Georgia courts continue to prepare for jury trials as judicial emergency extended another month
Georgia courts continue to prepare for jury trials as judicial emergency extended another month By Sean Evans | February 8, 2021 at 4:12 PM EST - Updated February 8 at 5:40 PM
CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Next month will mark one year since the first cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Georgia, and one year since the state Supreme Court issued its first statewide judicial emergency.
The call came on March 14th. Two days before, the Chief Justice gave guidance to courts to take measures to limit exposure to coronavirus. That included canceling tours, suspending swearing-in ceremonies and limiting those in the building to just those directly involved in cases. The court also recommended lower courts take action to suspend jury trials if necessary.
COVID-19 precautions in place as jury trials resume in Chatham Co.
COVID-19 precautions in place as jury trials resume in Chatham Co. By Sean Evans | December 17, 2020 at 1:50 PM EST - Updated December 17 at 6:54 PM
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Last week, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia extended the state-wide judicial emergency and said judges may need to consider reversing course on resuming in-person proceedings.
The plan to resume jury trials and convene a grand jury is still moving forward in Chatham County.
Grand jury summons started going out last week, with selections for the new term grand jury happening over the next few weeks. The goal right now is to convene a grand jury at the beginning of the new year.