Superior Court of Fulton County Chambers Communication Rules

WARNINGCriminal cases

Appearing in a manner different from the published calendar requires a specific prior request to and authorization by the Court.

The Court may authorize counsel and/or the parties to appear in a manner different than specified on the calendar, but only upon a specific prior request to and authorization by the Court.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Phone to chambers

为避免误解和不适当的单方面沟通，除非特殊情况，应避免打电话给Chambers。

To prevent miscommunications and inappropriate ex parte communications, avoid telephoning chambers except in exceptional circumstances.

WARNINGCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

At the entry of appearance of counsel, the attorneys are required to provide their email addresses to Litigation Manager Caretha German by emailing same to her.

At the entry of appearance of counsel, the attorneys are required to provide their email addresses to Litigation Manager Caretha German by emailing same to her.

WARNINGCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

为避免不当的单方面沟通，所有关于案件的疑问、解释或讨论应通过电子邮件提交并抄送对方律师，但适当的单方面沟通除外。

To avoid inappropriate ex parte communications, submit all questions, explanations or discussions concerning your case by email, with a copy to opposing counsel. Appropriate ex parte communications are excepted from this rule.

WARNINGCriminal cases

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Email

Interpreter requests must be emailed to Litigation Manager Athina Aguirre as soon as practicable before trial; hearing impaired and critical language interpretation requests must be made 10 days before any hearing or trial.

interpreters. Requests for interpreters must be made via email to Litigation Manager Athina Aguirre at .Athina.Aguirre@fultoncountv2a.gov as soon as practicable before trial. Requests for hearing impaired interpretation services and for interpretation of critical languages must be made 10 days before any hearing or

WARNINGCriminal cases

Counsel intending to use courtroom equipment to present evidence or argument must schedule an appointment in advance of any trial or hearing to test the equipment.

In the event any party intends to utilize electronic or other equipment available in the courtroom to present evidence or argument, counsel must schedule an appointment in advance of any trial or hearing to test the equipment and ensure they are able to work the equipment.

WARNING

Communications with court staff should always copy opposing counsel or the opposing party.

• Always copy the opposing counsel/party.

WARNING

Communications with court staff must include the case number or indictment number in the subject line.

• Include the case number or indictment number in the subject line.

WARNING

Court staff cannot provide legal advice, including advice about procedures or deadlines.

• Court staff cannot provide legal advice, which includes advice on procedures and deadlines.

WARNING

Communication with court staff should generally be limited to scheduling requests and providing copies of motions and proposed orders.

• Generally, communication with court staff should be limited to scheduling requests and providing copies of motions and proposed orders.

WARNINGCriminal cases

A hearing must be requested by contacting Litigation Manager Athina Aguirre.

If the served party does not cure the alleged deficiency within 10 days (or otherwise adequately explain the delay), the filing party shall request a hearing on the matter by contacting Litigation Manager Athina Aguirre.

WARNINGCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

Motion extension requests and proposed orders are emailed to Chambers at Athina.Aguirre@fultoncountyga.gov.

deadline. A copy of any request for extension and proposed order must be provided to Chambers via email to Litigation Manager Athina Aguirre at

WARNINGCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

Courtesy copies are emailed to Chambers at Athina.Aguirre@fultoncountyga.gov.

consideration. As with all motions, a courtesy copy of any motion for extension and proposed order must be provided to Judge Camesale’s Chambers via email to Litigation Manager Athina Aguirre at

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

CONFLICT - LETTER CASE NAME CASE NUMBER. - - Conflict letters for matters occurring before Judge McBurney must be e-mailed to Monica Niles at monica.niles@fultoncountyga.gov and Michelle Hansberry at michelle.hansberry@fultoncountyga.gov with the following subject line: JUDGE McBURNEY

CONFLICT - LETTER CASE NAME CASE NUMBER. - - Conflict letters for matters occurring before Judge McBurney must be e-mailed to Monica Niles at monica.niles@fultoncountyga.gov and Michelle Hansberry at michelle.hansberry@fultoncountyga.gov with the following subject line: JUDGE McBURNEY

WARNING

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Email

Joint-compliance certificates must be e-mailed to Deedra Nelson at Deedra.nelson@fultoncountyga.gov.

The Court will consider joint-compliance certificates if they are e-filed at least three days before the hearing and e-mailed to Deedra Nelson at Deedra.nelson@fultoncountyga.gov.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

should direct your e-mail to the appropriate staff member. Do not send an e-mail to one staff member and, if you are displeased with the result, send the same e-mail to another staff member. Such secondary e- mails will be forwarded to the judge.

should direct your e-mail to the appropriate staff member. Do not send an e-mail to one staff member and, if you are displeased with the result, send the same e-mail to another staff member. Such secondary e- mails will be forwarded to the judge.

WARNING

Parties must appear unless the Court confirms otherwise; if a conflict resolves before the end of the Court's calendar, counsel must immediately notify the Court to determine whether the matter will proceed.

Parties are not excused from appearing unless they have received confirmation from the Court. In the event the matter generating the conflict is resolved prior to the end of the Court's calendar, counsel shall immediately notify the Court to determine whether the Family Division 2 matter will proceed.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Conflict letters for Judicial Officer Kaye must be e-mailed to Deedra Nelson and Michelle Hansberry with the subject line 'JUDICIAL OFFICER KAYE CONFLICT LETTER CASE NAME CASE NUMBER'.

Conflict letters for matters occurring before Judicial Officer Kaye must be e-mailed to Deedra Nelson at Deedra.nelson@fultoncountyga.gov and Michelle Hansberry at michelle.hansberry@fultoncountyga.gov with the following subject line: JUDICIAL OFFICER KAYE CONFLICT - LETTER CASE NAME CASE NUMBER.

WARNING

All scheduling conflicts must be timely noticed by a conflict letter presented to the Court and opposing parties per USCR 17.1.

All scheduling conflicts must be timely noticed with a conflict letter presented to the Court and opposing parties in compliance with USCR 17.1.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Attorneys who do not personally monitor email must arrange for it to be forwarded to someone responsible for checking and relaying messages.

If you do not personally check your emails, you must arrange to have your emails forwarded to someone in your office who will be responsible for checking them and informing you of the messages/documents that have been sent.

WARNINGCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

Counsel must submit all case-related questions and discussions by email with a copy to opposing counsel, except for appropriate ex parte communications.

To avoid inappropriate ex parte communications, submit all questions, explanations, or discussions concerning your case by email, with a copy to opposing counsel. Appropriate ex parte communications are excepted from this rule.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email

Attorneys who do not personally check their email must arrange for someone in their office to monitor and relay messages.

If you do not personally check your emails, you must arrange to have your emails forwarded to someone in your office who will be responsible for checking them and informing you of the messages/documents that have been sent.

WARNINGCriminal cases

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Email

Court interpreter requests must be emailed to Litigation Manager Cheryl Vortice at least five business days before the hearing.

The request for an interpreter must be submitted in writing via email to the Litigation Manager Cheryl Vortice no later than five business days prior to the hearing date.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Counsel should avoid telephoning chambers except in exceptional circumstances.

To prevent miscommunications and inappropriate ex parte communications, avoid telephoning chambers except in exceptional circumstances.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email

A motion for leave to file an amicus curiae brief may be presented to the Court by email to the Staff Attorney.

A motion for leave to file an amicus curiae brief may be presented to the Court by email to the Staff Attorney.

WARNINGCivil cases

Upon receiving the trial calendar, parties must contact Staff Attorney Elizabeth Suh with case status, estimated trial length, and settlement possibilities.

Upon receipt of the calendar, the parties are ordered to contact Staff Attorney Elizabeth Suh with the status of the case, the estimated length of trial, and the possibilities for settlement.

WARNINGCivil cases

Opposing counsel should be consulted before noticing a deposition, absent extraordinary circumstances.

Absent extraordinary circumstances, opposing counsel (or pro se litigants) should be consulted before a deposition is noticed.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Counsel should avoid telephoning Chambers except in exceptional circumstances.

To prevent miscommunications and inappropriate ex parte communications, avoid telephoning chambers except in exceptional circumstances.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Leave to file additional briefing may be requested by email explaining why additional briefing is necessary.

No party may file additional briefing other than the motion and response without leave of court, which may be requested by email explaining why additional briefing is necessary.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Court production order requests must be submitted in writing to Litigation Manager Cheryl Vortice and received at least 30 business days before the scheduled court appearance.

Parties must submit their request in writing to Litigation Manager Cheryl Vortice, and the production request must be received no later than 30 business days before the scheduled court appearance.

WARNINGCivil cases

A party filing a motion in limine must alert the Court at filing if the motion may materially impact trial preparation or require extended argument that delays trial.

If a party filing a motion in limine believes that the motion would have a material impact on trial preparation and admissible evidence and may require extended argument that delays trial, the party must alert the Court at the time of filing.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email

A party seeking oral argument on summary judgment must comply with Uniform Superior Court Rule 6.3, file a separate pleading to that effect, and e-mail that pleading to Ms. Suh.

A party seeking oral argument on a motion for summary judgment must comply with Uniform Superior Court Rule 6.3 and file a separate pleading to that effect. That Rule 6.3 pleading must also be e-mailed to Ms. Suh.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email

The Court provides notice of trial start in open court and/or by email to counsel of record; cases are typically called in listed order but may be called in any order upon two-hour notice.

the Court. The parties will be provided notice when to appear for the start of trial in open court and/or by email to counsel of record. Typically, the Court will call the cases appearing on the Trial Calendar in the listed order, but the Court reserves the right to call cases in any order upon

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

All proposed orders should be submitted electronically via email directly to Ms. Suh in Microsoft Word format.

All proposed orders should be submitted electronically via email directly to Ms. Suh in Microsoft Word format.

WARNINGCivil cases

When communicating with the Court, parties are reminded to ensure that the opposing parties and counsel, as appropriate, are copied on all communications.

When communicating with the Court, parties are reminded to ensure that the opposing parties and counsel, as appropriate, are copied on all communications.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Counsel must become familiar with courtroom evidence presentation technology before using it and may request access or training from the Judicial Assistant by email ahead of a scheduled hearing.

Counsel shall familiarize themselves with the evidence presentation technology prior to its use during a proceeding. Counsel are encouraged to request access to and/or training on the equipment prior to a scheduled hearing by emailing the Court's Judicial Assistant Boyd Derreberry at (boyd.derreberry@fultoncountyga.gov).

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Court production order requests must be submitted in writing to Fantashia Francis and received no later than 14 business days before the scheduled court appearance.

Parties must submit their request in writing to Fantashia Francis, Litigation Manager, at fantashia.francis@fultoncountyga.gov and the production request must be received no later than 14 business days before the scheduled court appearance.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Court must be notified immediately of any problem or dispute that could delay the case or cause a missed deadline.

The Court shall be notified immediately of any problem or dispute (e.g., discovery issues, witness unavailability, illness, or the late addition of parties or claims) that could delay the case or cause a party to miss a deadline.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Chambers may be emailed courtesy copies of extension motions at the Litigation Manager's address.

a courtesy copy of any motion for extension must be provided to Judge Ingram9s Chamber by email to Fantashia Francis, Litigation Manager, at fantashia.francis@fultoncountyga.gov.

WARNINGCivil cases

Parties must alert the Court if a motion in limine will require a hearing lasting more than an hour.

Court. Ifa party filing a motion in limine believes that the motion(s) will require a hearing lasting more than an hour, the party must alert the Court so that the prospective jurors’ schedule can be properly managed.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Phone

(404) 612-8529

Negotiated pleas may be entered at any time prior to the Final Plea date. The parties are directed to contact Fantashia Francis, Litigation Manager for Judge Ingram, at (404) 612-8529 or fantashia.francis@fultoncountyga.gov to schedule a date for entry of a negotiated plea prior to the Final Plea date.

Negotiated pleas may be entered at any time prior to the Final Plea date. The parties are directed to contact Fantashia Francis, Litigation Manager for Judge Ingram, at (404) 612-8529 or fantashia.francis@fultoncountyga.gov to schedule a date for entry of a negotiated plea prior to the Final Plea date.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Translator requests must be submitted in writing to Fantashia Francis no later than 10 business days before the hearing date.

The request for a translator must be submitted in writing to Fantashia Francis, Litigation Manager, at fantashia.francis@fultoncountyga.gov, no later than 10 business days prior to the hearing date.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Phone

(404) 612-4604

Parties must contact Judge Cox's Litigation Manager Matthew Cormier by phone or email to schedule a plea entry date before the Final Plea Hearing.

The parties are directed to contact Matthew Cormier, Litigation Manager for Judge Thomas A. Cox, Jr., at (404) 612-4604 or Matthew.cormier@fultoncountyga.gov to schedule a date for entry of a plea prior to the Final Plea Hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Court must be immediately notified of any problem or dispute that could delay deadlines.

the Court must be immediately notified of any problem or dispute that could delay the deadlines contained herein.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email

Attorneys must email a Microsoft Word version of jury charge requests to the senior staff attorney at least three business days before the trial calendar begins.

In addition to filing jury charge requests with the Clerk, attorneys shall also email an electronic copy in Microsoft Word version to the senior staff attorney, Erik Smith at erik.smith@fultoncountyga.gov at least three (3) business days before the beginning of the trial calendar.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Court will not condone or participate in practice by email, text, or telephone calls.

Please note that the Court will not condone or participate in “practice by email, text or telephone calls.”

WARNINGCivil cases

The Court will only respond to matters properly filed with the Clerk's Office.

Please note that the Court will only respond to matters that have been properly filed with the Clerk’s Office.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

submit all questions, explanations, or discussions concerning your case by email, with a copy to opposing counsel

submit all questions, explanations, or discussions concerning your case by email, with a copy to opposing counsel

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications with Chambers must be in writing (hard copy or email to the Litigation Manager) with copies to all counsel of record unless ex parte.

While the Court encourages counsel to communicate with Chambers, such communication shall be in writing and delivered in hard copy or emailed to Litigation Manager Matthew Cormier (Matthew.cormier@fultoncountyga.gov) with copies of such communication also provided to all counsel of record unless the matter is a proper ex parte filing. [Contact with the Court as an initial option, should be limited to matters confirming scheduling and other administrative matters only. ]

WARNINGCivil cases

Counsel anticipating scheduling difficulties or legal arguments must provide the Court with advance notice of the specific issue before the Pre-Trial Conference.

If you have reason to anticipate scheduling difficulties, or that any question of law or evidence will provoke an argument, provide the Court with notice regarding the specific issue in advance of the Pre-Trial Conference.