In accordance with federal judiciary policy that the ability to conduct proceedings remotely should not be viewed as a replacement for conducting proceedings that have been traditionally held in the courtroom, the Judges for the Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court have concluded that, beginning in late September, calendar calls and hearings on matters on the calendar in the Atlanta, Newnan, and Rome divisions that are not settled or reset will be held in person unless the court orders otherwise. Calendar calls and hearings will no longer be viewable virtually as a matter of course.

Settled matters, no opposition matters, and reset requests (“Requested Announcements”) must be reported to the appropriate Courtroom Deputy by 4:00 p.m. the day prior to a morning calendar or 10:00 a.m. the day of an afternoon calendar to avoid counsels’ and pro se parties’ obligation to appear in person. Matters that are not resolved by a Requested Announcement or an in-person announcement at the call of the calendar will be heard immediately after the second calendar call.

Matters in Chapter 13 cases will not be delayed for negotiation or discussion with the Chapter 13 Trustee. The Court supports and will enforce the deadlines established by the Chapter 13 Trustees for reporting and resolving issues prior to the call of the mass calendar.

The Court will also amend its voluntary notice procedures to include motions for relief from stay in Chapter 7 cases.  This change will occur prior to September.