For certain cases, the Municipal Court of Athens-Clarke County offers Video Conferencing options.   These matters are able to be heard via your computer or mobile device through WebEx.  You will need to request a video hearing through the Municipal Court office and you will be emailed a link for the WebEx hearing.

All video conferencing hearings in Municipal Court require working video and audio connections.   Please make sure that you have sufficient bandwidth for a video call.  Appropriate court attire is mandatory for your video court appearance.   Please make sure that you are in a quiet environment for your video hearing and that there are no distractions.   Do not join your WebEx hearing while in a moving vehicle.

 If you have an attorney representing you, your request for a Video Conference option needs to be made through your attorney.

 The following types of hearings and cases are eligible for the Video Conferencing option:

 Arraignment – Plea of Not Guilty and Request for Bench Trial

If you wish to plead not guilty and request a bench trial in your case, the request may be handled via WebEx.  A bench trial is a trial just in front of a judge and it would be set for a later date in Municipal Court.  Your bench trial court date notice will be mailed and emailed to you.  If you change your mind and do not want a bench trial, please notify the Municipal Court Clerk’s Office prior to your trial date.

If you fail to attend your bench trial, or any other court date that may be scheduled, you are subject to arrest and assessment of fees and court courts.

 Arraignment – Request for a Jury Trial

If you are charged with a State law misdemeanor violation, you have the right to request a jury trial.   If you request a jury trial, your case will be transferred from the Municipal Court of Athens-Clarke County to the State Court of Athens-Clarke County.  You will be provided with a new court date for an arraignment in State Court.

 Arraignment  - Resolution of case by plea of Guilty or Nolo Contendere

In some cases, you may resolve your case with a plea of guilty or nolo contendere via WebEx.   To negotiate a plea agreement in your case, you will need to contact the Solicitor’s Office who prosecutes most cases in Municipal Court.   You may reach the Solicitor’s Office via email at solicitor@accgov.com or via phone at 706-613-3215.  When emailing please provide your name, case information, and a phone number for the Solicitor’s Office to get back in touch with you.

If there is a plea worked out in your case, and you wish to enter the plea via Video Conferencing Court, you will need to complete your plea form in advance and email the form to the Municipal Court Clerk’s Office prior to your court date.  The form must be received by the Municipal Court Clerk’s Office at least 48 hours prior to the court date.  

Please note that if the resolution to your case is one in which your driver’s license will be suspended, you must appear in person for your court date.

The following form must be used and returned prior to your plea date

Download Plea in Absentia form (PDF)

Pre-Trial Motions

Contested motions to be heard prior to a bench trial may be eligible for Video Conferencing.  

If all parties consent to Video Conferencing, the Court will consider the request on a case-by-case basis.

Bench Trial

All Municipal Court bench trials will be held in person.

There is no Video Conferencing option for a bench trial.

Video Conferencing Court contact information

If you are interested in participating in the Video Conferencing Court option, please contact the Municipal Court Clerk’s office as soon as possible to start the process.   Email communication to municipalcourt@accgov.com is preferred. When emailing, please provide your full name, complete mailing address (including city, state, and zip code), phone number, charges, and case number (if possible).