Judicial Emergency Declared; Floyd County Courthouse Closed Following Fire
ROME, GA — A judicial emergency has been declared in Floyd County following the catastrophic fire at the Historic Floyd County Courthouse on March 23, 2026.
Court officials say the fire has limited access to the courthouse and created potential safety concerns, significantly impacting the normal operation of the judicial system.
As a result, the courthouse will be closed Tuesday, March 24, and is expected to reopen Wednesday, March 25, unless the emergency is extended.
Court Operations Impacted
Officials say all civil and criminal court matters are being continued until further notice.
Additionally, all court deadlines, filing requirements, and time schedules—including those in civil, criminal, and administrative cases—have been suspended and extended through March 25.
Public Access and Emergency Contact Information
While the courthouse remains closed, those needing immediate court assistance in an emergency can contact:
- Chief Judge’s Office: 706-291-5121
- Court Administrator: [email protected]
- Floyd County Sheriff’s Office: 706-291-4111
Ongoing Updates
Officials say notices regarding the closure will be posted at the courthouse, on the county website, and distributed to courts across the state.
The situation remains ongoing as officials assess the damage and determine when normal court operations can safely resume.
ORDER CLOSING COURTHOUSE AND DECLARATION OF JUDICIAL EMERGENCY The Court has determined that a judicial emergency exists in Floyd County, Georgia in that a catastrophic fire occurred at the Historic County Courthouse during the afternoon of March 23, 2026, thereby limiting access to the Floyd County Courthouse and requiring assessment of any dangers posed by remnants of the fire. It appears that the emergency will substantially endanger or infringe upon the normal functioning of the judicial system, the ability of persons to avail themselves of the judicial system, and/or the ability of litigants or others to have access to the courts or meet deadlines imposed by court order or rule, statute, or administrative rule or regulation, Accordingly, pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-61, the Floyd County Courthouse shall be closed on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, and will reopen on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, unless the emergency is extended by further order of the court. The civil and criminal matters on any calendar shall be continued until further notice. Pursuant to OCGA § 38-3-62 (a), all court deadlines, other time schedules, or filing requirements imposed by applicable statutes, rules, regulations, or court orders, whether in civil or criminal cases or administrative matters, are hereby suspended, tolled, or extended until March 25, 2026, unless the emergency is extended by further order of the court. Pursuant to OCGA 38-3-63, the Sheriff or designee shall post a copy of this notice on the courthouse doors; the County Manager or designee shall post a copy of this notice and any subsequent modification or extension on the county website; the Clerk of Court shall provide notice of the closure in the same manner as they would for cancellation of any other court matter; and notice of this order and any extension shall be provided to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, to the judges and clerks of all courts sitting within the affected jurisdiction, and on the clerks of the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Anyone requiring the Court’s involvement in an emergency situation may contact the office of the Chief Judge of Superior Court by calling 706-291- 5121, by email to the Court Administrator at [email protected], or by calling the County Sheriffs Office at 706-291-4111. SO ORDERED this 23rd day of March, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.