Georgia Jury Duty and Court Attendance Leave Laws
There are numerous urban legends and endless misinformation about employers’ rights and obligations to employees when the employee has to appear in court (as something other than a defendant). Here is a basic summary of relevant Georgia law on this subject:
Georgia's jury duty leave law comes in under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated at Title 15, Ch. 1; Title 20, Ch. 2, Art. 17, Part 5; Title 34, Ch. 1. Corresponding regulations for state employment are located in the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia at Title 478, Ch. 478-1.
The statutes and regulations, with some exceptions, make it unlawful for an employer to discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize an employee because the employee is absent from employment for the purpose of attending a judicial proceeding in response to a subpoena, summons for jury duty, or other court order or process that requires the attendance of the employee at the judicial proceeding (Sec. 34-1-3(a) and Ga CompR &Regs 478-1-.18, Sec. 18.600). It is also unlawful for an employer to threaten any sort of retaliation toward an employee who is required to appear in court. (Exceptions below)
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