In certain circumstances, the Court may allow an attorney to submit a Plea in Absentia (PIA). To maintain the Court’s efficiency when this opportunity has been granted, attorneys are required to follow a specific procedure to submit said PIA to the Bryan County State Court. Only attorneys may submit PIAs. This procedure is outlined as follows:

  1. Negotiate terms of the PIA with the Solicitor-General.
  2. Prepare a PIA using only the sample template and proposed order provided below and listed under the Forms tab.
  3. Each of the Defendant’s original counts must be listed out separately and each follow with the corresponding disposition and sentence. Probation status must be addressed. You may refer to the template for examples.
  4. Email a copy of the PIA with Defendant’s proof of conditions and the proposed order to Kailey Statham (kstatham@bryancountyga.gov) and Daniel Copas (daniel.copas@bryancountyga.gov) with the Solicitor-General’s office for pre-approval of the form’s accuracy, terms, and conditions.
  5. If the terms and conditions contained in the PIA are approved by the Solicitor-General, they will electronically sign the proposed order’s consent line and forward the same for the Court’s consideration.
  6. If the order is approved, an electronic copy of the order will be provided to the attorney. The attorney may then attach the signed order to the corresponding PIA and submit the order with the complete PIA package (Original PIA, conditions, money order) to the Bryan County State Court Clerks’ Office for filing.

Plea in Absentia Template

Proposed Order on PIA