Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Filings > 3 pages
- 1 copy
Communication
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Court-widePhone
Court-wideFax
Court-wideDocument Filing Requirements3 rules
The Defendant may waive formal arraignment with a written waiver that elects a case track and is signed by counsel, except that the Defendant must personally sign in serious violent felony cases.
Court's wording
In lieu of formal arraignment, the Defendant may file a written waiver of arraignment signed by counsel (except as noted below). Such written waiver must (1) be filed of record at least 30 days in advance of any scheduled arraignment hearing; and (2) elect Plea Track, Motion Hearing required or Trial Track. For cases with charges that are considered serious violent felonies under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1(a), the waiver of arraignment must be signed personally by the Defendant.
In order for a case to be set on a plea docket, counsel must request an in-person or video plea hearing and present completed plea paperwork signed by the prosecutor and defense attorney to the Criminal Case Manager at least ten (10) days in advance. Such signed paperwork shall be deemed a representation to the Court that the plea has been fully negotiated and accepted by both sides, with the defendant having accepted the plea following a conversation with his/her attorney. No case will be placed on a plea docket until such paperwork has been submitted.
At any setting for a negotiated plea, including a requested plea hearing or the pre-trial hearing, all plea paperwork must be signed and ready prior to the call of the docket.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A written waiver of arraignment must be filed of record at least 30 days before the scheduled arraignment hearing.
Such written waiver must (1) be filed of record at least 30 days in advance of any scheduled arraignment hearing; and (2) elect Plea Track, Motion Hearing required or Trial Track.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | Step 2
Counsel must request the plea hearing and present the completed plea paperwork to the Criminal Case Manager at least 10 days in advance.
In order for a case to be set on a plea docket, counsel must request an in-person or video plea hearing and present completed plea paperwork signed by the prosecutor and defense attorney to the Criminal Case Manager at least ten (10) days in advance.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | Step 3
Motions in limine must be filed no later than one week before trial.
Motions in limine shall be filed no later than one week prior to trial.
Criminal cases
Page 4 | C. Motions
All other motions (including, but not limited to, motions to suppress, "Daubert" motions under O.C.G.A. § 24-7-702), except for motions in limine, shall be filed no later than 30 days after arraignment (or, if arraignment is waived, thirty (30) days after the date Full Discovery is due to the defendant)
All other motions (including, but not limited to, motions to suppress, "Daubert" motions under O.C.G.A. § 24-7-702), except for motions in limine, shall be filed no later than 30 days after arraignment (or, if arraignment is waived, thirty (30) days after the date Full Discovery is due to the defendant)
Criminal cases
Page 4 | C. Motions
Special pleas, pleas-in-bar, demurrers, and similar motions are due within ten days after arraignment, or within ten days after Full Discovery is due if arraignment is waived.
All special pleas, pleas-in-bar, demurrers and similar motions shall be filed no later than ten days after the date of arraignment (or, if arraignment is waived, ten (10) days after the date Full Discovery is due to the defendant).
Criminal cases
Page 4 | C. Motions
Responses to the motions covered by the preceding deadline are due within fifteen days after the original motion is filed.
with responses to any such motions due within fifteen days after the filing of the original motion.
Criminal cases
Page 4 | C. Motions
Requests under Uniform Superior Court Rule 22 must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance.
In accordance with Uniform Superior Court Rule 22, all requests shall be submitted no less than twenty-four (24) hours in advance.
Page 1 | Case Assistance
This order’s discovery schedule controls over contemporaneous or later scheduling-order terms unless a deviation is specifically contemplated; non-discovery scheduling provisions remain effective.
The foregoing schedule shall control over any the terms of any scheduling order filed contemporaneous with, or after this Standing Order, unless a deviation from this Standing Order is specifically contemplated. Non-discovery provisions of any scheduling order in any case shall remain in full force and effect.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | STANDING ORDER REGARDING DISCOVERY IN "J1" CRIMINAL CASES
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Initial Discovery consists of the specified materials in the State’s file and expert or lab reports in the State’s possession at indictment.
"Initial Discovery" means all police reports, documents and photographs in the State's file and any expert or lab reports within the possession of the State at the time of indictment.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | STANDING ORDER REGARDING DISCOVERY IN "J1" CRIMINAL CASES
The defendant’s discovery disclosures are due to the State within 20 days after the date the State’s Full Discovery disclosures are due.
Discovery disclosures by the Defendant shall be due to the State within 20 days of the date the State's Full Discovery disclosures to Defendant are due.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | STANDING ORDER REGARDING DISCOVERY IN "J1" CRIMINAL CASES
The State’s Full Discovery disclosures are due by arraignment, or, if arraignment is waived, within 90 days after the defendant files the discovery election.
Full Discovery disclosures by the State shall be due to the Defendant on or before the date of arraignment, or, if the Defendant has waived arraignment, no later than ninety (90) days after the date of the filing of defendant's election under O.C.G.A. § 17-16-1 et seq..
Criminal cases
Page 1 | STANDING ORDER REGARDING DISCOVERY IN "J1" CRIMINAL CASES
The State’s Initial Discovery disclosures are due to the defendant within 30 days after the defendant files an election to participate in discovery.
Initial Discovery disclosures by the State shall be due to the defendant no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the filing of defendant's election under O.C.G.A. § 17-16-1 et seq.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | STANDING ORDER REGARDING DISCOVERY IN "J1" CRIMINAL CASES
Full Discovery includes all discovery due under Georgia law, including supplements and materials excluded from Initial Discovery.
“Full Discovery” means all discovery due under the laws off this State, including any supplements to the Initial Discovery and any materials (e.g., bodycam and surveillance video) not included in the Initial Discovery.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | STANDING ORDER REGARDING DISCOVERY IN "J1" CRIMINAL CASES
The attorney or party must email opposing parties about a motion or response no later than 24 hours after e-filing.
Pursuant to Uniform Superior Court Rule 6.1 when utilizing the e-filing system, the attorney or party shall notify the opposing parties and the assigned Judge, including their staff, by e-mail of the motion or response no later than 24-hours after e-filing.
Page 1 | Judge Benjamin W. Karpf
The standing order’s discovery schedule does not apply if an earlier-entered order requires an earlier discovery exchange.
The foregoing shall not apply in the event that an order previously entered in any case provides for the exchange of discovery any earlier than would be required under the foregoing.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | STANDING ORDER REGARDING DISCOVERY IN "J1" CRIMINAL CASES
Bodycam, surveillance, and similar video files are excluded from Initial Discovery, but the State should produce them promptly.
Initial Discovery does not include bodycam, surveillance, or similar video files, but the State should produce those files to the Defendant promptly.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | STANDING ORDER REGARDING DISCOVERY IN "J1" CRIMINAL CASES
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Attorneys seeking a ruling or hearing date must provide one hard copy of motions or responses longer than three pages, including exhibits, directly to the assigned Judge's staff.
In lieu of providing a hard copy of motions and responses to the clerk's office as outlined in USCR 6.1, attorneys practicing in the Eastern Judicial Circuit shall provide a hard copy of their motions and responses directly to the assigned Judge's staff, specifically where a ruling or hearing date is being sought and the document is greater than three pages in length, including exhibits.
Page 1 | Judge Benjamin W. Karpf
Chambers Communication Rules
The attorney or party must email the assigned Judge, including staff, about a motion or response no later than 24 hours after e-filing.
Pursuant to Uniform Superior Court Rule 6.1 when utilizing the e-filing system, the attorney or party shall notify the opposing parties and the assigned Judge, including their staff, by e-mail of the motion or response no later than 24-hours after e-filing.
Page 1 | Judge Benjamin W. Karpf
Attorneys must immediately notify the Judge and staff when any civil action is settled or dismissed.
Additionally, pursuant to Uniform Superior Court Rule 4.10, all attorneys practicing in the Eastern Judicial Circuit shall notify the Judge and their staff immediately upon the settlement or dismissal of any civil actions.
Page 1 | Judge Benjamin W. Karpf
For questions about criminal case scheduling, contact the Judge's Criminal Case Manager.
DOCKETS ARE NOT NOTICE. APPEAR AS DIRECTED IN ALL NOTICE CARDS. If you have a question about criminal case scheduling, please contact the Criminal Case Manager for the Judge.
Page 1 | Judiciary Documents
Attorneys should check their notice cards carefully and contact the assigned Judge's staff if anything is unclear.
Starting April 4th, the majority of Court dockets went back to being held in person. All attorneys should check their notice cards carefully, and if there is any confusion please contact the assigned Judge's staff.
Page 1 | Judge Benjamin W. Karpf
For assistance or information about a pending criminal case assigned to Judge Karpf, contact Criminal Case Manager Susannah Patel by phone.
If you require assistance or information regarding a pending criminal case assigned to Judge Karpf, please contact his Criminal Case Manager, Susannah Patel at 912-652-7135.
Page 1 | Criminal Cases
For assistance or information about a pending civil case assigned to Judge Karpf, contact Administrative Assistant Tamara Bennett-Thompson by phone.
If you require assistance or information regarding a pending civil case assigned to Judge Karpf, please contact his Administrative Assistant, Tamara Bennett-Thompson at 912-652-7460.
Page 1 | Civil Cases