The Court of Appeals of Georgia is instituting an option for parties to attend oral arguments in person or virtually starting in September 2021. In March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Court was forced to suspend in-person hearings. On May 5, 2020, the Court held its first virtual oral arguments. Since that date, nearly 50 sessions of oral arguments have been successfully held virtually. With guidance from the CDC and the Judicial Council of Georgia, the Court is resuming in-person oral arguments, while continuing to allow virtual arguments.
“While we are looking forward to the return of in-person arguments, we are pleased to offer a virtual option for those who are unable to attend in person,” says Chief Judge Brian M. Rickman. “Our plan is to allow this virtual option until at least the end of this year, and continuously assess how it goes. Given continued challenges with COVID-19 and travel, we feel this is best for attorneys and litigants. Our judges will work together to evaluate in real time how we can keep oral arguments accessible and safe.”
If a party wishes to appear virtually for oral arguments, they must send an email request to VirtualArgument@gaappeals.us before 5:00 p.m. on the 25th of the month before the oral argument. For example, if a party has an oral argument scheduled in October, the deadline to request to appear virtually would be 5:00 p.m. on September 25th.