While all types of cases are currently being heard throughout the Appalachian Judicial Circuit, Fannin County will begin convening grand juries again November 9.
“Our communities have been hit hard by the global pandemic,” Appalachian Judicial Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Brenda Weaver said. “As the COVID-19 outbreak in Georgia continues, the Appalachian Judicial Circuit is continually working to balance legitimate public health considerations with the necessity to maintain fair and effective administration of justice for citizens and communities within our circuit.”
The Appalachian Judicial Circuit has been addressing cases since the first Judicial Emergency Order was put in place by Chief Justice Melton of the Georgia Supreme Court in March of this year.
“At first, pursuant to the Supreme Court’s Judicial Emergency Order, our courts were confined to hearing only emergency civil cases and handling non-jury criminal cases involving incarcerated defendants,” Weaver said. “However, within weeks, our circuit had the ability to conduct full hearings in person, with appropriate health precautions, or virtually using videoconferencing for the safety of all parties. Since that time, hundreds of cases and matters have been addressed within our circuit, which have involved both emergency and non-emergency issues.”
The Supreme Court has authorized the empaneling of grand juries as of Thursday, September 10.
While Fannin County will convene November 9, Gilmer County will convene October 19 and Pickens County will convene November 16.
The following safety practices, which are based on guidelines from the Georgia Department of Health and “Guidance for Resuming In-Person Grand Jury Proceedings,” developed by the state Judicial COVID-19 Task Force, and approved by the Judicial Council, will be used in order to guarantee people’s safety:
•Strict social distancing guidelines will be required (6 feet or greater);
•Large rooms will be used for all proceedings;
•Temperature checks at the door of the courthouse will be performed, with those registering 100.4 or higher being excluded from entering the courthouse;
•All individuals who enter courtrooms, grand jury rooms or jury assembly rooms must wear masks, and witnesses must wear face shields when testifying before grand jurors or before trial jurors in jury trials;
•Arrival times for witnesses and groups of potential jurors will be staggered;
•Technology will be used whenever possible to minimize contact between persons;
•Use of hand sanitizer is strictly enforced;
•Cleaning and disinfection of any common surface area in frequent use shall be performed regularly;
•Jurors who are selected to serve as members of the grand jury shall notify the District Attorney if they show any symptoms of illness, even mild symptoms, during their grand jury service or have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual;
•Food and drink, if provided, will be individually packaged;
•Questionnaires will be mailed with the summons to potential jurors in order to screen for vulnerable persons and those with known COVID-19 risks; and,
•All potential jurors who have not been excused shall call in 48 hours before the date you have been directed to report in order to confirm that you or a family member are not experiencing any current COVID-19 symptoms and/or to confirm the date and time that you are to report has not been changed.