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After Hurricane Helene, court deadlines extended, misconduct hotline activated

By Debra Cassens Weiss

October 2, 2024, 12:25 pm CDT

Hurricane Helene is having a continuing impact on the courts.

The Georgia Supreme Court’s chief justice declared a statewide judicial emergency Monday to extend deadlines in cases where parties were affected by the hurricane.

The judicial emergency affects all courts, but deadlines are extended only in cases in which parties certify that they were unable to file or meet deadlines, according to the Sept. 30 order by Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs.

Law360 has coverage.

Boggs told Law360 that many chief superior court judges in Georgia began issuing emergency orders closing courthouses in advance of the storm.

In North Carolina, North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby issued an amended order extending court deadlines in 28 counties, according to a Sept. 30 press release.

Law360 has coverage.

In Florida, all courts had reopened by Oct. 1, according to the Florida Bar, which has activated a hotline for residents to report potential misconduct and solicitation by lawyers.

A Florida courts information page said orders will be issued to extend deadlines that happened during court closures.

ABA Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services Resources

• Message from ABA President Bill Bay

• Volunteer Interest Form

• Donations for Providing Legal Services to Disaster Survivors

• Hotline Numbers for Legal Services Questions