The backlog of pandemic-delayed court cases is slowly easing. The Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, which prosecutes cases in Habersham, Rabun, and Stephens counties, says it has cleared nearly 140 pending felony criminal cases in Habersham alone since jury trials resumed back in April.
This past week, chief circuit judge Russell Smith declared sentence in the latest trial to be held in Habersham — a three-day murder trial that ended in a voluntary manslaughter conviction against Jerry Wall.
The trial was held inside a gymnasium at the Habersham County Recreation Department. The blue gym — one of two at the site — was converted into a socially distanced courtroom to comply with COVID-19 public health restrictions ordered by the Supreme Court of Georgia.
The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, Clerk of Court’s office, County IT, and Facilities Management departments all worked together to construct the space. And although the cavernous gym and masks make it harder to observe and hear everyone during proceedings, the makeshift courtroom made it possible for jury trials to resume in Habersham after a 14-month standstill.
“Everyone did a great job in preparing the gymnasium for jury trials,” says District Attorney George Christian. “The larger venue lacks the formality of a courtroom. We are accustomed to being in closer proximity to the judge and jury. Having said that, it worked well.”
Still, court officials look forward to the day they can return to the smaller, more acoustically sound courtrooms at the judicial center in Clarkesville. They’ve already returned to the Stephens County courthouse where the largest courtroom was modified to accommodate jury trials. The Rabun County Civic Center is being used for trials in that county.
Even as Gov. Brian Kemp scales back COVID restrictions across the state, Georgia’s Supreme Court still has not lifted its mask mandate and social distancing requirements.
“We all hope that will change,” says Christian, “but don’t know what the Georgia Supreme Court is thinking in that regard. Those circuits with large facilities have been able to resume jury trials in their courtrooms.”
Until those requirements change, prosecutors and defense attorneys in Habersham will continue going to the gym to lift the heavy load of case backlogs.
