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Judge Hayward clears a packed virtual calendar, issues bench warrants and dozens of trial-ready settings
Summary
Judge Tammy Long Hayward presided over a lengthy May 18 virtual calendar for Clayton County State Court (courtroom 304), where the court processed negotiated pleas, issued bench-warrant/bond-forfeiture orders for remote no-shows, and set many in-person trial dates for June 22. Remote procedure problems and repeated reminders about Zoom naming and muting featured throughout.
A virtual calendar call before Judge Tammy Long Hayward on May 18, 2020, ran through hundreds of matters in courtroom 304, producing a mix of negotiated pleas, bench-warrant/bond-forfeiture orders for defendants who failed to appear remotely, and numerous trial settings for June 22.
The session opened with procedural instructions that shaped much of the day. Judge Hayward repeatedly warned attendees to put their “first and last names on the screen” and to mute devices so staff could move people into breakout rooms for conferences and take pleas. The judge tied repeated technological problems to missed appearances and ensuing bench-warrant orders.
The morning included multiple short pleas on traffic cases and misdemeanors, followed by sentencing or probation intake directions. Several defendants who failed to answer calls remotely were publicly noted and the court announced bench-warrant or bond-forfeiture orders: the judge explained the court would enter forfeiture for repeated non-appearance. Where counsel requested conferences, the judge used Zoom breakout rooms to let prosecutors and defense attorneys confer and return with plea announcements.
The court also handled a large suspended-sentence (SSD) docket for people who had not paid previously assessed fines. Many attendees were given 14- or 60-day payment windows; others who did not appear were marked for arrest-warrant issuance. Clerk staff and the court asked repeatedly that defendants provide email addresses via Zoom chat so sentencing sheets and payment instructions could be delivered electronically.
Judge Hayward concluded by recapping outcomes and reminding parties to appear in person on the June 22 trial calendar when required. The schedule included dozens of ready announcements and several resets (including July and August trial dates) for matters where counsel reported conflicts or sought more time.
The hearing underscored continuing operational challenges for high-volume virtual dockets — technology, accurate contact information and efficient clerk communications — while processing dozens of negotiated dispositions and formal court actions.
