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184? SUPREME COURT OF GEORGIA FILED Administrative Minutes ThereseS.®nes, Clerk/Court Executive SUPREME COURT OF GEORGIA April 6, 2020 ORDER EXTENDING DECLARATION OF STATEWIDE JUDICIAL EMERGENCY Pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-61, and due to the continuing statewide emergency involving the transmission of Coronavirus/COVID-19, the Honorable Harold D. Melton, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, does hereby extend the March 14, 2020 (amended) Order Declaring Statewide Judicial Emergency, which would have expired on April 13, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., until Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at 11:59 p.m., unless otherwise further modified or extended. The Chief Justice will provide notice as to the expected termination of the Order at least one week in advance to allow courts to plan the transition to fuller operations. With regard to matters not deemed essential functions under the Statewide Judicial Emergency Order, courts and litigants are encouraged to proceed to the extent feasible and consistent with public health guidance, for example through the use of teleconferences and videoconferences, to reduce backlogs when the judicial emergency ends. With regard to all matters in this challenging time, all lawyers are reminded of their obligations of professionalism. It is ordered, pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-63, that notice and service of a copy of this Order shall immediately be sent to the judges and clerks of all courts in this State and to the clerk of the Georgia Court of Appeals, such service to be accomplished through means to assure expeditious receipt, which include electronic means; and It is further ordered that notice shall also be sent to the media, the State Bar of Georgia, and the officials and entities listed below and shall constitute sufficient notice of the issuance of this Order to the affected parties, counsel for the affected parties, and the public. ---PAGE BREAK--- IT IS SO ORDERED this day of Apri, ChieT Justice Harold D. Melton Supreme Court of Georgia cc: Governor Brian P. Kemp Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan Speaker David Ralston State Bar of Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts Judicial Council of Georgia Council of Superior Court Clerks of Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Council of Accountability Court Judges Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Institute of Continuing Judicial Education of Georgia Georgia Council of Court Administrators Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism Judicial Qualifications Commission Association County Commissioners of Georgia Georgia Municipal Association Georgia Sheriffs' Association Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Georgia Public Defender Council Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia Department of Corrections Department of Community Supervision Georgia Court Reporters Association Board of Court Reporting State Board of Pardons and Paroles Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia Council of Magistrate Court Clerks Council of Municipal Court Clerks SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA Clerk's Office, Atlanta I certify that the above is a true extract from the minutes of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Witness my signature and the seal of said court hereto affixed the day and year last above written. Clerk