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The importance of having an emergency plan was a reality all courts faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.  In this episode, we will talk with courts who faced other types of emergencies, such as natural disasters, infestations, and water damage.  We will learn firsthand from their experiences on how we can be better prepared in the event of an emergency in our own courts. 

In this episode, we talk with Tracy Johnson and Kriste Pope. They are the Education and Conference Co-Chairs. They will be giving us an update on all things spring conference. 

Josh Weeks is the new president for 2022. In this episode, we learn how Josh began his career in the court system. He is currently the Juvenile Court Administrator in the Conasauga Judicial Circuit. The circuit covers both Whitfield County and Murray County. 

Last year Jury Trials were suspended due to the pandemic, many Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted and Courts have resumed jury trials as a result. Before, the pandemic courts would seat as many jurors in their jury assembly rooms as possible and try as many jury trials as possible. Now courts are restricting the number of jurors reporting to ensure they are following the CDC guidelines. Jurors are vital to the function of the court system and help courts resolve many cases each year. To help us understand how courts are reimplementing jury trials the episode features, the Bell-Forstyh Judicial Circuit Chief Judge, Jeffery S. Bagley, and Cobb Judicial Circuit Jury Administrator, Wendy Portwood. 

Florida Courts have been leading the nation in social media with 90 percent of their jurisdictions utilizing social media platforms. Joining us for this episode we have Craig Waters, who has been credited for this accolade. Waters is the current director of the Public Information Office at the Florida Supreme Court, where he has worked for the last 34 years. He is also an attorney and former journalist. He launched his career in court communications in 1994 when, as a staff attorney, he created the court’s first website.The innovative communications programs he spearheaded included establishing the court’s Public Information Office in 1996, organizing the first gavel-to-gavel livestreams of his court’s oral arguments starting in 1997, founding Florida’s first professional association for court PIOs in 2005, and using social media for court communications starting in 2009. He is best known as the public spokesperson for the Florida Supreme Court during the 36 days of election disputes 20 years ago known to history as Bush v. Gore.

Episode # 1 discusses the proposed juvenile legislation encompassing HB 440, HB 439 and HB 438. Judge Amber N. Patterson, who is currently serving as chair of the task force assigned to this legislation by the Council of Juvenile Court Judges, informs us on what each bill is seeking to change, and how if passed, would effect current juvenile procedures.

COVID-19 drastically changed the day to day operations of our courts. Episode 2 discusses the challenges Georgia courts have faced to ensure the safety of the public and staff, while ensuring access to justice is adequately maintained. This episode features a seasoned panel of court administrators throughout our state, and discusses how different jurisdictions are operating in the face of the current pandemic. Discussions include Court Operating Procedures, Budget Cuts, Court Programs, Jury Trial Preparation, Caseloads and Hearings, and the GA CARES Act.Joining us on the panel is District Court Administrator Will Simmons-6th Judicial District, Court Administrator Robyn Rooks-Bell-Forsyth Circuit, Deputy Court Administrator Edwin Bell-DeKalb County Superior Court, and Court Administrator Tammy Hardin-Catoosa County Juvenile Court.