Cobb Superior Court staff briefs jurors on process, introduces Superior Court judges

Court staff at Cobb County Superior Court gave a juror orientation explaining jurors' duties, courtroom procedures and how to get daily reporting instructions, while introducing the judges who serve on the Superior Court bench. "Jury duty allows you as an American citizen the unique opportunity to participate in the judicial process," a court staff member said during the orientation.

The staff member said Cobb Superior Court is the highest level court in Cobb County and introduced the Superior Court judges by name and brief biography. Judges named in the orientation included Judge Robert D. Leonard (Superior Court judge since 2012), Judge Gregory Poole (since 2013), Judge Anne B. Harris (elected July 2014), Judge Kimberly A. Childs (elected May 2016), Judge Kelly S. Hill (elected June 2020), Judge Angela Z. Brown, Judge Jason D. Marbit, Judge Henry R. Thompson, Judge Victor Reynolds (appointed Aug. 15, 2022), Judge Julie Adams Jacobs (appointed Aug. 15, 2022), and Judge Sonia N. Brown (elected June 21, 2022). The orientation noted each judge's prior roles or specialties when provided in the introduction (for example, Judge Childs presides over the drug treatment court and Judge Harris presides over a parental accountability court).

The orientation described courtroom roles and logistics jurors will encounter. The sheriff's office provides courthouse security and assigns deputies to courtrooms; the courtroom clerk maintains official records and evidence and works for the elected clerk of the Superior Court, Connie Taylor; the court reporter produces official transcripts; and a bailiff escorts jurors and helps maintain order. The staff member identified the Cobb County district attorney as Sonya Allen and said the district attorney's office assigns prosecutors to courtroom cases.

Staff outlined the sequence of a trial: voir dire (jury selection), opening statements, witness testimony and evidence (subject to the judge's rulings on admissibility), closing arguments and jury deliberations. Jurors are instructed to leave the courtroom when the judge conducts matters outside their presence and will be escorted to the jury room for deliberations.

Practical instructions for jurors included the court's call-in system for daily reporting instructions, an option to receive instructions by email (sign-up via QR code on the summons), and the requirement to call the system daily unless selected for a trial. Jury administration hours were given as Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the phone number provided was (770) 528-1757 and the email address was superiorcourtjury@cobcounty.gov. Staff said jurors will receive a check and a verification of attendance reflecting physical days present; checks and verifications will be mailed to the home address on file, and jurors can obtain a copy of the verification on the court website at cobcounty.gov/superiorcourtjury.

The orientation closed by reiterating the role jurors play in ensuring a fair trial and by thanking attendees for their service. For more information, the staff member directed jurors to the Superior Court jury webpage.