Uniform Municipal Court Rules, December 31, 2025
Updated October 27, 2026
Statewide court type
Municipal Court proceedings, including expressly stated civil/criminal limitations. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source text retained on collection date; source versions and later amendments must remain visible. No exhaustive certification of current legal effect.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
RULE 11. USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN COURTROOMS AND RECORDINGS
OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS 11.1 Overview. Open courtrooms are an indispensable element of an effective and respected judicial system. It is the policy of Georgia’s courts to promote access to and understanding of court proceedings not only by the participants in them but also by the general public and by news media who will report on the proceedings to the public. This must be done, however, while protecting the legal rights of the participants in the proceedings and ensuring appropriate security and decorum. Except as otherwise required by law, this rule governs the use of devices to record sounds or images in a courtroom and comports with the standards provided in OCGA § 15-1-10.1 regarding the use of devices to record judicial proceedings. This rule similarly governs the use of electronic devices, including mobile phones and computers, in a courtroom for purposes other than recording sounds and images. Such use is generally allowed by lawyers, by employees of lawyers, and by self-represented parties, but to ensure decorum and avoid distraction, such use is generally prohibited by witnesses, parties, and spectators, including representatives of the news media. Such persons may, however, use their devices by stepping outside the courtroom, and nothing in this rule prevents a judge from permitting parties and spectators to use their devices for non-recording purposes as the judge may allow in his or her discretion. A court must use reasonable means to advise courtroom visitors of the provisions of this rule and must make the form in Exhibit A available in its clerk’s office and on the court’s website.
Municipal Court proceedings, including expressly stated civil/criminal limitations. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Source page 16RULE 23. MOTIONS, DEMURRERS, SPECIAL PLEAS, ETC.
23.3 Notice of Prosecution's Intent to Present Evidence of Similar Transactions. (a) The prosecution may, upon notice filed in accordance with Rule 23.1, request of the court in which the charging instrument is pending, leave to present during the trial evidence of similar transactions or occurrences. (b) The notice shall be in writing, served upon the defendant's counsel, and shall state the transaction, date, county, and the name(s) of the victim(s) for each similar transaction or occurrence sought to be introduced. Copies of accusations or indictments, if any, and guilty pleas or verdicts, if any, shall be attached to the notice. The judge shall hold a hearing at such time as may be appropriate and may receive evidence on any issue of fact necessary to determine the request. The burden of proving that the evidence of similar transactions or occurrences should be admitted shall be upon the prosecution. The prosecutor may present during the trial evidence of only those similar transactions or occurrences specifically approved by the judge. (c) Evidence of similar transactions or occurrences not approved shall be inadmissible. In every case, the prosecuting attorney and defense attorney shall instruct their witnesses not to refer to similar crimes, transactions or occurrences, or otherwise place the defendant's character in issue, unless specifically authorized by the judge. (d) If upon the trial of the case the defense places the defendant's character in issue, evidence of similar transactions or occurrences, as shall be admissible according to the rules of evidence, shall be admissible, the above provisions notwithstanding. (e) Nothing in this rule is intended to prohibit the prosecution from introducing evidence of similar transactions or occurrences which are lesser included alleged offenses of the charge being tried or are immediately related in time and place to the charge being tried, as part of a single, continuous transaction. Nothing in this rule is intended to alter the rules of evidence relating to impeachment of witnesses. (f) This rule shall not apply to sentencing hearings.
Municipal Court proceedings, including expressly stated civil/criminal limitations. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Source page 30RULE 20. INITIAL APPEARANCE/COMMITMENT HEARINGS
20.3 Private Citizen Warrant Application Hearings. (d) Upon the filing of an application for an arrest warrant by a person other than a peace officer or law enforcement officer, and if the court determines that a hearing is appropriate pursuant to OCGA § 17-4-40, the court shall give notice of the date, time and location of the hearing to the applicant and to the person whose arrest is sought by personal service or by first class mail to the person's last known address or by any other means which are reasonably calculated to notify the person of the date, time and location of the hearing. (e) At the warrant application hearing the court shall: (1) Explain the probable cause purpose of the hearing; (2) Inform the accused of the charges; (3) Inform the accused of the right to hire and have the advice of an attorney, of the right to remain silent, and that any statement made may be used against him or her. (c) The warrant application hearing shall be conducted in accordance with OCGA § 17-4-40 (b) (4) and (5) and Rule 20.2 (c) of these rules. (d) A copy of the record of any testimony and the proceedings of the warrant application hearing, if available, shall be provided to the proper prosecuting officer and to the accused upon payment of the reasonable cost for preparation of the record. (e) The judge conducting a warrant application hearing is without jurisdiction to make final disposition of the case or cases at the hearing by imposing any fine or punishment.
Municipal Court proceedings, including expressly stated civil/criminal limitations. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Source page 28RULE 24. CRIMINAL TRIAL CALENDAR
24.1 Calendar Preparation. All cases shall be set for trial within a reasonable time after arraignment. The clerk, judge or th judge's designee shall prepare a trial calendar, shall if applicable deliver a copy thereof to the clerk o court, and shall give notice in person or by mail to each counsel of record, the bondsman (if any) and th defendant at the last address indicated in court records, not less than seven (7) days before the trial dat The calendar shall list the dates that cases are set for trial, the cases to be tried at that session of court, th case numbers, the names of the defendants and the names of the defense counsel.
Municipal Court proceedings, including expressly stated civil/criminal limitations. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Source page 30RULE 17. HEARINGS ON ISSUANCE OF SEARCH WARRANTS
Whenever the hearing on the issuance of a search or arrest warrant is not recorded, the judge shall make a written notation or memorandum of any oral testimony which is not included in the affidavit, upon which the judge relies in issuing such warrant.
Municipal Court proceedings, including expressly stated civil/criminal limitations. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
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