The global health crisis of the Coronavirus (also known as “COVID-19”) shut down much of the world, including the State of Georgia. From the onset of the pandemic, The Foster Law Firm closely followed the developments of the virus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). During these unprecedented times, our top priority was the safety of our team, clients and families. In March 2020, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a shelter-in-place order which essentially shut down many businesses in Georgia. Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Georgia Supreme Court also issued a Statewide Judicial Emergency Order which essentially “shut-down” the Courthouses throughout Georgia. The Foster Law Firm, LLC handles exclusively Criminal Defense and Family Law cases. While safety was our utmost concern, we knew that the shutting down or adjustments to the courthouses in Georgia brought about by the pandemic would present grave issues for our clients, as the cases we handle affect the freedom, livelihood, and families of our clients.
At the Foster Law Firm, we provide an armor for people fighting for their freedom, livelihood and families within the court system. That armor is typically most seen in the Courtroom as we litigate cases in trial, or in conference rooms as we negotiate the best settlements or pleas for our clients if the situation warrants it. However, the Coronavirus pandemic led us to put on a different kind of armor. What we wanted to do was arm our clients and the general public with as much information regarding the pandemic to help them in navigating their court cases in this unprecedented time. Our quest to do this brought about our COVID-19 series where Attorney Chinwe’ N. Foster interviewed several prominent individuals throughout Georgia regarding COVID-19 and how it affects people unfortunately caught in the Court system in Georgia. This 6-part series of interviews was titled “How COVID-19 infects the Law.” You can view each episode of the series below.
Episode 1: In the first episode of these series, Attorney Foster interviewed Matt Stevens, a political commentator and analyst who appeared on national television, radio and print, including CNN, Sirius XM, TVOne, IHeartRadio and Ebony Magazine to name a few. Matt Stevens and Attorney Foster discussed the Shelter-In-Place Order issued by Governor Brian Kemp, what it means, and how it affected Georgia residents.
Episode 2: In the second episode of the COVID-19 Series, Attorney Foster spoke with Dr. Barbara Joy Jones, a family medicine physician with Northside Hospital and a medical expert who has appeared on various national news outlets such as CNN, HLN, NBC and on other shows such as “Sister Circle” on TVOne. Dr. Jones uses her medical expertise to explain exactly what COVID-19 is and how it can affect us.
Episode 3: In the 3rd episode of the COVID-19 Series, Attorney Foster speaks with The Honorable Christopher Brasher, Chief Judge of Fulton County Superior Court, Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Judge Brasher discusses how COVID-19 has affected the Court System in Fulton County and how Fulton County Courts responded to the pandemic and how cases in Fulton County were still proceeding despite the Judicial Emergency Order.
Episode 4: In the 4th episode of the COVID-19 Series, Attorney Foster interviewed Solicitor General of Gwinnett County, Brian Whiteside. Solicitor General Whiteside was one of the first solicitors in Georgia who came out and stated that individuals who violated the “shelter-in-place” order would be prosecuted. In this candid interview, Attorney Foster and Solicitor Whiteside discuss the reasoning for the Gwinnett Solicitor taking this stance.
Episode 5: In the 5th episode of the COVID-19 Series, Attorney Foster interviewed Attorney, Guardian Ad Litem, Mediator, and Parenting Coordinator Alyson Lembeck, Esq. One of the top questions we have received from our clients and people in the court system with family cases is, “How does the Coronavirus pandemic affect visitation with the other parent?” Attorney Lembeck uses her knowledge and expertise as a Guardian Ad Litem, Attorney, Mediator, and parenting coordinator to answer this question and give suggestions in what parents can do when faced with this question, or other custody or visitation issues during the pandemic.
Episode 6: In the 6th and final episode of the COVID-19 Series, Attorney Foster interviewed The Circuit Public Defender of Clayton County Judicial Circuit, Adeline Alexander, Esq. Attorney Alexander gave us an inside look of how the Judges, Attorneys and clients were working together to navigate and move cases along, despite the Judicial Emergency Order.