Clayton County court grants rule absolutes on bond-forfeiture calendar; judge directs bond-refund inquiries to sheriff

Judge Tammy Long Hayward called the bond-forfeiture calendar at 11 a.m. April 28, 2025, in Clayton County State Court, Courtroom 304, and the state moved in several cases for "rule absolute" findings. The court granted rule absolute in multiple matters and closed other dockets, while noting several defendants were wanted or had been taken into custody by other counties.

"Rule absolute will be granted," the judge said repeatedly as the state requested dispositions in individual cases. The court closed the files in several matters where consent orders or surety had been filed.

Several defendants were identified as wanted or in custody. The court was told that one defendant, Earl Raymond, had been picked up by Henry County and would be transferred and placed on a future calendar. The court also handled consents and surety orders in other matters and instructed that case status would be updated as the sheriff's office processed transfers.

At one point a defendant who had previously posted cash bonds — Morris Terrell Tucker — pressed the court about recovering money he said he paid while detained. Hayward told him the court does not process cash-bond refunds: "If you want to get your money back, you need to address that with [the sheriff's office]." She described the clerk's and sheriff's separate roles and advised Tucker to pursue a refund through the sheriff.

The court concluded the bond forfeiture calendar after granting multiple rule-absolute orders, entering consent dispositions where appropriate and clearing cases that showed closure in the record.

Ending

The bond-forfeiture proceedings resulted in numerous rule absolute orders and closed cases; the court reminded defendants that bond refunds are handled by the sheriff's office and that detainees transferred from other counties will be scheduled for later calendars.