Georgia Uniform Superior Court Rules
223 rules across 49 Uniform Superior Court Rules
The Uniform Superior Court Rules (USCR) govern practice and procedure in Georgia’s superior courts, promulgated by the Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia under the Supreme Court of Georgia’s inherent rulemaking authority. They cover case assignment, discovery, motions, trial calendars, and courtroom procedure for both civil and criminal matters heard in superior court. Browse the full set below, with verbatim rule text and a plain-English summary for every rule.
Rule 1. PREAMBLE
Cited as USCR · 8 rules
Rule 2. DEFINITIONS
Cited as USCR · 6 rules
Rule 3. ASSIGNMENT OF CASES AND ACTIONS
Cited as USCR · 4 rules
Rule 4. ATTORNEYS APPEARANCE, WITHDRAWAL AND DUTIES
Cited as USCR · 13 rules
- 4.1 Prohibition on Ex Parte Communications
- 4.2 Entry of Appearance and Pleadings
- 4.3 Withdrawal
- 4.4 Admission Pro Hac Vice
- 4.5 Entries of Appearance and Withdrawals by Members or Employees of Law Firms or Professional Corporations
- 4.6 To Notify of Representation
- 4.7 To Utilize Assigned Judge
- 4.8 To Notify of Related Cases
- 4.9 To Notify of Previous Presentation to Another Judge
- 4.10 To Notify of Settlements and Dismissals
- 4.11 Attorneys: Appearance, Withdrawal and Duties; to Attend and Remain
- 4.12 Binding Authority
- 4.13 Limited Appearances
Rule 5. DISCOVERY IN CIVIL ACTIONS
Cited as USCR · 6 rules
Rule 6. MOTIONS IN CIVIL ACTIONS
Cited as USCR · 7 rules
Rule 7. PRETRIAL CONFERENCES
Cited as USCR · 4 rules
Rule 8. CIVIL JURY TRIAL CALENDAR
Cited as USCR · 6 rules
Rule 9. VIRTUAL PROCEEDINGS
Cited as USCR · 2 rules
Rule 10. TRIALS
Cited as USCR · 4 rules
Rule 11. SELECTION OF JURIES
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 12. VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL OF ACTIONS
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 13. ARGUMENTS
Cited as USCR · 4 rules
Rule 14. DISMISSAL
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 15. DEFAULT JUDGMENTS
Cited as USCR · 2 rules
Rule 16. LEAVES OF ABSENCE
Cited as USCR · 4 rules
Rule 17. CONFLICTS–STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS
Cited as USCR · 2 rules
Rule 18. RULES FOR SERVICE OF SENIOR JUDGES
Cited as USCR · 8 rules
- 18.1 Definitions
- 18.2 Requests for Assistance
- 18.3 Certificate of Need
- 18.4 Emergency Requests
- 18.5 Residence of Senior Judge
- 18.6 [Deleted] Deleted
- 18.7 [Deleted] Deleted
- 18.8 Election of Ineligibility
Rule 19. TRANSFER/CHANGE OF VENUE
Cited as USCR · 4 rules
Rule 20. PEREMPTORY CALENDAR
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 21. LIMITATION OF ACCESS TO COURT FILES
Cited as USCR · 7 rules
Rule 22. USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN COURTROOMS AND RECORDING OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS
Cited as USCR · 2 rules
Rule 23. WITHDRAWAL OF FUNDS FROM COURT
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 24. DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Cited as USCR · 12 rules
- 24.1 Scope of Domestic Relations Actions
- 24.2 Financial Data Required; Scheduling and Notice of Temporary Hearing
- 24.3 Acknowledgement and Waivers
- 24.4 Notice of Temporary Hearings in Cases Not Involving Financial Matters
- 24.5 Witnesses in Domestic Relations Actions
- 24.6 Uncontested Divorce Actions
- 24.7 Contested Divorce Actions
- 24.8 Court Mandated Programs in Domestic Relations Cases
- 24.9 Appointment, Qualification and Role of a Guardian ad Litem
- 24.10 Parenting Plans
- 24.11 Separate Income Withholding Orders
- 24.12 Required Income Withholding Order Form
Rule 25. RECUSAL
Cited as USCR · 7 rules
Rule 26. PRE-INDICTMENT PROCEEDINGS
Cited as USCR · 3 rules
Rule 27. PRE–TRIAL RELEASE PROGRAM
Cited as USCR · 6 rules
Rule 28. JAIL CENSUS
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 29. APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL FOR INDIGENT DEFENDANTS
Cited as USCR · 11 rules
- 29.1 Counties to Which This Rule is Applicable
- 29.2 Application and Appointment of Counsel
- 29.3 The Role of Law Enforcement
- 29.4 Responsibility for Determination of Eligibility
- 29.5 Uniform Eligibility Guidelines
- 29.6 Standards of Performance for Appointed Attorneys [Reserved]
- 29.7 County May Select Method of Providing Counsel
- 29.8 Assignment of Cases to Private Attorneys
- 29.9 Fees Paid to Lawyers Under a Panel Program
- 29.10 Fee Disputes
- 29.11 Independence of Counsel
Rule 30. ARRAIGNMENT
Cited as USCR · 3 rules
Rule 31. MOTIONS, DEMURRERS, SPECIAL PLEAS, AND SIMILAR ITEMS IN CRIMINAL MATTERS
Cited as USCR · 7 rules
- 31.1 Time for Filing; Requirements
- 31.2 Time for Hearing
- 31.3 Notice of Prosecution’s Intent to Present Evidence of Similar Transactions
- 31.4 Motion and Order for Evaluation Regarding Mental Competency to Stand Trial
- 31.5 Notice of Intention of Defense to Raise Issue of Insanity, Mental Illness, or Intellectual Disability at the Time of the Act
- 31.6 Notice of Intention of Defense to Present Evidence of Acts of Violence by the Victim
- 31.7 Status Conference
Rule 32. CRIMINAL TRIAL CALENDAR
Cited as USCR · 2 rules
Rule 33. PLEADING BY DEFENDANT
Cited as USCR · 12 rules
- 33.1 Alternatives
- 33.2 Aid of Counsel–Time for Deliberation
- 33.3 Propriety of Plea Discussions and Plea Agreements
- 33.4 Relationship Between Defense Counsel and Client
- 33.5 Responsibilities of the Trial Judge
- 33.6 Consideration of Plea in Final Disposition
- 33.7 Determining Voluntariness of Plea
- 33.8 Defendant to Be Informed
- 33.9 Determining Accuracy of Plea
- 33.10 Stating Intention to Reject the Plea Agreement
- 33.11 Record of Proceedings
- 33.12 Plea Withdrawal
Rule 34. UNIFIED APPEAL
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 35. POST–SENTENCE INFORMATION
Cited as USCR · 2 rules
Rule 36. FILING AND PROCESSING
Cited as USCR · 19 rules
- 36.1 Preparation of Documents
- 36.2 Time of Docketing
- 36.3 Caption
- 36.4 Signatures on Documents Filed of Record
- 36.5 Location of Original
- 36.6 Minutes and Final Record
- 36.7 Filing of Transcripts
- 36.8 File Categories
- 36.9 Identification
- 36.10 Filing Requirements–Civil
- 36.11 Return of Service–Civil
- 36.12 Advance Costs–Civil
- 36.13 Filing Requirements–Criminal
- 36.14 Filing of No Bills
- 36.15 Assessment of Costs–Criminal
- 36.16 Electronic Filing
- 36.17 Sensitive Information
- 36.18 Electronic Signatures
- 36.19 Digital Recording of Court Proceedings
Rule 37. COURT ADMINISTRATORS
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 38. FILING OF REMITTITUR AND JUDGMENT
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 39. DOCKETING AND INDEXING
Cited as USCR · 9 rules
Rule 40. COMPUTER APPLICATIONS AND STANDARDS
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 41. MOTIONS FOR NEW TRIAL
Cited as USCR · 4 rules
Rule 42. SPECIAL COUNSEL
Cited as USCR · 2 rules
Rule 43. MANDATORY CONTINUING JUDICIAL EDUCATION (MCJE)
Cited as USCR · 6 rules
Rule 44. HABEAS CORPUS PROCEEDINGS IN DEATH SENTENCE CASES
Cited as USCR · 13 rules
- 44.1 Application
- 44.2 Request for Judicial Assignment
- 44.3 Respondent’s Answer or Motion to Dismiss
- 44.4 Assignment of Judge for Habeas Corpus Proceedings
- 44.5 Preliminary Conference and Scheduling
- 44.6 Motions
- 44.7 Amendments to the Petition; Discovery
- 44.8 Pretrial Conference
- 44.9 Evidentiary Hearing
- 44.10 Preparation of Transcript
- 44.11 Briefing
- 44.12 Ruling on Petition
- 44.13 Effect of Rule
Rule 45. COURT SECURITY AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 46. SPECIAL MASTERS
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 47. ADOPTION – EXPEDITING UNCONTESTED AGENCY ADOPTION HEARINGS
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 48. INQUIRY REGARDING WEAPONS CARRY LICENSE
Cited as USCR · 1 rule
Rule 49. EMERGENCY DISPOSSESSORY
Cited as USCR · 1 rule