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COVID rise leads judge to postpone Newton January jury date to February
Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr. Judicial Center
The Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr. Judicial Center - photo by Courtesy of Newton County

COVINGTON, Ga. — The recent rapid rise in COVID-19 cases will delay jury trials for more than a month in Newton County.

Those told to report Jan. 10 for jury duty in Newton County will instead begin their service in February, said Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Foster.

He said that “as a result of the rapidly rising rate of infection and the greater apparent transmissibility of the latest COVID-19 variant” the Newton County January 2022 term of court will be postponed for regular civil and special criminal trials.

The January 2022 term of court in Covington will begin the week of Feb. 14 instead of Jan. 10, Foster said.

He said jurors summonsed do not need to appear Jan. 10 and will receive a new notice for the Feb. 14 date. 

A total of 1,711 confirmed cases had been reported between Dec. 20 and Jan. 3 in Newton County, up from a total of 29 between Dec. 1 and 15.