When any case pending in the courts of this state in which the Attorney General is of counsel is scheduled to be called for any purpose during sessions of the General Assembly or during a period of 15 days preceding or following sessions of the General Assembly, on motion of the Attorney General or an assistant attorney general, it shall be a good ground for continuance that the Attorney General and his staff are occupied in aid of the business of the General Assembly.
§ 9-10-156.Grounds for continuance — Occupation of counsel as Attorney General in aid of General Assembly
Chapter 10. Civil Practice and Procedure Generally · Article 7. Continuances · Last amended 1956 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceO.C.G.A. § 9-10-156 gives the Attorney General or an assistant attorney general good ground for a continuance when a case in which the Attorney General is counsel is scheduled during a General Assembly session, or within fifteen days before or after one, because their office is occupied assisting the legislature.
Full Text of § 9-10-156
Plain-English Summary
The Attorney General’s office regularly assists the General Assembly, and this section keeps that legislative work from being crowded out by a court calendar. When a case in which the Attorney General is counsel is set to be called during a legislative session, or within fifteen days before or after one, the Attorney General or an assistant attorney general can move for a continuance on the ground that the office is occupied aiding the General Assembly’s business.
The section is narrow by design. It applies only to cases where the Attorney General serves as counsel, and only during the session itself plus a fifteen-day buffer on each side — not to the broader legislative recess periods that other continuance grounds in this article cover for individual lawmakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can move for a continuance under this section?
The Attorney General or an assistant attorney general.
What kind of case does this section cover?
Any case pending in the courts of Georgia in which the Attorney General is of counsel.
During what window does this ground for continuance apply?
When the case is scheduled to be called during a session of the General Assembly, or during the 15 days preceding or following a session.
What reason does the statute give for the continuance?
That the Attorney General and his staff are occupied in aid of the business of the General Assembly.
Does this section require a motion, or does it apply automatically?
It applies on motion of the Attorney General or an assistant attorney general — the statute frames it as a good ground to raise by motion rather than an automatic stay.
Amendment History
Ga. L. 1956, p. 700, § 1.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, published by the
Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Georgia Code Revision Commission / LexisNexis. Last verified July 17, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: attorney general continuance georgia legislative sessionassistant attorney general continuance ocgaag office aiding general assembly continuance