Judge Belinda E. Edwards
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
All Motions
Bond Motions
Courtesy copies
Extension Request
Adjournments
- Continuance/reset requests and notices of conflict must be filed with the Clerk with a courtesy copy to chambers at least five business days before the hearing.
- Requests submitted to chambers less than five business days before a hearing are treated as late/untimely unless authorized by statute.
- Extension requests for discovery deadlines must be in writing, include a detailed fact-based explanation, and be accompanied by a proposed order submitted via email in Word format.
- Extension requests must be submitted in writing, filed in Odyssey, with a courtesy copy via email, a detailed explanation, and a proposed order in Word.
- Extensions for dispositive motion deadlines are only granted for good cause.
- +4 more
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Document Format Requirements10 rules
Documents for the Court's signature must be in Microsoft Word format.
Documents submitted for the Court's signature should be submitted in a Microsoft Word format.
DOCX
Documents emailed for review must be in PDF format.
Documents and pleadings emailed for the Court's review should be submitted in a .PDF format.
Exhibits must be provided in digital form.
Additionally, the parties are now required to provide their exhibits in digital form as later detailed.
DVDs/CDs must be provided to the court reporter as original and one copy in a hard case.
Regarding DVDs / CDs, provide the court reporter with the original and one copy. They will need to be contained in a hard case (e.g., jewel case).
Proposed final orders must be submitted in Word format.
Prior to the hearing, counsel shall email a proposed final order to the Staff Attorney in Word format.
DOCX
Documents emailed for the Court's review must be in PDF format.
Documents and pleadings emailed for the Court’s review should be submitted in a .PDF format.
Documents submitted for the Court's signature must be in Microsoft Word format.
Documents submitted for the Court’s signature should be submitted in a Microsoft Word format.
DOCX
Proposed orders must be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word format.
Proposed Orders should be submitted electronically to the litigation manager in Microsoft Word format.
DOCX
Oversized/non-paper exhibits may be submitted as digital photographs; otherwise a paper description will be inserted.
For oversized or non-paper exhibits, i.e., guns, poster boards, etc., you may submit a digital photograph of the object marked with an exhibit sticker. If no photograph is submitted, then a piece of paper describing the exhibit, i.e., gun, poster board, etc., will be inserted by the court reporter in its place as the exhibit attached to the transcript.
Proposed orders should be emailed to the staff attorney in Microsoft Word format.
Proposed Orders should be submitted via email to the staff attorney, Ms. Kier Prince in Microsoft Word format.
DOCX
Document Filing Requirements7 rules
Counsel must email a proposed final order to the Staff Attorney in Word format prior to the hearing.
Prior to the hearing, counsel shall email a proposed final order to the Staff Attorney in Word format.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Each filing must include a note indicating whether AI was used to prepare or draft it.
All parties should note whether artificial intelligence (AI) was used to prepare or draft a filing in this Court at the end of each filing.
Document Type
Filing
Parties may not submit individual pre-trial order portions without written certification of good faith efforts to consolidate.
No party shall submit their own individual portion of a pre-trial order to the Court without written certification detailing their good faith efforts to present the Court with a fully consolidated order.
Document Type
Pretrial Order
Pre-trial orders must designate witnesses needing interpreters and the required language; interpreter contact info must be listed if known, and promptly provided once known.
Pursuant to Uniform Superior Court Rule 7.3 Any proposed pre-trial order submitted by any party shall designate any witnesses whose testimony will need the services of an interpreter and the language, including sign language for the deaf, for which the interpreter is required. If known, the name, address, and telephone number of the interpreter or interpreting service intended to be used shall be listed. If this information is not known at the time the pre-trial order is signed, it shall be promptly provided to Court and opposing counsel once known.
Document Type
Pretrial Order
Oral argument on summary judgment requires a separate pleading entitled 'Request for Oral Hearing' filed with the motion or within 5 days after response.
However, oral argument on a motion for summary judgment shall be permitted upon written request made in a separate pleading bearing the caption of the case and entitled "Request for Oral Hearing," and provided that such pleading is filed with the motion for summary judgment or filed not later than five (5) days after the time for response.
Document Type
Request For Oral Hearing
Parties must provide their exhibits in digital form.
Additionally, the parties are now required to provide their exhibits in digital form as later detailed.
Document Type
Exhibits
Proposed orders on summary judgment motions must include detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law.
All proposed orders on motions for summary judgement should include detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
All criminal case documents must be e-filed, except filings by incarcerated individuals without legal representation.
All documents in criminal cases must be e-filed pursuant to the Order Implementing Electronic Filing for Criminal Cases except for incarcerated individuals without legal representation.
Page 2 | E-FILING
E-filing is mandatory for all criminal cases effective June 5, 2017, with exceptions for pre-indictment documents, indictments, accusations, case initiation filings, and penal sanction pleadings.
Electronic filing (e-filing) is mandatory for all criminal cases filed in the Superior Court of Fulton County effective June 5, 2017, except for the following filing types: documents filed pre-indictment, indictments, accusations, and other case initiation filings, and The Final Disposition Form or any other pleadings imposing a penal sanction. E-filing is mandatory even if the case was initiated prior to June 5, 2017.
Page 2 | E-FILING
Exhibits must be scanned individually and emailed to the court reporter due to eFileGa size limits.
Due to the size limits of eFileGa, all exhibits must be scanned individually and emailed to the court reporter.
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Transcripts and accompanying exhibits are required to be e-filed.
Pursuant to the new rules of the Judicial Council of Georgia, all transcripts, and accompanying exhibits, are required to be e-filed.
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E-filing is mandatory for all civil cases; all parties including pro se must create an eFileGA account.
Electronic filing (e-filing) is mandatory for all civil cases filed in the Superior Court of Fulton County. All parties including pro se litigants should create an account with eFileGA to ensure consistent service of orders and other notices from the Court.
Page 1 | E-Filing
All transcripts and accompanying exhibits must be e-filed.
Pursuant to the new rules of the Judicial Council of Georgia, all transcripts, and accompanying exhibits, are required to be e-filed.
Page 3 | Digital Submission of Exhibits
Exhibits must be scanned individually and emailed to the court reporter due to eFileGa size limits.
Due to the size limits of eFileGa, all exhibits must be scanned individually and emailed to the court reporter.
Page 3 | Digital Submission of Exhibits
All parties, including pro se litigants, should create an eFileGA account to ensure consistent service of orders and notices.
All parties including pro se litigants should create an account with eFileGA to ensure consistent service of orders and other notices from the Court.
Page 2 | E-FILING
Extension requests must be filed in Odyssey.
Request for extensions should be submitted in writing and filed in Odyssey
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Exhibits for evidentiary hearings should be submitted electronically to Ms. Kier Prince.
Copies of exhibits to be tendered at an evidentiary hearing should be submitted electronically to Ms. Kier Prince.
Page 4 | Hearings
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
All documents must be filed prior to the hearing.
Further, all documents shall be filed prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | Courtesy Copies and Filing
Motions filed after the deadline are untimely and will not be considered unless good cause is shown.
Motions filed after the deadline are untimely and will not be considered absent good cause shown for the late filing.
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Dispositive motions must be filed by the timeframe in the scheduling order.
All dispositive motions shall be filed no later than the timeframe identified in the scheduling order established by the Court.
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Motions to suppress and dismiss will not be considered after the filing deadline unless good cause is shown.
Absent good cause shown, motions to suppress and motions to dismiss will not be considered after the filing deadline as these motions are not motions in limine.
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If the defendant defaults, the plaintiff should file a motion within 90 days of default.
If the Defendant fails to file a timely Answer, the Plaintiff should either file, in compliance with the Civil Practice Act and Uniform Superior Court Rules, a relevant motion pursuing the asserted claims within ninety (90) days of default.
Page 2 | Case Management
Other parties must provide their portions of the consolidated pre-trial order to plaintiff(s) at least two business days before the due date.
All other parties shall provide their portions of the consolidated pre-trial order to the plaintiff(s) no later than two business days prior to the due date.
Page 3 | Consolidated Pre-Trial Orders
Proposed consolidated pre-trial order must be emailed to the staff attorney by the scheduling order deadline.
A proposed, fully consolidated pre-trial order shall be submitted to the Judge's chambers via email to the staff attorney, Ms. Kier Prince no later than the deadline established by the Court in the scheduling order.
Page 3 | Consolidated Pre-Trial Orders
Dispositive motions must be filed by the deadline in the scheduling order.
All dispositive motions shall be filed no later than the timeframe identified in the scheduling order established by the Court.
Page 3 | Dispositive Motions
Request for oral hearing must be filed with the summary judgment motion or within 5 days after the response deadline.
provided that such pleading is filed with the motion for summary judgment or filed not later than five (5) days after the time for response.
Page 4 | Hearings
Do not file pre-trial orders with the clerk unless signed by the Court.
(Please do not present pre-trial orders to the clerk for filing unless they have been signed by the Court).
Page 3 | Consolidated Pre-Trial Orders
Parties must provide an evidence listing within 10 days after the Court rules on dispositive motions.
proposed pre-trial ===== PAGE 4 ===== order need not contain a listing of all evidence; however, the parties will be expected to provide this listing within ten (10) days after the Court has ruled on dispositive
Page 4 | Consolidated Pre-Trial Orders
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Bond motions must be served upon the State.
Motions for Bond must be filed with the Clerk, served upon the State and a courtesy copy sent via email to the Court’s Litigation Manager.
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Service must be perfected within 30 days or the case will be dismissed without prejudice.
Failure to perfect service within thirty (30) days will result in a dismissal without prejudice.
Page 2 | Case Management
Discovery deficiency notice may be served electronically, but must also be filed with the Clerk and courtesy copies sent to the Litigation Manager.
filing party may serve the opposing party electronically, however, the notice must also be filed with the Clerk of Court and courtesy copies sent electronically to the Court’s Litigation Manager, Ms. Noel Gullatt at noel.gullatt@fultoncountyga.zov.
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Filing Fees and Waivers
Filing fees apply to all e-filing transactions.
Filing fees will apply for all e-filing transactions.
Page 1 | E-Filing
Filing fees apply to all e-filing transactions.
Filing fees will apply for all e-filing transactions.
Page 2 | E-FILING
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Parties must still send courtesy copies to the Court despite e-filing.
The parties are still required to send courtesy copies to the Court.
Page 2 | E-FILING
Courteous copies of the discovery deficiency notice must be sent electronically to the Litigation Manager.
filing party may serve the opposing party electronically, however, the notice must also be filed with the Clerk of Court and courtesy copies sent electronically to the Court’s Litigation Manager, Ms. Noel Gullatt at noel.gullatt@fultoncountyga.zov.
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Courtesy copies of any motion or pleading requiring the Court's attention, including exhibits, must be emailed directly to Chambers.
The parties are DIRECTED to submit courtesy copies of any motion or pleading that requires the Court’s attention, including any exhibits, directly to Chambers by emailing Ms. Noel Gullatt at noel.gullatt@fultoncountyga.gov.
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Bond motions must include a courtesy copy sent via email to the Litigation Manager.
Motions for Bond must be filed with the Clerk, served upon the State and a courtesy copy sent via email to the Court’s Litigation Manager.
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All motions must be filed with the Clerk and courtesy copies sent to the Litigation Manager; failure may result in no hearing and waiver.
All motions must be filed with the Clerk of Court. Courtesy copies must be sent to the Court’s Litigation Manager, Ms. Noel Gullatt at noel.gullatt@fultoncountyga. gov. Failure to provide courtesy copies may result in the motion not being placed on the calendar for a hearing and may constitute waiver of the
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Parties must send courtesy copies to the Court.
The parties are still required to send courtesy copies to the Court.
Page 1 | E-Filing
Parties must email courtesy copies of any motion or pleading requiring the Court's attention, including exhibits, to Chambers.
The parties are DIRECTED to submit courtesy copies of any motion or pleading that requires the Court's attention, including any exhibits, directly to Chambers by emailing Staff Attorney, Kier Prince at kier.prince@ fultoncountyga.gov.
Page 3 | Dispositive Motions
Courtesy copies of additional filings beyond the Petition and Rule Nisi must be submitted via email, hand delivery, or mail to the Staff Attorney.
If there are additional filings beyond the Petition and Rule Nisi, courtesy copies of such filings shall be submitted via email to the Court's Staff Attorney, Kier Prince at kier.prince@fultoncountyga.gov, hand delivery, or mail with the appropriate postage affixed and be addressed as follows: Kier Prince, Judicial Staff Attorney 185 Central Avenue S.W. Suite T-8905 Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Page 1 | Courtesy Copies and Filing
A courtesy copy of extension requests must be emailed to the litigation manager.
Request for extensions should be submitted in writing and filed in Odyssey and a courtesy copy provided to the Court via email to the litigation manager with a detailed fact-based explanation of the need for the extension accompanied by a proposed order in Microsoft Word for the Coutt’s consideration.
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Filing Bundling Requirements
Each motion must be filed separately; omnibus motions are prohibited.
Every motion requiring the Court’s consideration shall be filed separately. Omnibus Motions should not be filed.
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Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuance/reset requests and notices of conflict must be filed with the Clerk with a courtesy copy to chambers at least five business days before the hearing.
Requests for continuance or reset and notices of conflict must be filed with the Clerk and a courtesy copy submitted to Judge Edwards’ chambers not less than five business days prior to the scheduled hearing/conference.
Page 2 | Notices of Conflict/Leaves of Absence/Motions for Continuance
Requests submitted to chambers less than five business days before a hearing are treated as late/untimely unless authorized by statute.
Requests, pleadings or filings submitted to chambers less than five business days prior to any hearing date will be treated as late filed and/or untimely, unless later filing is authorized by statute.
Page 2 | Notices of Conflict/Leaves of Absence/Motions for Continuance
Extension requests for discovery deadlines must be in writing, include a detailed fact-based explanation, and be accompanied by a proposed order submitted via email in Word format.
Motions for extensions of discovery deadlines shall be submitted in writing to the Court; and must provide a detailed, fact-based explanation of the need for the extension, along with a proposed order for the Court’s consideration. Proposed orders shall be submitted to the Court’s Litigation Manager via email in a Microsoft word document format.
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Discovery extensions are granted only for good cause shown.
An extension of discovery will be granted only for good cause shown.
Page 2 | Discovery
Any modification of a deadline or hearing date requires court approval even with party consent; requests should be made early.
Modification of any deadline or hearing date requires approval of the Court even if all parties consent to the change. Requests that - the Court extend a deadline or hearing date should be made as early as the need becomes apparent.
Page 2 | General Information
Extensions for dispositive motions are granted only for good cause shown.
Extensions for filing dispositive motions will only be granted for good cause shown.
Page 3 | Dispositive Motions
Extensions for pre-trial orders are granted only for good cause shown.
Extensions for submitting proposed pre-trial orders will be granted only for good cause shown.
Page 3 | Consolidated Pre-Trial Orders
Extension requests must be submitted in writing, filed in Odyssey, with a courtesy copy via email, a detailed explanation, and a proposed order in Word.
Request for extensions should be submitted in writing and filed in Odyssey and a courtesy copy provided to the Court via email to the litigation manager with a detailed fact-based explanation of the need for the extension accompanied by a proposed order in Microsoft Word for the Coutt’s consideration.
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Extensions for dispositive motion deadlines are only granted for good cause.
Extensions for filing dispositive motions will only be granted for good cause shown.
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Chambers Communication Rules
Primary contact for civil matters is Kier Prince via email.
Communication with Ms. Kier Prince should be via email at kier.prince@fultoncountyga.gov.
Page 1 | Contacting the Court
The Court must be immediately notified via email of any filed discovery motion.
The Court is to be immediately notified via email by contacting the Court's Staff Attorney of any discovery motion that is filed so that it may make arrangements for its expeditious resolution.
Page 2 | Discovery
The Court must be immediately notified via email of any problem or dispute that could delay deadlines or hearings.
The Court is to be immediately notified via email by contacting the Court's staff attorney, Ms. Kier Prince of any problem or dispute (disagreements about discovery, scheduling difficulties, the unavailability of a witness, illness, the late addition of parties or claims, etc.) that could delay hearing deadlines or hearing dates set forth.
Page 2 | General Information
After filing the Petition and Rule Nisi, counsel must email the case number to the Staff Attorney.
After the filing of the Petition and Rule Nisi, counsel shall email the case number to the Staff Attorney.
Page 1 | Case Number Notification
Communications with Chambers must be in writing via email to the Staff Attorney, copied to all counsel of record unless the matter is a proper ex parte filing, and counsel must never directly email the Judge.
While the Court encourages counsel to communicate with Chambers, such communication shall be in writing and emailed to Staff Attorney Ms. Kier Prince at with copies of such communication also provided to all counsel of record unless the matter is a proper ex parte filing. In no instance should counsel directly email the Judge.
Page 1 | Communication with Chambers
Email Ms. Noel Gullatt at noel.gullatt@fultoncountyga.gov for criminal matters, copying opposing counsel and pro se litigants on all communications.
Ms. Noel Gullatt, Litigation Manager is the chief contact for criminal matters in this division. Communication with Ms. Gullatt should be via email at noel.gullatt@fultoncountyga.gov. All email communications with the Court’s staff must copy opposing counsel and any pro se litigants.
Page 1 | Contacting the Court
Documents submitted via U.S. mail must have proper postage and be addressed to Ms. Noel Gullatt at the specified Fulton County address.
Documents and pleadings submitted via U.S. mail should have the appropriate postage affixed and be addressed as follows: Ms. Noel Gullatt, Litigation Manager 185 Central Avenue S.W. Suite T-5665 Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Page 1 | Contacting the Court
To waive a case management hearing, parties should email the Litigation Manager and consent in writing.
Cases that are ready for trial and parties consent to waiver of a case management hearing, parties should email the Litigation Manager and consent in writing to waive a case management hearing and request to place the matter on the Court’s trial calendar.
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The assigned court reporter, Stephanie Richardson, may be contacted via email.
Stephanie Richardson is the Court’s assigned court reporter. Stephanie Richardson can be contacted via email at Stephanie.richardson@fultoncountyga.gov.
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