News

The 2021 Annual meeting was held from June 10 through June 13 at the Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms, SC. The event was well attended and recognized those who did so much in what was admittedly a turbulent year. Houston County was well represented and received several awards throughout the event. Houston County Bar…

Second Amended Operating Guidelines For The Houston Superior and State Courts

Chief Justice Harold D. Melton signed an order today extending for the fifteenth time the Statewide Judicial Emergency he first declared March 14, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But he expects this order extending the judicial emergency will be the last. In a virtual emergency meeting on Friday with members of the state’s Judicial Council—the policy-making…

Dear Fellow Bar Members, The Supreme Court of Georgia issued an Order on May 14, 2021, allowing attorneys to complete all CLE hours for their 2021 CLE requirement by approved in-person,  in-house or distance learning CLE programs. A portion of the May 14 Supreme Court Order states as follows: “Given that the COVID-19 outbreak is…

The Executive Board of the Houston County Bar Association has planned to continue its engagement of the community through service projects in lieu of their previously scheduled meetings that have been cancelled as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, they have scheduled two more First Responder Appreciation Days! The first will occur on…

Fourteenth Order Extending Statewide Judicial Emergency   Under an order signed May 8, 2021, by Chief Justice Harold D. Melton, on Friday, May 14, deadlines will be reimposed on prosecutors for presenting cases to the grand jury involving detained adults and juveniles. The order is the 14th the chief justice has signed that extends for 30…

Thirteenth Order Extending Statewide Judicial Emergency On April 8, 2021, Chief Justice Harold D. Melton extended for another month the Statewide Judicial Emergency he first declared more than a year ago on March 14, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This order, which will be in effect until May 8, is nearly identical to the…

Twelfth Order Extending Statewide Judicial Emergency   On March 9, 2021, Chief Justice Harold D. Melton issued an order that lifts the suspension of jury trials in Georgia, “effective immediately.” With today’s order, which is the 12th he has signed extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, trial courts may resume jury…