closed to the general public.
The Calhoun County Courthouse is closed to the general public. See the Calhoun Judicial Emergency Order for more info.
Southwestern Circuit Lee, Macon, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Webster Magistrate Court, Lee
Municipal Court of Leslie, Sumter
Stone Mountain Circuit
Updated 08/11/20
Dekalb Superior Court of DeKalb County Order Granting Relief From Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements,
Superior Court of DeKalb County Local Emergency Order
Notice sites for Superior, State, Juvenile, Probate, Magistrate
Tallapoosa Circuit Haralson (11/09/20),
Polk
Tifton Circuit Irwin, Tift, Turner, Worth Magistrate Court of Irwin (Notice)
Municipal Court of Sylvester, Worth
Toombs Judicial Circuit Glascock, Lincoln, McDuffie, Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes Wilkes County Temporary Location for Empaneling Grand Juries (11/4/20),
Glascock County Courthouse closure order (Closed through 01/03/20, reopening 01/04/20)
Towaliga Circuit Butts, Lamar, Monroe Magistrate Court of Butts (12/21/20)
Magistrate Court of Lamar
Waycross Judicial Circuit
(01/08/21)
Bacon,
Brantley (09/17/20), Charlton, Coffee, Pierce, Ware
Municipal Court of Waycross Guidelines,
Magistrate Court of Ware (12/19/21)
Pierce County Probate is closed and will reopen January 4, 2021.
Western Circuit
(06/03)
Clarke, Oconee Oconee Juvenile (03/31)
Standing Order for Court Procedures (Juvenile, Magistrate, Municipal, Probate, State, Superior)
Athens-Clarke County Courthouse is closed through July 17, 2020 for cleaning.
Athens Municipal Court Notice (04/06/20), Notice site for Clarke County
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