Based on new guidance provided earlier this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Northeastern Judicial Circuit has reinstated its mask mandate for all courtroom proceedings regardless of a person’s vaccination status. The mandate extends to juror activities and deliberations and will be effective beginning Monday, August 2nd, 2021. The temporary order from Chief Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin continues to recognize the severe threat to public health posed by the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, while allowing the critical work performed by the judicial system to continue uninterrupted. Since the Georgia Supreme Court’s ban on jury proceedings expired in March, the circuit has completed over 30 jury trials and made significant progress on a backlog of Superior Court cases. Judicial officials continue to monitor local COVID-19 data and consult with state and local health experts, being mindful of the court’s power to compel people to attend proceedings.
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin about Temporary Safety Measures Regarding Operations For All Classes of Court. This order will remain in effect until Sunday, October 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, amended, or superseded.
Dawson County Order for Temporary Safety Measures Regarding Operations For All Classes of Court
Hall County Order for Temporary Safety Measures Regarding Operations For All Classes of Court
Monday, August 30, 2021
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin about Temporary Safety Measures Regarding Operations For All Classes of Court (Second Revised). This order will remain in effect until Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, amended, or superseded.
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin about Temporary Safety Measures Regarding Operations For All Classes of Court (Revised). This order will remain in effect until Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, amended, or superseded.
Friday, July 30, 2021
Please see the following press release linked below from Court Administrator Jason Stephenson.
Press Release - Northeastern Judicial Circuit Exits Local Emergency
Friday, June 11, 2021
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin about Temporary Safety Measures Regarding Operations For All Classes of Court. This order will remain in effect until Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, amended, or superseded.
Dawson County Order for Temporary Safety Measures Regarding Operations For All Classes of Court
Hall County Order for Temporary Safety Measures Regarding Operations For All Classes of Court
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on June 7, 2021 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 11:59 PM.
Fifteenth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Monday, June 7, 2021
Please see the following notice from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia dated June 7, 2021.
Notice of Expected Termination of Statewide Judicial Emergency on June 30, 2021 (Melton)
Monday, June 7, 2021
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on May 8, 2021 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Monday, June 7, 2021 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Fourteenth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Saturday, May 8, 2021
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below extending our circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until Monday, June 7, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Friday, May 7, 2021
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding Temporary Health Measures for courthouse facilities. This order will remain in effect until Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Hall County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Friday, May 7, 2021
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin designating an alternate facility for courthouse business. This order will remain in effect so long as this circuit remains in a state of judicial emergency, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below extending our circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until Sunday, May 9, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Hall County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Friday, April 9, 2021
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on April 8, 2021 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Thirteenth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below extending our circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until Friday, April 9, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Hall County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on March 9, 2021 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Twelfth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding Temporary Health Measures for courthouse facilities. This order will remain in effect until Monday, May 21, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Hall County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Friday, February 26, 2021
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below extending our circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until March 10, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Hall County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Monday, February 8, 2021
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on February 7, 2021 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Eleventh Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Sunday, February 7, 2021
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on January 8, 2021 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Sunday, February 7, 2021 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Tenth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Friday, January 8, 2021
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding Temporary Health Measures for courthouse facilities. This order will remain in effect until Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Hall County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin suspending jury proceedings. This order will remain in effect through January 31, 2021 unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order Suspending Jury Proceedings
Hall County Order Suspending Jury Proceedings
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on December 23, 2020 modifying the Ninth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency.
Order Modifying Ninth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below extending our circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until January 15, 2021 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Hall County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on December 9, 2020 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Friday, January 8, 2020 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Ninth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin designating an alternate facility for courthouse business. This order will remain in effect until Friday, December 18, 2020 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Hall County Emergency Order Designating An Alternate Facility (Gainesville Municipal Court)
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below extending our circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until December 16, 2020 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Hall County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Monday, November 16, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding Temporary Health Measures for courthouse facilities. This order will remain in effect until Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Hall County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Monday, November 9, 2020
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on November 9, 2020 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Eighth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Monday, November 9, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below delaying opening on Thursday, October 29, due to weather from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin.
Hall County Order Delaying Opening on Thursday, October 29, Due To Weather
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below extending our circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until November 15, 2020 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Hall County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Hall County Emergency Order Designating An Alternate Facility (Gainesville Municipal Court)
Friday, October 16, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below declaring a judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until October 18, 2020 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order Declaring Judicial Emergency
Hall County Order Declaring Judicial Emergency
Friday, September 18, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding Temporary Health Measures for courthouse facilities. This order will remain in effect until Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Hall County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Friday, September 11, 2020
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on September 10, 2020 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Sixth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Please see the executed and filed order linked below extending our circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until September 10, 2020 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Hall County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on August 11, 2020 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Thursday, September 10, 2020 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Fifth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Please see the executed and filed order linked below declaring a circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until August 14, 2020 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order Declaring Judicial Emergency
Hall County Order Declaring Judicial Emergency
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding Temporary Health Measures for courthouse facilities.
Dawson County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Hall County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on July 10, 2020 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Fourth Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Friday, July 10, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding temporary location for Clerk of Courts office.
Order Designating Temporary Location for Clerk of Courts
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding temporary location for Clerk of Courts office.
Order Designating Temporary Location for Clerk of Courts
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Please see the following executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding temporary location for Clerk of Courts office.
Order Designating Temporary Location for Clerk of Courts
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Please see the following document from Court Administrator Jason Stephenson of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit detailing our circuit-wide safe operating guidelines.
COVID-19 Safe Operating Guidelines
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on June 12, 2020 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Sunday, July 12, 2020 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Third Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Friday, June 12, 2020
Please see the executed and filed order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding Temporary Health Measures for courthouse facilities.
Hall County Order for Temporary Health Measures
Monday, June 1, 2020
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on May 11, 2020 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Friday, June 12, 2020 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Second Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Monday, May 11, 2020
Please see the following press release from Hall County Probate Court Judge Patty Walters Laine. For additional information, please visit the Hall County Probate Court website at https://www.hallcounty.org/484/Probate-Court.
Hall County Probate Court Press Release
Thursday, May 8, 2020
Please see the executed and filed order linked below extending our circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until May 31, 2020 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Hall County Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Monday, May 4, 2020
Please see the executed and filed amended order linked below from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding Temporary Security Measures for courthouse facilities.
Dawson County Amended Order Mandating Temporary Security Measures
Hall County Amended Order Mandating Temporary Security Measures
Monday, May 4, 2020
Please see the executed and filed amended order linked below extending our circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until May 13, 2020 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded to comport with the statewide declaration.
Dawson County Amended Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Hall County Amended Order Extending Judicial Emergency
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Please see the following order from Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia filed on April 6, 2020 extending the Statewide Judicial Emergency through Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 11:59 PM unless further modified or extended.
Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Monday, April 6, 2020
Please see the following memorandums from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin regarding Domestic Relations Custody Orders for Visitation.
Domestic Relations Custody Orders for Visitation (2020-04-02)
Domestic Relations Custody Orders for School and Holiday Visitation (2020-03-25)
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Please see the executed and filed order linked below extending our circuit-wide judicial emergency from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin. This order will remain in effect until May 31, 2020 at 11:59 PM, unless otherwise extended, rescinded, or superseded.
Dawson County Order Extending Declaration of Judicial Emergency
Hall County Order Extending Declaration of Judicial Emergency
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Attached, please find an updated memo from Chief Superior Court Judge Kathlene F. Gosselin updating our circuit's response following Chief Justice Melton’s state-wide declaration of judicial emergency.
Emergency Order Mandating Temporary Security Measures
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Hours of Operation and Contact Information
Monday, March 23, 2020
Updated COVID-19 Response Memorandum
Order Declaring Statewide Judicial Emergency (Melton)
Monday, March 16, 2020
In light of recent concerns regarding COVID-19, the Northeastern Judicial Circuit has chosen to limit all non-essential court matters and courthouse activities.
Please see the executed and filed order linked below declaring a judicial emergency. This order will remain in effect until April 3, 2020, at which time the situation will be re-evaluated and extended, should it be necessary.
Friday, March 13, 2020