Updated Monday at 6:50 p.m.
Even with some businesses reopening and a statewide shelter-in-place order lifted, the coronavirus outbreak continues to keep Georgia courts from returning to normal operations.
Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton on Monday announced that he’s extending a statewide judicial emergency through mid-June. That means civil and criminal jury trials will continue to be on hold and no jurors or grand jurors will be called to serve.
“The courts are different from most private establishments and public places in that we compel people to attend court proceedings, and that requires us to be extra cautious,” Melton said in a news release.
Restrictions meant to stem the spread of the coronavirus in Georgia have been loosening in recent weeks. Gov. Brian Kemp allowed the state’s shelter-at-home order to expire last week, having already opened considerable loopholes late last month by allowing businesses including barbershops, nail salons, gyms and bowling alleys to reopen, as well as letting restaurants resume limited dine-in service.
State health officials have confirmed more than 29,000 cases of COVID-19 in Georgia, and there have been more than 1,200 confirmed deaths from the disease.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, and the vast majority survive. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause pneumonia or even death.
The statewide judicial emergency was initially declared March 14 and was set to expire April 13. Melton first extended it until May 13 and now plans to extend it again through June 12 by signing a new order later this week, according to the release from the high court.
The extension is necessary because of social distancing and other safety measures recommended by federal, state and local health officials to protect large groups of people who would typically assemble at courthouses for jury proceedings, the release says. Throughout the emergency, the courts have remained open for critical and essential services.
The new order will also urge courts to develop plans to restore non-critical operations that can be conducted remotely and encourage courts to increase the use of technology for remote judicial proceedings when allowed by law, the release says. The chief justice also plans to create a task force to help with remote proceedings and to develop plans for safe in-court proceedings.
Some Gwinnett County School Staff Returning To Work
Gwinnett County schools officials say they are preparing for some staff to return to work this week, as Georgia’s shelter-in-place order has expired.
A letter sent to Gwinnett employees last week said all school-based employees except for teachers will report to work starting May 11.
The school board says teachers will return to classrooms on May 18.
And that the school will provide staff with face masks to stop the spread of the virus.
Gwinnett County appears to be the first district in the Atlanta area to bring teachers back into classrooms.
DeKalb Church To Host Test Site
A DeKalb County church is partnering with Georgia officials to host a free drive-thru coronavirus test site, set to open Monday.
Testing will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. at House of Hope Atlanta in Decatur.
Gov.r Kemp announced that anyone over 18 can be screened for testing, including those who aren’t showing symptoms but suspect they’ve come in contact with the virus.
Residents must be scheduled in order to enter the testing site location.
To register, call 404-294-3700 or visit Georgia.gov.
For those without a car, a walk-up testing booth will be available with on-site screening.
The governor’s office says at least 400 tests are expected to be available.
Georgia Allocates $411M In Federal Aid To Schools
The Georgia State Board of Education is allocating $411 million in federal aid to help pay for COVID-19 related issues to the state’s school districts and independent charter schools.
The board voted Monday to allocate 90% of the state’s total of $457 million in K-12 aid from the federal CARES Act based on districts’ proportion of students in poverty, as required by the federal law.
The state Department of Education will later approve the release of funds after districts submit spending plans.
The schools can spend the money on distance learning devices and internet services, supplemental learning efforts, school-provided meals, facility cleaning, equipment, counseling or offsetting potential revenue losses to avoid furloughs.
State Superintendent Richard Woods says the state will retain $46 million for future needs.
Lawmakers May Hold Virtual Meetings
Georgia house lawmakers this week may begin holding virtual committee meetings.
The focus will be on the state budget, as all agencies have been asked to cut 14% next year.
House Speaker David Ralston has instructed committee chairmen they may begin holding committee meetings this week virtually so that the chamber can begin the process of tackling a drastically different state budget.
With one-fifth of Georgia’s workforce unemployed and billions in estimated lost revenue, lawmakers will basically need to rewrite what they had begun to plan a few months ago.
Gov. Kemp says it’s still not clear exactly how bad things are.
“Right now we know very little about the budget. Legislative leaders in discussion with our office are doing the best we can with the quite draconian data we have which is not much,” he said. “We’re still trying to see what our revenue will be for this month.”
The House intends to resume in-person session meetings in mid-June. The Senate, however, is pushing for an earlier start date–in mid-May.
