The Judge Horace J. Johnson, Jr. Judicial Center in Newton County and the Walton County Government Building will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in observance of Veterans’ Day. For other holiday/closing dates, see Calendars/General.
**********************************************************************
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Beginning July 6, 2026, and ongoing for a period of up to 24 months, residents and businesses in the area should expect to see increased construction activity. As the project progresses, additional information regarding traffic impacts, construction phasing, and scheduling will be shared. Once construction begins, please expect:
UPDATE AS OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
All downtown businesses and government offices will remain open during their normal business hours. Parking outside the active construction limits will remain available.
Progress continued this week as crews worked to remove and replace aging sanitary sewer infrastructure along Usher Street. As this work advances, motorists and downtown visitors should be aware of several upcoming changes to the current road closure.
Access will be maintained to the greatest extent practical to our local businesses, and we encourage everyone to continue supporting our downtown businesses throughout construction.
Pace Street should remain open for the car show scheduled for Sunday, October 4th. Crews will make additional efforts to clean and organize the surrounding work areas ahead of the event on Pace Street.
For everyone’s safety, motorists should obey all posted road closures, detours, barricades, and temporary traffic-control devices. Pedestrians are strongly encouraged to avoid active construction areas whenever possible.
Patrons visiting businesses within the closure area are highly encouraged to remain on the sidewalks and avoid crossing through the active construction “hot zone” whenever possible. Please follow designated pedestrian routes and observe all construction signage and safety measures.
For additional information related to this project go to the City of Covington website or click > –CITY OF COVINGTON/PROJECTS
WARNING: TELEPHONE FRAUD INVOLVING JURY DUTY
The Newton & Walton County Clerk of Courts, their staff, or Newton & Walton County Sheriff’s Deputies will not call Jurors that have failed to report for Jury Duty service and ask for personal information such as social security number, birth date, bank account number, or credit card information. It has been reported that scammers trying to commit identity theft have been contacting potential victims and telling them they failed to report for jury duty. They ask for confidential information for “verification” purposes and if the information is refused they tell the potential victim a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Scammers are also telling citizens they owe a fine of $1500 to $2000 and to buy Green Dot cards, give them the card number off the card and bring the card to the Clerk’s office. THIS IS A SCAM. Do not buy Green Cards or Give Money, Bank Account or Personal Information over the phone. There have been reports of this scam in Newton & Walton Counties. Please report phone scams to your local police or sheriff’s department.
Important Information from the Clerk of Superior Courts
NEW! The Newton County Clerk of Superior Court’s Office is pleased to announce the new eCertification services that provide users the ability to electronically request certified Court and Real Estate Records 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A trip will no longer be required to the Clerk’s office to have a paper copy certified. The public can now access this new online service.
eCert Flyer – Click here for more information
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Newton & Walton County Superior Court Clerk’s office in conjunction with the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) is pleased to offer the Filing Activity Notification System, FANS, providing Georgia citizens with tools to monitor activity regarding their property and records.
FANS Flyer – Click here for more information.
The Court expects you to speak to your clients BEFORE you are called in front of a Judge. It takes time out of the Court’s schedule to have attorneys called before the Judge and then ask for time to go and speak with their clients. All Judges want this done PRIOR to the Judge taking the bench. At least 30 minutes or more is wasted per person when the Court has to wait on attorneys to contact their clients during the actual calendar call, and it disrupts the flow of criminal court proceedings and the Court’s time and resources.”
GDC Court Services/Legal Conference Request_________________________
Effective October 6, 2023 – Pursuant to Uniform Superior Court Rule 22, electronic recording shall not take place in any courtroom of the Judge Horace J. Johnson, Jr., Judicial Center unless permission is granted by the judge in that courtroom. See the link below for Rule 22 and Request to Record Proceedings.
Cellphones are allowed in the judicial center but are NOT allowed in the Juvenile Court. Cellphones must be turned off prior to entering any courtroom and remain off while in the courtroom in order to avoid disruption of court proceedings. Anyone who needs to turn on his or her phone while in the courtroom must ask permission of the judge presiding in that courtroom at that time.
Any person violating any term of this order may be held in contempt and punished by confinement in the county jail for up to 20 days, imposition of a fine up to $1,000.00, or both.
Click the link shown below for a copy of the order entered.
Rule 22 – Regarding the use of electronic devices in courtrooms and recording of judicial proceedings has been amended effective May 1, 2018. Rule 22 and Request to Record Proceedings
Special Notice from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation – Human Trafficking Notice