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 orders granting relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-62 (b) and recent 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 and Updates site and the Supreme Court of Georgia Information on COVID-19 Court Operating Guidelines and Court Guidance for more resources.

Orders in the column “Judicial Circuit Orders granting relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements pursuant to OCGA. Sec 38-3-62 (b)” provide chief superior court judges and chief state court judges the authority to grant relief from statutory speedy trial requirements in their respective courts, as specified. The authority to grant such relief is in effect until June 30, 2023, however, the duration of the relief granted under this subsection may extend beyond that date. OCGA § 38-3-62 (b) (13).

 

 

Judicial Circuit Counties Judicial Circuit Orders Granting Relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements Pursuant to OCGA. Sec 38-3-62(b) Recent Local Emergency Orders
Alapaha Circuit Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook, Lanier
Alcovy Circuit Newton, Walton
Appalachian Judicial Circuit Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens
Atlanta Circuit Fulton

Atlanta_Fulton_Superior_2022 12 27_SSTR,

Atlanta_Fulton_Superior_2022 04 28_SSTR,

Atlanta_Fulton_Superior_2021 09 28_SSTR

Atlantic Circuit Bryan, Evans, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Tattnall

Atlantic_Bryan_Superior_2021 11 01_SSTR,

Atlantic_Bryan_Superior_2021 07 01_SSTR,

Atlantic_Evans_Superior_2021 07 01_SSTR,

Atlantic_Liberty_Superior_2021 07 01_SSTR,

Atlantic_Long_Superior_2021 07 01_SSTR,

Atlantic_McIntosh_Superior_2021 08 16_SSTR,

Atlantic_McIntosh_Superior_2021 07 01_SSTR,

Atlantic_Tattnall_Superior_2021 10 15_SSTR,

Atlantic_Tattnall_Superior_2021 07 01_SSTR

Atlantic_Bryan_2022 04 06_LJE,

Atlantic_McIntosh_2021 08 16_LJE

Augusta Circuit Burke, Columbia, Richmond

Augusta_Burke_2021 08 27_LJE,

Augusta_Burke_2021 07 30_LJE,

Augusta_Burke_2021 07 01_LJE,

Columbia County Order of Judicial Emergency,

Augusta_Richmond_2021 08 30_LJE,

Augusta_Richmond_2021 07 30_LJE,

Augusta_Richmond_2021_07 01_LJE

Bell-Forsyth
Judicial
Circuit
Forsyth
Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit Cherokee

Blue Ridge_Cherokee_Superior_2021 10 14_SSTR,

Blue Ridge_Cherokee_Superior_2021 08 14_SSTR,

Blue Ridge_Cherokee_State_2021 10 25_SSTR

Blue Ridge_Cherokee_2021 08 05_LJE
Brunswick Judicial Circuit Appling, Camden, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Wayne

Brunswick_Camden_2024 01 08_LJE

Brunswick_Jeff Davis 2024 01 08_LJE

Brunswick_Appling_2021 09 01_LJE

IDALIA_Brunswick_Appling_2023 08 29_LJE

IDALIA_Brunswick_Camden_2023 08 29_LJE

IDALIA_Brunswick_Glynn_2023 08 30_LJE

IDALIA_Brunswick_Jeff Davis_2023 08 29_LJE

IDALIA_Brunswick_Wayne_2023 08 29_LJE

Chattahoochee Circuit Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Talbot, Taylor Chattahoochee_Muscogee_Superior_2021 07 30_SSTR Chattahoochee_Taylor_2021 08 27_LJE
Cherokee Judicial Circuit Bartow, Gordon

Cherokee_Bartow_Superior_2021 07 01_SSTR,

Cherokee_Gordon_Superior_2021 07 01_SSTR

Clayton Judicial Circuit Clayton Clayton_Clayton_Superior_2022 12 27_SSTR

 

Clayton_Clayton_2022 12 28_LJE

Cobb Judicial Circuit Cobb Cobb_Cobb_Superior_2021 06 30_SSTR
Columbia Circuit Columbia Columbia_Columbia_Superior_2021 08 26_SSTR
Conasauga Judicial Circuit Murray, Whitfield
Cordele Judicial Circuit Ben Hill, Crisp, Dooly, Wilcox

Cordele_Ben Hill_Superior_2023 04 24_SSTR,  

Cordele_Ben Hill_Superior_2022 04 12_SSTR,

Cordele_Ben Hill_Superior_2021 07 08_SSTR, 

Cordele_Crisp_Superior_2022 11 14_SSTR,

Cordele_Crisp_Superior_2022 03 15_SSTR,

Cordele_Crisp_Superior_2021 07 08_SSTR,

Cordele_Dooly_Superior_2022 11 14_SSTR,

Cordele_Dooly_Superior_2022 03 15_SSTR,

Cordele_Dooly_Superior_2021 07 08_SSTR,

Cordele_Wilcox_2023 04 12_SSTR,

Cordele_Wilcox_Superior_2022 04 12_SSTR,

Cordele_Wilcox_Superior_2021 07 08_SSTR

Coweta Judicial Circuit Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether, Troup
Dougherty Judicial Circuit Dougherty

Doughtery_Dougherty_Superior_2022 11 10_SSTR,

Dougherty_Dougherty_Superior_2022 03 11_SSTR,

Dougherty_Dougherty_Superior_2021 07 16_SSTR

Douglas Judicial Circuit Douglas
Dublin Judicial Circuit Johnson, Laurens, Treutlen, Twiggs

IDALIA_Dublin_Johnson_2023 08 30_LJE

IDALIA_Dublin_Laurens_2023 08 29_LJE

IDALIA_Dublin_Twiggs_2023 08 29_LJE

Eastern Circuit Chatham Eastern_Chatham_Superior_2021 07 01_SSTR

IDALIA_Eastern_Chatham_23 08 29_LJE

IDALIA_Eastern_Chatham_23 08 30_LJE

Enotah Circuit Lumpkin, Towns, Union, White

Flint Judicial Circuit Henry

Flint_Henry_Superior_2021 07 01_SSTR,

Flint_Henry_Superior_2021 06 30_SSTR

Griffin Judicial Circuit Fayette, Spalding, Pike, Upson
Gwinnett Circuit Gwinnett
Houston Circuit Houston
Lookout Mountain Circuit Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker
Macon Circuit Bibb, Crawford, Peach
Middle Judicial Circuit Candler, Emanuel, Jefferson, Toombs, Washington
Mountain Circuit Habersham, Rabun, Stephens
Northeastern Judicial Circuit Dawson,
Hall

Northern Circuit Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison, Oglethorpe

Northern_Franklin_Superior_2022 03 18_SSTR,

Northern_Franklin_Superior_2021 09 17_SSTR,

Northern Hart_Superior_2022 02 16_SSTR,

Northern_Hart_Superior_2021 08 13_SSTR

Ocmulgee Circuit Baldwin, Greene, Hancock, Jasper, Jones, Morgan, Putnam , Wilkinson
Oconee Judicial Circuit Bleckley, Dodge, Montgomery, Pulaski, Telfair, Wheeler IDALIA_Oconee_Dodge_2023 08 30_LJE
Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Bulloch, Effingham, Jenkins, Screven

Ogeechee_Effingham_2024 02 23_LJE

Ogeechee_Jenkins_2024 01 09_LJE

Ogeechee_Screven_2024 01 09_LJE

IDALIA_Ogeechee_Effingham_2023 08 30_LJE

IDALIA_Ogeechee_Jenkins_2023 08 30_LJE

Pataula Judicial Circuit Clay, Early, Miller, Quitman, Randolph, Seminole, Terrell
Paulding Circuit Paulding
Piedmont Circuit Banks, Barrow, Jackson

Rockdale Circuit Rockdale

Rockdale_Rockdale_Superior_2021 12 29_SSTR,

Rockdale_Rockdale_Superior_2021 07 01_SSTR,

Rockdale_Rockdale_Superior_2021 06 30_SSTR,

Rockdale_Rockdale_Superior_2021 06 27_SSTR

Rome Judicial Circuit Floyd

Southern Circuit Brooks, Colquitt, Echols, Lowndes, Thomas

Southern_Brooks_Superior_2021 06 22_SSTR,

Southern_Colquitt_Superior_2021 06 22_SSTR,

Southern_Lowndes_Superior_2021 06 21_SSTR,

Southern_Lowdes_State_2021 07 01_SSTR,

Southern_Thomas_Superior_2021 07 06_SSTR

South Georgia Circuit Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Grady, Mitchell
Southwestern Circuit Lee, Macon, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Webster
Stone Mountain Circuit Dekalb Stone Mountain_DeKalb_Superior_2021 07 06_SSTR
Tallapoosa Circuit Haralson,
Polk
Tifton Circuit Irwin, Tift, Turner, Worth
Toombs Judicial Circuit Glascock, Lincoln, McDuffie, Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes
Towaliga Circuit Butts, Lamar, Monroe
Waycross Judicial Circuit Bacon,
Brantley, Charlton, Coffee, Pierce, Ware

IDALIA_Waycross_ALL COUNTIES 2023 08 30_LJE

IDALIA_Ware_and_Pierce_County_2023 08 31_LJE

Western Circuit Clarke, Oconee