City of Conyers Municipal Court System

Court Procedures

Have you ever wondered what happens after a traffic citation or city ordinance violation citation is issued? To help you better understand the process, we have outlined the procedures which follow below.

• A traffic citation or city ordinance violation citation is issued.

   

• If a court appearance is not required, the citation is available for payment online or at the Department of Court Services during regular business hours, which are 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. 

   

• If a court appearance is required, the citation is added to the court calendar for the appropriate date for arraignment.  The judge will set the fine. 

   

• At the scheduled court date, also known as the arraignment, the defendant will be required to enter a plea to the charge. The three pleas available are:
  • Guilty
  • Not guilty
  • Nolo contendere

   

• If a guilty plea is entered, the defendant will be questioned by the Judge to ensure an understanding that entering a guilty plea waives any right to:
  • A trial by judge or jury
  • A presumption of innocence
  • Confront witnesses
  • Testify and offer evidence
  • A right to counsel
  • The right against self-incrimination

   

• The Judge will also ensure that such waiver is made voluntarily and knowingly of the rights being waived.

   

• If the Judge accepts the guilty plea, the defendant will be sentenced and the case will be disposed of.

   

• There are certain offenses where a plea of nolo contendere will be accepted by the Judge. A plea of nolo contendere neither admits nor denies guilt. Such a plea, where allowed, may avoid points being added to a defendant's driver's license and/or a driver's license suspension.

   

• If a not guilty plea is offered, the defendant will be asked to choose either a bench trial or a jury trial.
  • If a bench trial is requested, the trial will be held in the Municipal Court on another day, and the case will be heard by the Municipal Court Judge.
  • If a jury trial is requested, the case will be transferred to State Court, and the trial will be scheduled for a later date.
• If a defendant fails to appear on the scheduled court date, a warrant for arrest will be issued, and the Department of Driver Services will be notified, resulting in possible driver's license suspension.

   

• The disposition of the case will be input by the Court Services staff into the Courtware software and transmitted to the appropriate agency, such as the Department of Driver Services.

   

• The citation, case disposition, and all associated paperwork will be filed and retained for up to 10 years, depending on the case.

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FAQs

For your convenience, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding court appearances and other related issues.

What is the appropriate attire for the courtroom?

• No shorts, hats, scarves or tank tops allowed.
• No clothing with profane or vulgar language.

What other courtroom policies do I need to be aware of?

• All cell phones and pagers must be turned off
• No food or drink is allowed in the courtroom

What charges require court appearances?

Click here for a complete list of charges that require a court appearance.

What happens when you appear in court?

• The court calendar will be called, and defendants will be required to enter a plea.
• A plea of guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere will be entered for each defendant.
• Defendants have the option to request a pre-trial conference with the City Solicitor to discuss the charges against them.
• Pleas of not guilty will be scheduled for a later court date, either in the Municipal Court for a bench trial, or at State Court for a jury trial.
• The judge will hear the cases for those who entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, and will impose sentence accordingly.
• Defendants sentenced to probation must meet with the Municipal Probation office before being excused from court.
• Defendants sentenced to only pay a fine will make their fine payment at court, their case will be closed, and they will be excused from court.

What happens if you fail to appear in court?

If you fail to appear for your scheduled court date, a warrant will be issued for your arrest. For certain violations, the Department of Driver Services be notified of your failure to appear and your driver's license will be suspended.

What if you are arrested and in jail?

• The City of Conyers has set a bond schedule, allowing release from the Rockdale County jail until the scheduled court date, upon payment of the bond amount, either through a cash bond, a property bond, or the services of a bonding company.
• Cash bonds may be paid at the Department of Court Services during regular business hours. Cash bonds may be paid at the Police Department at all other times.
• Release secured through a property bond or the services of a bonding company can be arranged directly with the Rockdale County jail.
• Any person arrested on a citation will see a judicial officer at the jail within 48 hours of incarceration. Any person arrested on a warrant will see a judicial officer within 72 hours of incarceration. At that time, the defendant will be advised of the charges pending, and the bond amount will be reviewed, and can be altered at the discretion of the Judge.
• Any person released from the Rockdale County jail on a bond must appear on their scheduled court date, otherwise, a warrant will be issued for their arrest.

Why is your fine more than what the Judge told you?

• The laws of the State of Georgia require Municipal Courts to collect surcharges and fees in addition to the fine imposed by the Judge. These surcharges and fees are based on the violation and the amount of the fine, and apply to each citation issued. The City of Conyers collects these surcharges and fees, and submits them to the appropriate state agency on a monthly basis.

What happens if you can't come to court on your scheduled court date?

The Municipal Court Clerk can grant a continuance of a scheduled court date upon good cause shown. If you will be out of town, have a medical situation, or a family emergency, please contact our office at (770) 929-4208 before your scheduled court date to discuss a continuance of your case.

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Court Judges

Judge Terry Massey

Terry Massey is an attorney with offices located in downtown Conyers. He has lived in Conyers all of his life and graduated from Heritage High School in 1984. He received his B.B.A. in Management Information systems from the University of Georgia in 1987, and his J.D. from the University of Georgia in 1990. Upon graduation, he formed the partnership Moulton & Massey, and has been assisting local residents with their litigation needs since that time. Judge Massey is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Rockdale Bar Association, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Georgia. He has been the Municipal Court Judge for the City of Conyers since 1995, and an assistant Magistrate Court Judge for Rockdale County from 1996 through 2003.

Assistant Judge Herbert E. Heitman

Judge Heitman has lived in the City of Conyers since 1984. He began practicing law in 1980 and has a law practice in Atlanta where he specializes in bankruptcy law. Judge Heitman has served as a Magistrate Judge for Rockdale County for almost three years. Judge Heitman's duties for the city consist of handling first appearances at the county jail on weekends and other times as needed, the alteration of the city bond schedule where deemed appropriate, and the signing of arrest warrants for the Conyers Police Department.

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Court Schedule

Please be on time for your scheduled court appearance.

City of Conyers Municipal Court
Court Dates for 2010

*** GSP citations and Spanish-speaking Defendants ONLY.

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Court Interpreter and Court Clerk

The court interpreter is only available on Spanish-speaking court dates.  Please refer to the court schedule for availability. 

Contact Municipal Court Clerk Tonya Searcy at (770) 929-4208 or contact us for more information.

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