I read with complete agreement Judge Wade Padgett’s prediction in a recent story of a jury trial “avalanche” when jury trials are eventually allowed under the Judicial Emergency. The courts are left with trying to schedule and move both their criminal and civil dockets. The criminal dockets in metro Atlanta counties will take first priority due to multiple speedy trial requests filed where the defendant inmate has been waiting months for his day in court. These felony trials typically take at least one week, and will now take longer due to COVID precautions.

When will the court have time to hear a discovery dispute in a simple car wreck case when they are swamped with criminal jury trials? Same question for domestic relations lawyers who have a need for urgent hearings? Cases cannot typically settle when both sides are waiting for a Judge to at least initially determine how strong or weak their case may be.