In establishing new rules for the court proceedings, reporting asserts that this judge is “not messing around.” Judge Paige Whitaker is the new judge assigned to the massive case. According to a Fox 5 Atlanta news release, courtroom observers said they could feel a “new energy” in the court. Judge Whitaker is the third judge, “after the original judge was recused for an ex parte meeting, and the second judge recused herself.”
A laundry list of changes regarding the court proceedings was proclaimed by Judge Whitaker. “The first thing Judge Whitaker did was make it clear that court would start promptly at 8:45 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. daily, though Fridays might be half days depending on the tasks at hand.”
Some defendants has more than one attorney. Judge Whitaker proclaimed that if one of those several attorneys was present, “court would go forward.” As quoted, Judge Whitaker said: “I don’t want to be waiting around until 9:30.”
More changes were to be implemented. While people may have a beverage, Judge Whitaker stated “food will no longer be allowed in the courtroom unless the court is working through lunch or dinner.” No “snacking” will be permitted during the trial.
Defendants’ clothing was addressed by the judge. “Deputies had informed her that the clothing situation had become excessive. Some defendants appeared to have wardrobes full of clothes, which was cumbersome for the deputies to manage.” Ordering that clothing be “whittled down to a manageable amount,” she added, “ We shouldn’t have 20 different outfits for anyone. Clear out the closet.”
Ban the AirPods! The judge also banned the use of AirPods in court, “noting that they raised security concerns.” As to their use to counter boredom, Judge Whitaker exclaimed: “Well, we won’t be bored from here on out.” Courtroom disruptions would not be tolerated.
Matters of evidence were also addressed. Prosecutors “must provide lists of witnesses and summaries of their testimony.” She “made it clear that she expects the actual testimony of witnesses to move along quickly.”
Judge Whitaker is a former Fulton County prosecutor, who also worked at the state Attorney General’s Office. She has been a judge in Fulton County since 2017.
