COMMUNICATION DISABILITIES
Persons who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or have other communication disabilities may request the assistance of a qualified sign language interpreter or similar auxiliary aid or service. Requests must be made in advance through the Communication Disabilities Access Coordinator or her alternate using one of the following methods:
By phone:
Jamee Green, Communication Disabilities Access Coordinator: 404-215-1610
Ciarra Steede, Alternate Communication Disabilities Access Coordinator: 404-215-1640
By mail:
Communication Disabilities Access Coordinator
2211 United States Courthouse
75 Ted Turner Drive, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
SERVICE DOGS
A service dog may be permitted in the courthouses of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia if approved in advance by the senior official for the tenant agency the service dog is to visit or the official’s designee. If the tenant agency’s senior official cannot be reached, a United States Marshals Service management official may decide. A service dog is a dog that is trained to perform a task directly related to a person’s disability. An emotional support or comfort animal is not a service dog. A service dog will not be given access to a courthouse if the dog’s presence would fundamentally alter the nature of the services or activities provided by the tenant agency. A service dog may be removed from a courthouse at any time if the dog is disruptive or not housebroken.
Anyone seeking to bring a service dog into the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia should submit a request in writing to:
Clerk, U.S. District Court
2211 U.S. Courthouse
75 Ted Turner Dr., S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303
Attn: Service Dog Request
The request should include the name, street address, phone number, and email address of the requestor and be postmarked no later than seven days prior to the date the requestor desires to bring the service dog into a courthouse. The request must be made under penalty of perjury and explain that the dog is a service dog required because of a disability and describe the work or task the dog has been trained to perform that is directly related to the disability. The request also must confirm that the dog is housebroken. For good cause, a judge may waive one or more of the above requirements for the request.
A service dog will not be granted access to a courthouse if the dog’s presence would fundamentally alter the nature of the services or activities provided by the Court. The presiding judge may remove an authorized service dog from any proceeding if the dog is disruptive or not housebroken.