Clayton County State Court clears dozens on 10 a.m. arraignment calendar; several bench warrants ordered

Judge Tammy Long Hayward presided over the Jan. 2, 2025, 10 a.m. arraignment calendar for the Clayton County State Court, Courtroom 304, where the court processed dozens of routine arraignments and entered a mix of continuances, dismissals and bench-warrant orders.

The calendar included multiple administrative resolutions: prosecutors entered nolle prosequi (cases dismissed) in several matters, the court issued bench-warrant/bond-forfeiture orders for defendants who did not appear, and other matters were continued so defendants could meet pretrial conditions or provide documents.

Why it matters: Arraignments are the first formal court appearance where pleas, continuances and initial case dispositions occur. Outcomes recorded on arraignment calendars determine whether defendants remain in custody, receive deadlines to comply with conditions or are released and free to go.

Among the formal outcomes announced during the session: - Bench warrants/bond forfeitures were entered for Xavier d El Amin and for Brianna Michelle James after neither appeared for their calendar call. The court recorded bench-warrant and bond-forfeiture orders for those absent defendants.

- Several matters were dismissed by the state (nolle prosequi) and the defendants were released: cases involving Kobe Diah Harkness, Demetrius (Kente) Harper and others were announced by the state as no-pros (dismissed) during the session; the court recorded those dismissals and released the named defendants.

- Milton Alexander Lubbock’s matter was also announced by the state as nolle prosequi when the solicitor advised later in the calendar that the state would not pursue that position.

- Sean Ali Conde’s case was “null”/no-prosced after the state reviewed documents; the judge released the defendant in court.

- Lamine Toure and others were listed for bench-warrant bond forfeiture after failing to appear; the court announced and entered the forfeiture orders.

- Some defendants entered not-guilty pleas and received continuances so they could prepare for trial or complete pretrial requirements (for example, London Childs entered a not-guilty plea and was given time to complete an approved driver improvement course; the court reset the matter to a later calendar to allow that). Other defendants requested jury trials; the court accepted not-guilty pleas and placed them on the appropriate trial calendar.

- Where the state announced an intention to dismiss a charge ("no pross"), the court stated defendants were free to leave immediately once the clerk’s records were updated.

Court administration and logistics also consumed time in the hearing: the judge directed participants how to rename Zoom participants to show first and last names, warned about multiple-device feedback, and explained how attorneys and defendants would be moved into breakout rooms for private pretrial conferences.

Quotes from the hearing underline the court’s administrative focus. Judge Hayward reminded participants of basic rights and procedures, including the right to counsel and how pleas affect future proceedings. She also took moments to apologize when the court’s notices had been sent to the wrong person and ensured errors were corrected on the record.

Ending: The 10 a.m. calendar concluded after the court handled outstanding breakout-room conferences and the state announced additional dismissals. Many matters were continued to future calendars; defendants released on no-pros were told they may obtain dismissal paperwork from the clerk’s office on the first floor.