» jUDICIAL pROfILEs // fUlton CoUnty SUperior CoUrt 204
College: University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1991
Law school: University of Virginia
School of Law, 1995
Born: Atlanta
previous Experience: Former
litigator for Holland & Knight
specializing in real estate litigation
and corporate tort liability.
Appointed to Fulton State Court
bench by Gov. Sonny Perdue in
March 2008.
policies, procedures and Recommendations:
1. Division designation: D.
2. Pretrial conferences and pretrial orders: Pretrial orders are
required for all jury trials. Instructions on filing the pretrial
order are included with the trial calendar notice. Each e-filed
case requires the parties to file a scheduling order, setting
forth discovery deadlines, mediation deadlines and dispositive
motion deadlines.
3. Require dispute resolution: Most cases are required to attend mediation approximately 4-6 weeks before trial.
4. Telephone conferencing: Judge Edlein is available for
telephone conferences before court begins. Any discovery
disputes must be brought to Judge Edlein’s attention prior to
filing of any discovery motions and are usually set for a telephone conference within a few business days.
5. Special settings: Permitted in appropriate cases (i.e. wrongful death, medical malpractice, etc.)
6. Attaching supporting authorities. Not necessary.
7. Letter briefs: Not allowed unless specifically requested.
8. Filings on computer disk: Most complex cases are e-filed, so
computer disks are not necessary.
9. Voir dire: The court uses a laminated card number system
for the jury. When a juror needs to respond to a question, he
or she will raise his card. Lawyers ask general questions of
the entire pool, and are allowed follow-up only after all the
general questions have been asked by all attorneys. When a
jury of 12 or more is needed, individual questioning of jurors
is usually in groups of 10—the other jurors are excused from
the courtroom. Challenges for cause will be made after each
group is questioned.
10. Court hours/breaks: Typically 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. with a one-hour
lunch break, but court may go later or start earlier depending
on the case.
11. Available audio-visual equipment: Elmo, projector, DVD
player.
12. Using audio-visual equipment: It is recommended that
lawyers or staff come to the court to practice using the provided equipment prior to the hearing or trial.
13. Trial exhibits: Lawyers must be careful what demonstrative
exhibits they show to the jury. If there is not consent from the
opposing attorney that an exhibit may be shown, then the
lawyer should get a ruling from the court prior to publishing
I strictly enforce that during general questioning, no follow-up
questioning is allowed with the jurors. Yes, individualized voir
dire is permitted.
10. Court hours/breaks: Trial usually starts at 9 a.m. and usually
concludes at 5 p.m. I allow one hour for lunch and two 15-min-
ute breaks (one in the morning and one in the afternoon).
11. Available audio-visual equipment: TV/VCR and tape recorder available from law library. A $25 deposit is required upon
checkout and is refunded when the equipment is returned.
12. Using audio-visual equipment: The court generally allows
the use of AV equipment.
13. Trial exhibits: Usually all counsel should review exhibits
prior to trial.
14. Courtroom decorum: Appropriate dress and professional
conduct.
15. Jury charges: Counsel are required to present charges on
disk with their consolidated pretrial order.
16. Do you require submission of requests to charge on issues
governed by a pattern charge? If so, at what stage of the
proceedings?: No.
17. Resolving pretrial issues prior to striking jury
a) Criminal: Yes, generally
b) Civil: Yes, generally
18. What constitutes good cause for:
a) Granting continuances: Unavailability of witness.
b) Extending discovery: A good-faith effort used to complete
discovery but schedule of witnesses prevented discovery. Also,
if parties consent, I will generally extend discovery.
19. Order preparation guidelines: None.
20. Suggestions/admonitions for counsel: No hypothetical
questions during voir dire.
21. Irritating lawyer conduct: Rudeness.
22. Other recommendations: When complex cases are being
tried, it is helpful if the attorneys submit the cases and/or
regulations relied upon prior to trial.
judge fred C. Eady
phone: 404-613-5410
fax: 404-730-5442
Email: Fred.Eady@fultoncountyga.gov
Law school: Woodrow Wilson College of Law
previous Experience: Appointed to Fulton State Court
bench on May 31, 2005. Prior to that, served as fulltime Fulton
magistrate since April 2002. Made the governor’s judicial
shortlist in 2004 for an opening on the Fulton Juvenile Court.
Before that, two stints as a solo practitioner, 1984-95 and
1999-2002. In between, he was a partner at Eady & Eaton. He
also has served as an assistant solicitor in Fulton and spent
about 14 years as a municipal court judge in East Point.
judge susan E. Edlein
phone: 404-613-0490
fax: 404-224-0578
Email: susan.edlein@fultoncountyga.gov
