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Judge leaves bench warrant after disruptive Zoom appearance, bars future video appearances
Summary
A defendant was removed from a Clayton County arraignment Zoom session for erratic and profane behavior; Judge Hayward left a bench warrant and bond forfeiture in place and ordered the defendant to appear in person going forward.
During the Nov. 13 virtual arraignment in Clayton County State Court, the court removed a participant — identified in the docket as Jermaine (Draper) Gross — from the Zoom hearing after the defendant appeared late and used profane and disruptive language on camera.
Judge Tammy Long Hayward told attorneys she believed the defendant was under the influence and that his speech was slurred; the court muted the participant and announced it would leave a bench warrant and bond forfeiture in place while requiring any further appearances to be in person. "He came in late and began cussing and yelling, so I'm gonna issue a bench warrant bond forfeiture," Judge Hayward said on the record.
Defense counsel said they would advise their client and the court noted any further appearances would be conducted in person only. The court directed clerk/jail staff to handle the warrant and informed counsel that the defendant would not be permitted back into the virtual calendar.
The episode underscores the court's approach to maintaining orderly virtual proceedings and its authority to restrict remote appearances when a participant's conduct disrupts operations or raises fitness concerns.
