Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Adjournments
- A written motion for a continuance or status conference must be submitted at least five business days before the trial date and must specifically state the grounds for the request.
- A discovery extension must be requested in writing at least five days before the discovery deadline, with detailed fact-based reasons and a proposed order setting date-certain new deadlines.
Communication
Chambers
Document Format Requirements4 rules
Proposed orders must be emailed to the Court in Word format (a PDF copy may also be included if there are original consent signatures) and cc’d to all counsel of record.
- File type
- Word
- Proposed order
d. Proposed verdict form. A proposed verdict form in Word format must be emailed to the Court.
- File type
- Word
c. Proposed jury charges. All requests to charge must be numbered consecutively in accordance with USCR 10.3, and must be emailed to the Court in Word format.
- File type
- Word
- Jury instructions
Proposed voir dire questions must comply with the standing order's parameters and be emailed to the Court in Word format.
- Voir dire questions
Formatting
- •Word format
- •Emailed to the Court
Court's wording
All proposed voir dire questions must be emailed to the Court in Word format. The parameters for voir dire are detailed in this Standing Order in a separate section set forth below. Voir dire questions must comply with those parameters and be emailed to the Court in Word format.
Document Filing Requirements11 rules
Every attorney, including Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) and Assistant Public Defenders (APDs), must file an Entry of Appearance so the record shows who is prosecuting and defending the case.
A motion to compel discovery shall list and detail the alleged discovery violation(s) and specify the relief sought. “Form” motions seeking generalized disclosure/exclusion are prohibited.
The waiver shall generally read, “The Defendant hereby voluntarily waives formal arraignment and pleads not guilty to all offenses in the indictment,” and be signed by the Defendant or defense counsel.
Counsel must provide detailed, fact-based reasons for the need for the extension, along with a proposed order setting a date certain for the new deadline(s).
Counsel shall comply with the “Amended Standing Order Designating District Attorney’s Office as Official Record Custodian of Criminal Cases and Order Covering Exhibits and Evidence Entered at Trial,” a copy of which is attached hereto.
Before voir dire, counsel shall mark all exhibits, catalogue them in an Exhibit List, and provide the Exhibit List to 1) the court reporter, 2) each opposing party, and 3) the Court. The Exhibit List shall include both the exhibit number and a brief identifying description.
- Document
- Exhibits
Must include
- •Exhibit list
Pattern charges that do not require any modification may be referenced by the pattern charge number and title, without including the text of the charge itself. For all modified pattern or non-pattern charges, the parties must submit the full proposed modified text with citation to supporting authority.
All stipulations must be made in writing, signed by the parties, and presented to the Court outside the presence of the jury. Counsel shall not present any stipulation to the jury that has not been previously presented to the Court.
Any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses an AI tool to prepare, draft, or review a filing must disclose that use, include the specified certification, independently verify all legal and record citations, and place the certification at the end of the document before the signature block.
- Document
- Written submission
Must include
- •AI disclosure
Court's wording
Any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses an AI tool to prepare, draft, or review filing shall disclose such use in the document with the following certification: a This document was generated with the assistance of [identify AI tool(s) used, e.g, Chat GPT, Perplexity, Claude, etc]. I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that, despite reliance on an AI tool, I have independently reviewed this document to confirm accuracy, legitimacy, and use of good and applicable law. Specifically, I have verified that every citation to law, case, statute, or the record in this document is accurate and that it exists as cited and for the proposition cited. This certification must appear at the end of the document, before the signature block.
Counsel must email the Court a list, in Word format, of witness names with any applicable title/rank/honorific (no other identifying information is required). The witness list does NOT need to be filed; it is used by the Judge during voir dire.
Failure to comply with USCR 7.3 may result in an assessment of costs as allowed by the Rule.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Every motion for a new trial must be emailed to the court.
All motions for new trial must be emailed to the Court.
Criminal cases
Page 6 | POST-TRIAL
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A conflict letter must be timely filed, with a copy provided to the court at least seven days before the conflict.
A proper and timely Conflict Letter is filed in accordance with USCR 17.l with a copy provided to the Court at least seven (7) days prior to the conflict;
Criminal cases
Page 1 | APPEARANCE AT ALL CALENDARS AND HEARINGS
An attorney must provide the court with an Entry of Appearance within 48 hours after being retained.
An Entry of Appearance must be provided to the Court within forty-eight (48) hours after being retained. USCR 4.2.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | APPEARANCE AT ALL CALENDARS AND HEARINGS
Every leave of absence, regardless of duration, must be filed in each case and copies must be sent to the court at least 30 days before the leave.
Notwithstanding USCR 16.1’s allowance to “submit” LOAs that are for 30 calendar days or less to the Clerk, any LOA for any length of time shall be filed into each case, with copies sent to the Court at least 30 days prior to leave;
Criminal cases
Page 1 | APPEARANCE AT ALL CALENDARS AND HEARINGS
A defendant may waive arraignment by filing a written waiver no later than 4:00 p.m. on the business day immediately before the arraignment calendar and serving copies on the state and court.
A Defendant may waive arraignment by filing, with copies served on the State and the Court, a written waiver no later than 4:00 p.m. the business day immediately preceding the Arraignment Calendar.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | ARRAIGNMENT CALENDAR
A discovery motion may be filed before or after the discovery deadline, but it must be filed no later than the motions deadline.
Discovery motions may be filed any time before or after the discovery deadline but no later than the motions deadline.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | DISCOVERY
All motions must be filed within fifteen days after discovery closes, and untimely motions may be rejected absent just cause.
The filing deadline for all motions is fifteen (15) days after the close of discovery. Untimely motions may not be considered absent a showing of just cause for the late filing.
Criminal cases
Page 3 | MOTIONS CALENDAR
The interpreter request must comply with USCR 7.3, and the initial request must be emailed by 3:00 p.m. two weeks before the hearing.
The notice shall comply with USCR 7.3, except that the initial request for an interpreter shall be emailed no later than 3:00 p.m. two weeks prior to the hearing.
Criminal cases
Page 6 | REQUEST FOR COURT SERVICES
Probation officers must ensure that probation-revocation petitions are timely filed and that copies are served on the defendants.
Probation Officers shall ensure that revocation petitions are timely filed and that copies are served on the Defendant(s).
Criminal cases
Page 6 | POST-TRIAL
All subpoenas, including out-of-state subpoenas, must be submitted promptly to avoid delay.
Any subpoena, including out-of-state subpoenas, must be submitted promptly to avoid delay.
Criminal cases
Page 5 | Standing Case Management Order for Criminal Cases Assigned to Division 7
State and defense counsel must help ensure compliance with the initial 120-day and subsequent 180-day status-conference requirements under USCR 41.2 by emailing regular updates to the court.
The State and defense counsel shall help ensure compliance with USCR 41.2, i.e., the requirements for an initial 120-day status conference and the subsequent 180- day status conferences, by emailing regular updates to the Court.
Criminal cases
Page 6 | POST-TRIAL
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Each proposed order must be emailed to the court and copied to all counsel of record.
Proposed orders must be emailed to the Court in Word format (a PDF copy may also be included if there are original consent signatures) and cc’d to all counsel of record.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | General Procedures
Specified filings must be provided to the court within 24 hours after filing by hard copy, electronic service, email, or a permitted combination of those methods.
Within twenty-four (24) hours of filing, all entries of appearance, leaves of absence, conflict notices, motions, and other substantive filings must be provided to the Court by hard copy, eservice, and/or email.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | General Procedures
The parties must promptly and completely comply with OCGA § 17-16-4 discovery disclosure requirements within 30 days after arraignment.
The parties shall promptly and completely comply with the disclosure requirements of OCGA § 17-16-4 within thirty (30) days of arraignment.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | DISCOVERY
Supplemental discovery must be provided as soon as practicable and no later than five business days after receipt of the new information.
Any supplemental discovery must be provided as soon as practicable but in any event no later than five (5) business days after receipt of the new information.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | DISCOVERY
Copies of a filed arraignment waiver must be served on both the state and the court.
A Defendant may waive arraignment by filing, with copies served on the State and the Court, a written waiver no later than 4:00 p.m. the business day immediately preceding the Arraignment Calendar.
Criminal cases
Page 2 | ARRAIGNMENT CALENDAR
Copies of a probation-revocation petition must be served on the defendant.
Probation Officers shall ensure that revocation petitions are timely filed and that copies are served on the Defendant(s).
Criminal cases
Page 6 | POST-TRIAL
Notices concerning the Probation Revocation Calendar are sent to the listed government and private recipients, and probation officers must notify defendants not in custody.
The Court publishes a Probation Revocation Calendar, and notices are sent to the ADAs, APDs, private counsel, probation officers, and the DeKalb County Jail. The Defendant(s) who are not in custody shall be notified by their probation officers.
Criminal cases
Page 6 | POST-TRIAL
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
The parties must confer before the motions hearing to determine whether outstanding motions can be narrowed or resolved by agreement.
The parties are HEREBY ORDERED to confer before the motions hearing to determine whether any of the outstanding motions can be narrowed or resolved by agreement.
Criminal cases
Page 4 | MOTIONS CALENDAR
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A discovery extension must be requested in writing at least five days before the discovery deadline, with detailed fact-based reasons and a proposed order setting date-certain new deadlines.
A written request to extend discovery shall be filed at least five (5) days before the discovery deadline. Counsel must provide detailed, fact-based reasons for the need for the extension, along with a proposed order setting a date certain for the new deadline(s).
Criminal cases
Page 2 | DISCOVERY
A written motion for a continuance or status conference must be submitted at least five business days before the trial date and must specifically state the grounds for the request.
Any motion for continuance or for a status conference must be in writing and submitted at least five (5) business days before the trial date. The motion must set forth with specificity the grounds for the requested continuance or conference.
Criminal cases
Page 3 | PRE-TRIAL CALENDAR
Chambers Communication Rules
EFileGA service and court emails must be directed to both the Judicial Assistant and Criminal Litigation Manager, and counsel must never email the judge directly.
Service via eFileGA and emails to the Court shall be to both the Judicial Assistant, Mrs. Damico N. Edwards at dnedwards@dekalbcountyga.gov, and the Criminal Litigation Manager, Ms. Abigail Rudica at arudica@dekalbcountyga.gov. In no instance should counsel directly email the Judge.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | General Procedures
State and defense counsel must notify the court when an interpreter is needed for the defendant or a witness.
The State and defense counsel shall notify the Court of the need for an interpreter for Defendant or a witness.
Criminal cases
Page 6 | REQUEST FOR COURT SERVICES
Counsel must email the court to schedule a new-trial hearing once the motion is ready to be heard.
Once a motion for new trial is ready to be heard, counsel shall email the Court to schedule the hearing.
Criminal cases
Page 6 | POST-TRIAL
An attorney unfamiliar with Courtroom 7B’s evidence-presentation technology must email Court Administration IT for equipment training no later than five business days before the proceeding.
If any party intends to present exhibits at any hearing, trial, or other proceeding, and the attorney is unfamiliar with the evidence presentation technology in Courtroom 7B, then that attorney is required to email Court Administration IT, courtadminit@dekalbcountyga.gov, for equipment training no later than five (5) business days before the court proceeding.
Criminal cases
Page 7 | Courtroom Evidence Presentation
Even if counsel has previously used Courtroom 7B’s evidence presentation technology, arrangements should be made with Court Administration IT to test media before the court proceeding to ensure that the files are not corrupted and are compatible with the courtroom technology.
Even if counsel has previously used Courtroom 7B’s evidence presentation technology, arrangements should be made with Court Administration IT to test media before the court proceeding to ensure that the files are not corrupted and are compatible with the courtroom technology.
Criminal cases
Page 7 | Courtroom Evidence Presentation