LOCAL RULE 83.1
ATTORNEYS

83.1.1 ADMISSIONS

a. ROLL OF ATTORNEYS. The bar of this Court shall consist of those persons heretofore admitted to practice in this court and those who may hereafter be admitted in accordance with this rule.

b. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to practice in this court an attorney must have been admitted to practice in the trial courts of the State of Georgia and be an active member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia. Only attorneys who are admitted to practice in this Court, or who have otherwise obtained permission under Rule 83.1.2c, may appear as counsel.

c. PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION.

1. Each applicant for admission to the bar of this Court shall file with the clerk a written petition on the form provided by the clerk setting forth his state bar number and reciting the fact that he is now a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia. Each applicant shall also sign an Oath of Admission.

2. The applicant for admission, after completing the petition and signing the oath, shall submit the same to the clerk of the court with the prescribed enrollment fee. If the petition and oath are in proper form, the Clerk for the judges of this court or a judge will sign an order admitting petitioner to practice in this court. A certificate will issue from the clerk's office. Unless requested by the court, petitioner will not be required to make a personal appearance before the court.

83.1.2 DUTIES

a. DESIGNATION OF LEAD COUNSEL. In civil cases only, counsel shall designate the name, address, and telephone number of the attorney who shall act as lead counsel in the case on the signature page of the first pleading filed in every action. In the absence of such designation, the first name appearing on the pleading shall be designated lead counsel. Any subsequent change in lead counsel shall be noted by the filing of a notice.

b. BAR NUMBERS. All counsel are required to designate their State Bar of Georgia Number on the signature page of each pleading filed.

c. PERMISSION TO PRACTICE IN A PARTICULAR CASE. Any member in good standing of the bar of any other district court of the United States who is not a member of the State Bar of Georgia and who does not reside in or maintain an office in this state for the practice of law, will be permitted to appear and participate in a particular case, civil or criminal, in this court subject to the following provisions:

1. In a civil case in which a party is represented only by counsel not a member of the bar of this court, such counsel must designate in writing some willing member of the local bar of this court upon whom motions and papers may be served and who will be designated as local counsel. That designation shall not become effective until such local counsel has entered a written appearance therein.

In addition, in any case in which an attorney makes an appearance in any action or case pending in this court and said attorney is not a member of the bar of this court, he shall certify that he is a member in good standing of a district court of the United States and shall file a certificate of good standing from that court with the clerk of this court.

2. Any attorney representing the United States government, or any agency thereof, and any attorney employed by the Community Defender Organization of this district may appear and participate in particular actions or proceedings in his official capacity without a petition for admission or certificate of good standing, provided he is a member in good standing of a bar of a district court of the United States.

83.1.3 ENTRY OF APPEARANCE. No attorney shall appear in that capacity before this court until he has entered an appearance by filing a signed entry of appearance form or by filing a signed pleading in a pending action. An entry of appearance shall state (1) the style and number, (2) the identity of the party for whom the appearance is made, and (3) the name and current office address and telephone number of the attorney. The filing of any pleading, unless otherwise specified by the court, shall constitute an appearance by the person(s) signing such pleading.

83.1.4 WITHDRAWAL OF ATTORNEYS IN CIVIL CASES. It is the longstanding policy of this court that attorneys will investigate claims before filing a complaint and, if a complaint is filed, that the attorney will remain with the case until its conclusion. Nevertheless, if there is a compelling reason to withdraw, the attorney must comply with the following procedure.

An attorney (other than a government attorney) appearing of record in any action pending in this district, who wishes to withdraw as counsel for any party therein, shall submit a written motion for an order of court permitting such withdrawal. Such motion shall state that the attorney has given due written notice to his client respecting such intention to withdraw ten (10) days (or such lesser time as the court may permit in any specific instance) prior to submitting the request to the court and/or that such withdrawal is with the client’s consent. Such request may be granted unless in the judge’s discretion to do so would delay the trial of the action or otherwise interrupt the orderly operation of the court or be manifestly unfair to the client. The attorney requesting an order permitting withdrawal shall give notice to opposing counsel and shall file with the clerk in each such action and serve upon his client personally or at his last known address, a notice which shall contain at least the following information:

(A) that the attorney wishes to withdraw;

(B) that the court retains jurisdiction of the action;

(C) that the client has the burden of keeping the court informed respecting where notices, pleadings or other papers may be served;

(D) that the client has the obligation to prepare for trial or hire other counsel to prepare for trial when the trial date has been set;

(E) that if the client fails or refuses to meet these burdens, the client may suffer adverse consequences, including, in criminal cases, bond forfeiture and arrest;

(F) the dates of any scheduled proceedings, including trial, and that holding of such proceedings will not be affected by the withdrawal of counsel;

(G) that services of notices may be made upon the client at his last known address; and,

(H) unless the withdrawal is with the client’s consent, the client’s right to object within ten (10) days of the date of the notice.

The client shall have ten (10) days from the date of the notice to file objections to the withdrawal. If the court enters an order permitting withdrawal, the client shall be notified at his last know address by the Clerk’s Office of the effective date of the withdrawal; thereafter all notices or other papers may be served on the party directly by mail at the last known address of the party until new counsel enters an appearance. Ordinarily, the court will expect the filing of a Notice of Appearance by substitute counsel contemporaneous with the filing of the Motion to Withdraw.

83.1.5 LEAVES OF ABSENCE. Formal applications by attorneys for leaves of absence should not be filed and will not be acted upon unless the attorney has been notified by the court to appear during the time he wishes to be absent.