Georgia’s chief justice has issued a new extension of a nine-month-old judicial emergency declaration addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, but he included an advisory for judges this time.

The order will expire on January 8, 2021.  Chief Justice Harold Melton left in place his earlier decisions to allow grand juries and in-person jury trials to resume. But Melton also advised judges to “remain vigilant of changing COVID-19 conditions” and be prepared to once again suspend jury trials and grand juries.

Melton said in-person jury trials may continue, for now, but Melton’s order cautioned that trials and grand juries may convene only if they comply with public health protocols.
Melton’s newest order comes on the heels of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia extending the suspension federal criminal and jury trials through Feb. 28.
Melton also left in place the nine-month-old suspension of the state’s speedy trial law and a separate bond statute giving incarcerated defendants the right to have bail set within 90 days of arrest absent a grand jury indictment. But his order noted that the bond requirement may be re-imposed as grand jury proceedings resume but did not make it a requirement.