Coronavirus forces state high court to hear ‘virtual’ arguments
When Georgia’s highest court hears oral arguments on cases beginning April 20, its chief justice will be the only person on the bench.
The state Supreme Court’s other eight justices will participate remotely, as will the lawyers arguing their cases. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak and demands for social distancing, the court will hold “virtual” sessions for the first time in its history.
"We are committed to continuing the court's business with as little disruption as possible," Chief Justice Harold Melton said. "Thankfully we now have the technology that makes this possible."
The court will use the Zoom remote-conferencing software when it hears arguments on 19 cases April 20-24. The court’s IT department also will live-stream the arguments, allowing anyone who wants to watch them to do so from afar on their computers.
Two weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court, citing public health precautions, postponed 11 oral arguments scheduled for March and early April. It was the first time the court had done so since 1918 in response to the Spanish flu pandemic. The court has not said whether it is considering sessions such as those about to take place in Georgia.
“This is a first for us,” Melton said. “… Hopefully, it will go off without a hitch. That is our goal.”
About the Author
Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.
