Substitute
Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: State Court
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Districts
Authorize the State Court to use Decatur Presbyterian Church for Criminal and Civil Jury Selection
Body
Information Contact: Honorable Al Wong, Judge State Court
Phone Number: 404-371-2591
PURPOSE:
The State Court has advised that it is impracticable to use the courthouse to select criminal and civil jurors in a way that is compliant with CDC and court-related guidelines. State law, O.C.G.A. 15-6-8, requires the governing authority to approve by resolution the use of alternative facilities for holding any session of the state court, and further requires for criminal jury trials, that the county have a contractual relationship with the alternative facility. While the state court will not be holding the actual jury trials in the alternative facility, Judge Wong has worked out an arrangement to use the Decatur Presbyterian Church for jury selection for civil jury trials beginning the week of June 21, 2021 and for criminal jury trials upon execution of the lease by the parties.
NEED/IMPACT:
Without use of this facility for criminal and civil jury selection, the State Court would not be able to begin jury trials until much later in 2021 or perhaps even in 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$250.00 per day of use plus cost of insurance.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
Authorize the attached resolution and authorize the CEO to execute a lease with the Decatur Presbyterian Church for the State Court’s temporary use of the facility for jury selection pursposes.