LOCAL RULE 3
DIVISIONS OF THE COURT

3.1 SIX DIVISIONS. The United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia is divided into six divisions*: Macon, Columbus, Albany, Athens, Valdosta, and Thomasville. See attached map of district.

3.2 DIVISIONAL CLERK'S OFFICES. Divisional Clerk's Offices are staffed and open at all times in Albany, Athens, Columbus, Macon and Valdosta. When court is in session, the Thomasville Clerk's Office is staffed and open. Thomasville case files are maintained in Valdosta.

3.3 DIVISION FILINGS. Although it is recommended that all pleadings and papers in civil and criminal cases be filed in the divisional office in which the case file is maintained, such pleadings and papers may be filed in any staffed divisional clerk's office within this district. In such event, the clerk of the court shall receive and mark the pleadings and papers filed and promptly forward such pleadings and papers to the divisional office in which the case file is maintained.

Because there are not permanent staff employees in the Thomasville divisional office, it is recommended that all pleadings and papers in Thomasville Division cases be filed in the Valdosta divisional office. Any mailings to the Thomasville divisional office will be returned to the sender by the United States Post Office.

3.4 VENUE IN CIVIL CASES. Plaintiff may file a civil case in the division in which the plaintiff resides, the defendant resides or the claim arose. The clerk of the court is directed to transfer to the appropriate division any civil case that is filed in a division in which neither the plaintiff or defendant resides nor the claim arose.

* (The Local Rules for this district have not yet been modified to reflect closing of the Thomasville division office effective September 17, 2007, as approved by the Judicial Conference. Counties for that division were combined with the Albany and Valdosta divisions as indicated on the district map (see link in paragraph 3.1 above).