Clayton County State Court disposes arraignment calendar; pleas, no-pros and bond forfeitures recorded

Judge Tammy Long Hayward opened the Feb. 13, 2025, 10 a.m. arraignment calendar in Clayton County State Court, Courtroom 304, and reminded defendants of their rights and the plea options available in criminal and traffic cases. "Everyone is entitled to have an attorney represent you," Hayward said, and she explained the differences between a not guilty plea, a guilty plea and a nolo contendere ("nolo") plea.

The arraignment calendar resolved dozens of mostly traffic-related matters. Several defendants were allowed to enter negotiated pleas or nolo pleas, the court accepted multiple no-prosecution recommendations from the state, and judges announced bench-warrant bond forfeitures where defendants were not present. The session also produced at least one pretrial-intervention referral and multiple monetary sentences and probation terms tied to defensive-driving coursework.

Most newsworthy outcomes included pleas and sentences in several traffic cases. Talia Keanna Murray entered a nolo plea to a speeding charge (21–25 mph over the limit); Hayward accepted the plea and ordered 12 months of probation, a $300 fine (total $444 with surcharges) and completion of the Department of Driver Services driver-improvement course "Alive at 25"; the court said probation would terminate on proof of course completion and payment. "Once you finish paying the fines... and you submit the paperwork for having taken the alive at 25 course ... your probation will terminate," Hayward told Murray.

Alexis Janae Moses resolved a multi-count case by pleading guilty to a count described as reckless driving and to a separate count of following-too-close; the state moved to no-pros on several other counts and…