Newspaper Page Text
Page 2A— Wednesday, June 3, 2020, The True Citizen
Court resumes with social
distancing precautions
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal @ gmail .com
Court is back in session
this month, and court officials
are continuing social distanc
ing practices to ensure safety
amongst those in attendance.
Burke County State Court
Judge Jackson E. Cox signed
an order in May to resume
some court activities begin
ning on June 1, but says if the
coronavirus trends change, he
will reassess the situation in
light of any new information.
“I believe that we can make
the courtroom safer than the
grocery store and continue
the important functioning of
the judicial system,” Cox said,
adding, “Justice delayed is
justice denied.”
On Monday, Burke County’s
State Court, along with Rich
mond County Civil Court, were
the first courts in the Augusta
Judicial Circuit to hold arraign
ments. “Everyone agreed it was
very safe,” Cox said following
a day spent in the courtroom.
“In fact, with only ten cases per
hour, it was so spread out that
the consensus is we should add
more cases so we won’t be idle
between the staggered hours. I
have encouraged this through
the years so people wouldn’t
have to sit as long, and I may
require the staggered calendar
going forward if it will be more
convenient to the public.”
The safety order implement
ed for state court requires
that everyone follow particu
lar practices set forth by the
Centers for Disease Control,
Georgia Department of Public
Health and the B. Lamar Mur
ray Health Center (formerly the
Burke County Health Depart
ment).
According to the order, all
persons are to maintain a dis
tance of at least six feet from
each other. The solicitor, public
defender, private attorneys,
staff from the probation and
clerk of court’s offices and
any other parties must meet
in areas of the courthouse to
ensure the minimum distance
requirements are met, and the
court must allow interactions
to take place outside of the
courtroom if necessary. “Said
parties are encouraged to set
up tables either inside one of
the courtrooms or the hallway,
sit at one end of the table and
have the defendant or other
person, with whom they are
interacting, sit at the opposite
end of the table,” the order
states, while also noting if the
instructions are not followed,
there could be “adverse ac
tion against the case, parties,
and/or counsel.” Anyone who
willfully disregards the order
may also be held in contempt
of court.
Other requirements include
the wearing of masks that
cover both the nose and mouth
by everyone in the courtroom,
with the exception of the court
reporter and the judge, and us
ing the hand sanitizer placed
at the courtroom entrance
upon entering and exiting the
courtroom. The safety order
also requires that the solicitor’s
office stagger the court calen
dar so no more than 10 cases
are called to appear within an
hour’s timeframe and to attach
a copy of the order when court
appearance notifications are
mailed.
Anyone who feels unwell,
is over the age of 65, has pre
existing health conditions or
has been around someone who
tested positive for COVID-19
should contact the solicitor’s
office and ask to be excused.
The order states “excuse will
be liberally granted” and cases
will be rescheduled, but those
requesting an excuse will be
required to provide information
about their condition.
The sheriff’s office all screen
the public entering the court
house “in a manner consistent
with the recommendations of
federal, state and local health
agencies,” the order goes on to
say, and those with a “cough or
fever or are otherwise experi
encing symptoms of sickness
or have been around someone
who has tested positive for
the coronavirus [...] have an
affirmative duty to disclose
this information ___
to court person
nel.” COURT,
The order also 7A
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VOTE Dan Steiner
■V I ■ For U.S. Congress
FIGHTING HARD TO
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