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 orders granting relief from Statutory Speedy Trial Requirements pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 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.

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.

Hurricane Helene September 30, 2024, Announcement:– Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs today has issued a statewide judicial emergency order, extending certain deadlines in ongoing court proceedings due to the effects of tropical cyclone Helene.

The order’s extensions apply only in cases where parties affected by Helene certify that they were unable to file or take other required action by applicable deadlines. READ THE ORDER