DISCOVERY PROCEDURES

Effective April 1, 2026, the Office of the Solicitor-General for Cherokee County, Georgia will transition to a new electronic discovery process using the Tracker Case Management System and Axon Justice. This system will eliminate discovery media fees, provide prompt, reliable, and secure access to case materials, and allow attorneys to receive and download discovery electronically.

After April 1, 2026, unless otherwise required by law:

• Discovery materials will be provided through the electronic discovery platforms used by this office (Tracker Case Management System and Axon Justice)
• Discovery will be considered served when the materials are published to the electronic discovery system and notification is sent to the attorney of record.
• Attorneys are responsible for maintaining current email contact information and ensuring that discovery notifications from these systems are not blocked by spam filters or other security settings.
• Counsel are expected to review discovery materials in a timely manner after notification of availability.

The procedures described below govern how discovery will be provided through these systems.

IMPORTANT TRANSITION NOTICE

This change represents a hard transition, and in order to ensure orderly implementation and operational fairness NO EXCEPTIONS will be made to the following policies:

• Cases in which discovery was requested or produced prior to April 1 will continue to use the existing discovery system, including applicable discovery fees.
• The new electronic discovery process will apply ONLY to cases in which discovery is requested on or after April 1.

INITIATING DISCOVERY

The discovery process will be initiated when a defense attorney or pro se defendant files a Motion for Discovery. In addition to the motion, attorneys should request media discovery by directly e-mailing the appropriate trial assistant as follows:

Judge Jordan- [email protected] 
Judge Morris- [email protected] 
Judge Helhoski- [email protected]

Discovery materials will then be provided electronically (depending on the type of material transmitted) as described below. For purposes of service, discovery will be considered served when it is published to the electronic discovery system and notification is sent to the attorney of record.

Attorneys are responsible for ensuring that their email address on file is current and capable of receiving electronic discovery notifications. Further, attorneys are responsible for ensuring that discovery notifications from the Office of the Solicitor-General and the electronic discovery systems used by the Office are not blocked by spam filters or other email security settings. Failure to receive or review an automated notification does not invalidate service of discovery once it has been published via the electronic discovery system(s).

NON-MEDIA DISCOVERY

Non-media discovery will be delivered through Tracker Electronic Discovery (TED) within the Tracker Case Management System. Examples of non-media discovery include, but are not limited to:

•  arrest warrants
•  search warrants
•  incident reports
•  accident reports
•  bond paperwork
•  other non-media documents

When discovery is published to TED, the attorney of record will receive an automated email notification with instructions for accessing and downloading the materials. Attorneys may grant access to designated staff members through the TED permissions system.

Discovery posted to TED is considered served at the time it is published and notification is transmitted, regardless of when the materials are downloaded.

MEDIA DISCOVERY

All media discovery will be delivered through Axon Justice. Examples of media discovery include, but are not limited to:

•  body-worn camera footage
•  dash camera footage
•  photographs not included in reports
•  911 audio recordings
•  other digital or electronic evidence

When media discovery is available, the assigned trial assistant will send a secure electronic link to the defense attorney. Attorneys may view or download the materials at their convenience. Media access links will automatically deactivate after 90 days.

Media discovery will be considered served when the access link is transmitted to the attorney of record.

Attorneys are responsible for maintaining valid email contact information to ensure receipt of discovery notifications and access links. If a media access link expires before the materials are downloaded, the attorney may request that the link be reissued by contacting the assigned trial assistant. Expiration of an access link does not invalidate service of discovery previously provided. Please note that media files may be large and may require adequate internet bandwidth to download. The responsibility for maintaining the technical capability necessary to access electronic discovery rests with the receiving party.

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCOVERY

If additional discovery is received after the initial production:

•  Non-media materials will be distributed through TED, and
•  Media materials will be distributed through Axon Justice.

Supplemental discovery will be considered served when it is posted to the applicable electronic system and notice is transmitted to the attorney of record.

PRO SE DEFENDANTS

Because pro se defendants do not possess a State Bar number, they cannot access TED. Thus, non-media discovery will be provided to pro se defendants:

•  by regular email, or
•  by printed copy available for pickup at our office upon request.

Media discovery will be provided through Axon using the same secure link system used for attorneys. Pro Se defendants should request media discovery by directly e-mailing the appropriate trial assistant as follows:

Judge Jordan- [email protected] 
Judge Morris- [email protected] 
Judge Helhoski- [email protected]

DISCOVERY FEES

For cases covered under this new system, no discovery fee will be charged.

However, attorneys with outstanding discovery balances from the prior discovery system must satisfy those balances before receiving media discovery through the new system. Attorneys unwilling to satisfy such balances will only be allowed to review media discovery items at the Solicitor-General’s Office by making an appointment with the assigned trial assistant.   Access to the new system will only be given to such attorneys when all outstanding fees are paid in full. There will be NO exceptions to this policy.

DISCOVERY CONTACTS

Questions regarding discovery should first be directed to the trial assistant sending the discovery materials. Questions remaining after discussion with the appropriate trial assistant should then be addressed with the supervising Senior Assistant Solicitor-General, and then with the Solicitor-General. Following this process will allow discovery issues to be addressed as efficiently as possible. Thus, affected parties are kindly requested to specifically follow the steps outlined above when discovery issues arise.

Please do not direct discovery questions to staff members not assigned to the case.

Questions, suggestions, and concerns regarding this policy should be directed to the Solicitor-General ([email protected]) or the Office Manager, Melissa Gray ([email protected]), NOT TO INDIVIDUAL TRIAL ASSISTANTS OR SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS.

IN-OFFICE DISCOVERY REVIEW

Routine in-office review of discovery will no longer be offered.

In-office review may be arranged only in extraordinary circumstances.

REVIEW OF DISCOVERY

Counsel are expected to review discovery materials in a timely manner after notification of availability. Requests for continuances or other relief based solely on a failure to timely review discovery that has been made available through the electronic discovery system may be opposed by the State.