The COVID-19 judicial emergency for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit was allowed to expire this past week, and that means jury proceedings will be returning to the Hall County Courthouse.
Court Administrator Jason Stephenson announced the changes in a Friday press statement, noting that Chief Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin allowed the circuit-wide emergency to expire on Monday June 7. She did so in anticipation of the termination of the statewide judicial emergency at the end of the month. The local emergency declaration was enacted on March 13, 2020 at the onset of the COVID pandemic.
The expiration of the order means the court no longer needs larger, off-site locations for jury trials. Hall County State Court trials will no longer be held at the North Hall Community Center. In addition, Superior Court proceedings that had been scheduled to take place at the Lanier Technical College Ramsey Conference Center will now take place at the Hall County Courthouse. The Hall County Commission had given approval in April to allow Superior Court proceedings to move to the Lanier Tech campus off Ga. 365. That move would have included the high-profile trial of the suspects accused in the murder of Hall County Deputy Blane Dixon.
Even though the health emergency has now expired, Stephenson said in his prepared statement that the court continues to recognize the public health threat posed by COVID-19. With that threat in mind, the following health guidelines will remain in place:
- Those who have court business but who are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19 should remain at home and alert the court before appearing in person
- All classes of court are encouraged to use virtual hearings when appropriate.
- Masking, while not mandated, is strongly encouraged.
- Social distancing requirements have been relaxed, but the court calendar will be restricted to minimize crowds. The courts will also use staggered report times.
For more information on court proceedings, follow this link to the Northeastern Judicial Circuit website.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/6/1013244/all-jury-trials-return-to-hall-county-courthouse-as-local-judicial-emergency-lapses