ORDER CLOSING COURTHOUSE AND DECLARATION OF JUDICIAL EMERGENCY
The Court has determined that a judicial emergency exists in Floyd County, Georgia in that a catastrophic fire occurred at the Historic County Courthouse during the afternoon of March 23, 2026, thereby limiting access to the Floyd County Courthouse and requiring assessment of any dangers posed by remnants of the fire.
It appears that the emergency will substantially endanger or infringe upon the normal functioning of the judicial system, the ability of persons to avail themselves of the judicial system, and/or the ability of litigants or others to have access to the courts or meet deadlines imposed by court order or rule, statute, or administrative rule or regulation,
Accordingly, pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-61, the Floyd County Courthouse shall be closed on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, and will reopen on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, unless the emergency is extended by further order of the court.
The civil and criminal matters on any calendar shall be continued until further notice.
Pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-62 (a), all court deadlines, other time schedules, or filing requirements imposed by applicable statutes, rules, regulations, or court orders, whether in civil or criminal cases or administrative matters, are hereby suspended, tolled, or extended until March 25, 2026, unless the emergency is extended by further order of the court.
Pursuant to OCGA 38-3-63, the Sheriff or designee shall post a copy of this notice on the courthouse doors; the County Manager or designee shall post a copy of this notice and any subsequent modification or extension on the county website; the Clerk of Court shall provide notice of the closure in the same manner as they would for cancellation of any other court matter; and notice of this order and any extension shall be provided to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, to the judges and clerks of all courts sitting within the affected jurisdiction, and on the clerks of the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
Anyone requiring the Court's involvement in an emergency situation may contact the office of the Chief Judge of Superior Court by calling 706-291- 5121, by email to the Court Administrator at davlon.ezell@floydcountyga.org, or by calling the County Sheriffs Office at 706-291-4111.
SO ORDERED this 23rd day of March, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
