The complete paragraphs are attached. These rules of the Court of Appeals of Georgia are adopted effective January 11, 2022, and will be applied to all cases decided by the Court of Appeals on or after that date.
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I. GENERAL
Rule 2. Documents; Communications; General.
(a) Requirement for Written and Signed Documents.
All filings, including, but not limited to, documents, motions, briefs, requests, applications, and communications relating to appeals shall be in writing and legible; shall be filed with the Clerk’s office; shall be signed, as further specified in subsections (1) and (2), by an attorney of record, an attorney granted courtesy appearance, or pro se party; shall include the mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address, if any, of the attorney or the pro se party signing the document; shall include the State Bar of Georgia membership number of all submitting attorneys; and shall show that copies have been served upon opposing counsel in accordance with Rule 6, Copies and Certificate of Service. If, pursuant to Rule 9 (h), a Registered Law Student or Registered Law School Graduate co-authors a filing or pleading, the filing shall disclose such status and be co-signed by the supervising attorney (as specified in Rule 9 (h)). Filings or communications with the Court by corporate entities, including all classes of corporations and partnerships, professional associations, and limited liability companies, must be signed by an attorney authorized to practice before the Court.
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(d) Counsel.
All reference to counsel in these rules shall include pro se parties and any Registered Law Students and Registered Law School Graduates and their supervising attorneys pursuant to Rule 9 (h).
II. ATTORNEYS
Rule 9. Attorneys, Registered Law Students, and Registered Law School Graduates.
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(h) Appearance and Argument before the Court of Appeals of Georgia by Registered Law Students and Registered Law School Graduates.
Law students registered and authorized to practice provisionally under the Supreme Court of Georgia’s Student Practice Rules 91-96 (“Registered Law Students”) and law school graduates registered and provisionally authorized to practice under the Supreme Court of Georgia’s Law School Graduate Rules 97-103 (“Registered Law School Graduates”) or any applicable Supreme Court of Georgia Order may coauthor and sign pleadings filed in this Court, so long as such Registered Law Students or Registered Law School Graduates indicate their status on the signature
line and their supervising attorney co-signs the pleadings. The supervising attorney must be admitted to practice in this Court and must comply with the Supreme Court of Georgia’s applicable Registered Law Students and Registered Law School Graduates supervision rules (including those required by applicable orders of the Supreme Court of Georgia).
Upon leave of Court, Registered Law Students and Registered Law School Graduates
may be authorized to present oral arguments, provided that their supervising attorney
signs or co-signs the oral argument motion and includes within that motion, in
addition to the requirements of Rule 28, the following:
- The name of the Registered Law Student or Registered Law School Graduate seeking to argue,
- The extent of attorney supervision in preparing the Registered Law Student or Registered Law School Graduate for argument, and
- A statement that the supervising attorney will be physically present with the Registered Law Student or Registered Law School Graduate (whether both will appear in person or, with permission, appear remotely) during oral argument and prepared to assume or supplement any oral argument made by the Registered Law Student or Registered Law School Graduate.
The Court must give specific approval for the Registered Law Student’s or Registered Law School Graduate’s participation in oral argument, which shall be sought by oral argument request or separate motion.
VIII. ARGUMENT
Rule 28. Oral Argument.
(a) Request and Time.
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(3) The request for oral argument must be a separate document, filed with the Clerk, certifying that opposing counsel has been notified of the request and that opposing counsel desires, or does not desire, to argue orally. The request shall identify the counsel who would argue. If any such counsel is a Registered Law Student or Registered Law School Graduate, the request shall identify them accordingly and their supervising attorney and follow the requirements of Rule 9 (h). Any change of counsel shall be communicated to the Clerk as soon as practicable.
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(g) Courtroom Decorum.
(1) Counsel appearing for oral argument shall check in with the Clerk in the courtroom 30 minutes before the time scheduled for oral argument, shall specify who shall argue, and shall disclose if counsel is a Registered Law Student, Registered Law School Graduate, or supervising attorney for the foregoing pursuant to Rule 9 (h).