Jury trials scheduled in February for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, which includes the Superior Courts of Hall and Dawson counties, have been postponed due to a sudden increase in positive COVID-19 cases.
Harold D. Melton, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, entered the order today to extend the current halt to jury proceedings, according to an email statement from the Northeastern Judicial Circuit.
Jury trials scheduled for the month of February in the Hall County State Court have also been cancelled.
“While we were prepared to resume, having worked with health and county officials to implement every possible preventative protocol, the current circumstances are of grave concern,” said Kathlene F. Gosselin, Chief Judge of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit. “Jury proceedings must and will return soon, but given the still-rising case numbers and the strains already placed on our local health system, the judges are in agreement—the best course of action is to wait.”
All courts in the Northeastern Circuit will continue to conduct non-jury proceedings, doing so virtually wherever possible. A new Grand Jury, although authorized under Justice Melton’s order, will not be summoned or empaneled until mid-February at the earliest.
