Rule 8. Civil jury trial calendar.

Rule 8.1. Scheduling trials.

Rule 8.2. Ready list.

Rule 8.3. Trial Calendar.

Rule 8.4. Trial date.

Rule 8.5. Continuance after scheduled for trial.

Rule 8.6. Special settings.

Rule 8.1. Scheduling trials.

The assigned judge has the sole responsibility for setting hearings in all actions assigned to that judge, for the scheduling of all trials in such actions and for the publication of all necessary calendars in advance of trial dates. In scheduling actions for trial the assigned judge shall give consideration to the nature of the action, its complexity and the reasonable time requirements of the action for trial. It is the intendment of these rules that no matter be allowed to languish, and the assigned judge is responsible for the orderly movement and disposition of all matters.

Rule 8.2. Ready list.

All actions ready for trial in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 9-11-40 shall be placed upon a list of actions ready for final jury trial to be maintained as a "ready list" by the calendar clerk.

Actions may be placed on the ready list by:

(A) The assigned judge upon notice to the parties; or,

(B) A party, after the entry of a pre trial order, upon notice to the other parties. Except for cause, actions shall be placed on the ready list in chronological order in accordance with filing dates, except that actions previously on the ready list shall retain their superior position; however, actions entitled thereto by statute shall be given precedence.

Rule 8.3. Trial calendar.

The calendar clerk shall prepare a trial calendar from the actions appearing on the ready list, in the order appearing on such list. The calendar shall state the place of trial and the date and time during which the actions shall be tried. The trial calendar shall be delivered to the clerk of the court and distributed or published a sufficient period of time, but not less than 20 days, prior to the session of court at which the actions listed thereon are to be tried. [In state court, see State Court Rule 8.3.]

Rule 8.4. Trial date.

The parties and counsel in the first 10 actions on the published trial calendar shall appear ready for trial on the date specified unless otherwise directed by the assigned judge. Parties in all other actions on the calendar are expected to be ready for trial but may contact the calendar clerk to obtain:

(A) A specific date and time for trial during the trial term specified in the calendar; or

(B) Permission to await the call by the calendar clerk of the action for trial upon reasonable notice to counsel.

Rule 8.5. Continuance after scheduled for trial.

Continuances will not be granted merely by agreement of counsel. Actions will not be removed from a published trial calendar except by court direction upon such terms as reasonably may be imposed, including the possible imposition of a penalty of up to $50 upon the moving party if, absent statutory grounds or good cause, a motion for continuance of an action is first made within 5 days of the trial week scheduled.

Rule 8.6. Special settings.

Special settings of actions for jury trial are not favored.