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
Ga. Supreme Court order puts trials on hold until at least February
Citing the “rapid escalation of COVID-19 cases,” Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold D. Melton issued an order Wednesday, Dec. 23, prohibiting all jury trials, which is anticipated to continue until at least February.
Hall County court administrator Jason Stephenson said all January trials will be canceled, though the first two Superior Court trial weeks had already been canceled due to local hospitalizations and advice from District 2 Public Health.
Hall County Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene Gosselin signed a similar order Wednesday, saying the notice will be published online and in the courthouse.
Court officials will consider whether to suspend the Feb. 1 trials after the holidays, Reed-Payne said.
“Judge (John) Breakfield and Hall County State Court thank you for your patience and understanding during this time,” Reed-Payne wrote in an email.
The Hall County board of commissioner approved a request Thursday, Dec. 10, to allow State Court jury trials at the North Hall Community Center.Superior Court also canceled its January trials this week after increased COVID-19 hospitalizations. Latest
Hall County State Court Judge John G. Breakfield issued a statement Friday afternoon. Due to concerns over increasing levels of COVID-19 in Hall County, the Hall County State Court Jury Trials (Division D-Breakfield) scheduled for January 25, 2021 at the North Hall Community Center are continued until April 12, 2021, the statement said. A decision on the February 1, 2021 trial week will be made after the holidays.
The news of the change came on the same day of yet another record-breaking day for COVID-19 hospitalizations at Northeast Georgia Health System facilities. A total of 261 patients were being treated Friday for the virus, an increase of 40 from Friday. All ICU beds were occupied at the Gainesville campus of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, with only two ICU beds open at the Braselton hospital. Thirty-nine beds were available system wide.