38-3-60.
As used in this part, the term:
(1) 'Authorized judicial official' means any of the following officials when acting with regard to his or her respective jurisdiction:
(A) The Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court;
(B) The Chief Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals;
(C) A chief judge of a Georgia superior court judicial circuit; or
(D) The replacement for or successor to any of the officials set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of this paragraph, as determined by the applicable rules of incapacitation and succession, should such official become incapacitated or otherwise unable to act.
(2) 'Judicial emergency' means:
(A) A state of emergency declared by the Governor under Part 1 of this article;
(B) A public health emergency under Code Section 31-12-1.1;
(C) A local emergency under Code Section 36-69-2; or
(D) Such other serious emergency
when, as determined by an authorized judicial official, the emergency substantially endangers or infringes upon the normal functioning of the judicial system, the ability of persons to avail themselves of the judicial system, or the ability of litigants or others to have access to the courts or to meet schedules or time deadlines imposed by court order or rule, statute, or administrative rule or regulation.

38-3-61.
(a) An authorized judicial official is authorized to declare the existence of a judicial emergency which shall be done by order either upon his or her own motion or upon motion by any interested person. The order shall state:
(1) The identity and position of the issuing authorized judicial official;
(2) The time, date, and place at which the order is executed;
(3) The jurisdiction or jurisdictions affected by the order;
(4) The nature of the emergency necessitating the order;
(5) The period or duration of the judicial emergency; and
(6) Any other information relevant to the suspension or restoration of court operations.
(b) An order declaring the existence of a judicial emergency shall be limited to an initial duration of not more than 30 days; provided, however, that the order may be modified or extended for no more than two periods not exceeding 30 days each. Any modification or extension of the initial order shall require information regarding the same matters set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section for the issuance of the initial order.
(c) In the event the circumstances underlying the judicial emergency make access to the office of a clerk of court or a courthouse impossible or impractical, the order declaring the judicial emergency shall designate another facility, which is reasonably accessible and appropriate, for the conduct of court business.

38-3-62.
An authorized judicial official in an order declaring a judicial emergency, or in an order modifying or extending a judicial emergency order, is authorized to suspend, toll, extend, or otherwise grant relief from deadlines or other time schedules or filing requirements imposed by otherwise applicable statutes, rules, regulations, or court orders, whether in civil or criminal cases or administrative matters, including, but not limited to:
(1) A statute of limitation;
(2) The time within which to issue a warrant;
(3) The time within which to try a case for which a demand for trial has been filed;
(4) The time within which to hold a commitment hearing;
(5) A deadline or other schedule regarding the detention of a juvenile;
(6) The time within which to return a bill of indictment or an accusation or to bring a matter before a grand jury;
(7) The time within which to file a writ of habeas corpus;
(8) The time within which discovery or any aspect thereof is to be completed;
(9) The time within which to serve a party;
(10) The time within which to appeal or to seek the right to appeal any order, ruling, or other determination; and
(11) Such other legal proceedings as determined to be necessary by the authorized judicial official.

38-3-63.
Upon an authorized judicial official issuing an order declaring the existence of a judicial emergency, or any modification or extension of such an order, the authorized judicial official issuing the order, modification, or extension to the extent permitted by the circumstances underlying the judicial emergency shall:
(1) Immediately notify the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court of the action;
(2) Notify and serve a copy of the order, modification, or extension on the judges and clerks of all courts sitting within the jurisdictions affected and on the clerks of the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court, such service to be accomplished through reasonable means to assure expeditious receipt; and
(3) Give notice of the issuance of the order, modification, or extension to the affected parties, counsel for the affected parties, and the public. Notice shall be provided by whatever means are reasonably calculated to reach the affected parties, counsel for the affected parties, and the public and may, without limitation, include mailing, publication in a newspaper of local or state-wide distribution, posting of written notices at courthouses and other public gathering sites, transmittal by facsimile or e-mail, and announcements on television, radio, and public address systems.

38-3-64.
(a) Any person whose rights or interests are adversely affected by an order declaring the existence of a judicial emergency or any modification or extension of such an order shall be entitled to appeal.
(b) A notice of appeal shall be filed no later than 45 days after the expiration of the judicial emergency order, or any modification or extension of a judicial emergency order, from which an appeal is sought. A notice of appeal shall be filed with the clerk of a superior court in any jurisdiction affected by the order and shall be served upon:
(1) The authorized judicial official who issued the order;
(2) The parties to any criminal proceeding or civil litigation in which the appellant is involved which would be affected by the appeal;
(3) The district attorney of the county in which the notice of appeal is filed; and
(4) All other parties in any criminal proceeding or civil litigation which would be affected by the appeal; provided, however, that service in this regard shall be accomplished by publishing notice of the filing of the appeal in the newspaper which is the legal organ for the county in which the notice of the appeal is filed.
(c) The appeal shall be heard immediately by the Georgia Court of Appeals under the procedure of emergency motions. A party dissatisfied by the judgment of the Georgia Court of Appeals may appeal as a matter of right to the Georgia Supreme Court. Filing fees for these appeals shall be waived. All costs of court shall be borne by the state. Appeals shall be heard expeditiously."