Chief Justice Harold Melton, Supreme Court of Georgia. (Photo: John Disney/ALM)

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold D. Melton took the unprecedented step Thursday of asking people not to come to court in the latest measure to control the spread of the coronavirus.

"All of us are being asked to do whatever we can to prevent the spread of this new virus," Melton said in a news release. "These steps—while inconvenient—are necessary at this time, and I believe are responsible actions."

Effective immediately, Melton said he has canceled all tours of the newly opened $131 million  Nathan Deal Judicial Center until further notice. In addition he's suspended swearing-in ceremonies of attorneys at the courthouse. Those who must be sworn in to participate in matters before the court should check the website for alternative ways to be certified, he said.

Melton said that while court proceedings remain open to the public, he is requesting that only those who are directly involved in oral arguments, such as attorneys arguing a particular case, attend court sessions and that media and others monitor the arguments by watching the live-stream on their computers.

Melton has also taken on the role of coordinating responses for all of Georgia's courts to control the spread of the virus. And he has changed the continuing legal education requirements to allow lawyers to fulfill their hours with online classes.

A letter from Melton on the court website asks that any lawyers who have fever or other symptoms or exposure to the virus reschedule their oral arguments. He also asked that those who do participate refrain from shaking hands and practice all the hygiene recommendations for avoiding spreading disease.

Later in the day Thursday, Melton held an emergency telephone meeting with judges representing all classes of courts, asking them to consider limiting all non-essential functions across the state for at least two weeks.

State law allows for the chief judge of each circuit to declare a local judicial emergency and suspend jury trials, postpone the court calendar, or take other actions to protect people from coming into contact with the coronavirus, Melton said. He added he has not yet declared a statewide judicial emergency but that a number of superior court judges have asked about suspending jury service, jury trials, and other matters in their circuits. He said those actions would be consistent with Gov. Brian Kemp's directives to local governments, giving them the authority to close offices, schools, and take other actions they deem necessary to protect their communities.

Melton cited a template of an order that would allow the chief judge of a judicial circuit to take action to protect the public and court employees. Melton said he and Presiding Justice David E. Nahmias told the judges that if they decide to declare local judicial emergencies, they should alert local officials about their plans. Georgia Code § 38-3-63 requires that if a judicial circuit does declare such an emergency, it must notify the state's chief justice that it has done so.