As COVID-19 hospitalizations at Northeast Georgia Health System facilities continue to break records, Hall and Dawson County Superior Courts have suspended jury trials through Jan. 31, 2021.
Kathlene F. Gosselin, the Chief Judge of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, entered the order to extend the judicial emergency for the local courts last week and dated the order at 1:30 p.m. today.
On Dec. 9, Georgia’s Chief Justice Harold D. Melton modified his most recent judicial emergency order, warning that jury trials could be suspended because of worsening COVID-19 conditions across the state.
The new order signed by Gosselin does not suspend non-essential hearings in the circuit, but all courts are encouraged to use remote video technology whenever possible to avoid in-person proceedings.