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PRESS RELEASE

January 6, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT:

WENDY HOWELL

DOUGHERTY COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

229.854.0006 or 229.302.3006

[email protected]



Dougherty Judicial Circuit Cancels Jury Trials

Statewide Judicial Emergency Order Suspends Trials Indefinitely



DOUGHERTY COUNTY, GA - Harold D. Melton, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, announced today that he will soon enter a statewide Judicial Emergency Order, which again suspends all jury trials in Georgia indefinitely, due to the disturbing spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). In accordance with the statewide Order, Willie E. Lockette, Chief Judge of the Superior Court for the Dougherty Judicial Circuit, has cancelled Jury Trials scheduled to begin February 2nd, 5th, 9th, 12th, and 19th, 2021.

The Dougherty County Clerk of Court will be mailing written notices to citizens who have already been summoned for jury services to notify them that court has been cancelled and that they are not to appear on the February dates. The Clerk will also place a recorded message on the Jury Assembly Room telephone (229.878.3187), which citizens may call at any time, for information about the cancellation.

The Judicial Emergency Order only suspends Jury Trials and Grand Jury sessions. All courts in the Dougherty Judicial Circuit will continue to conduct non-jury proceedings, either in person, or by teleconference and video conference. Citizens who receive notice to appear in person at the courthouse for non-jury proceedings, or to participate by teleconference or video conference, must continue to do so.

“As we have done throughout this pandemic, we will continue to keep the health and safety of our citizens as our number one priority,” said Judge Lockette. “Hopefully, we will be able to resume conducting jury trials at some point in the near future.”

For more information, visit Dougherty.ga.us and click on the Judicial System link.