"If things got bad enough, we'd be easily able to go straight back to virtual," said Court of Appeals of Georgia Chief Judge Brian M. Rickman.

With guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Judicial Council of Georgia, Rickman said the court's 15 judges looked forward to the return of in-person arguments.

But lawyers shouldn't expect to see too many changes.

Aside from video technology implemented to allow virtual proceedings, Rickman said the appellate courtroom would look much like it did pre-pandemic.

"No plexiglass," Rickman said. "The courtroom is set up just like it was."

The return to face-to-face arguments will follow in the footsteps of the Supreme Court of Georgia, where in-person oral arguments resumed June 9, with a bench of fully vaccinated justices.

Rickman did not know whether all his colleagues on the bench had been vaccinated but said it wouldn't be a requirement for jurists, court staff or the public. Social-distancing would be maintained. Masks, he said, would be required for anyone unvaccinated, with attorneys granted discretion to remove them while arguing from the podium.

Those uncomfortable or inconvenienced by the resumption of in-person oral arguments can opt out. For now, through the end of the year, the court will continue to allow virtual arguments.

The provision applies to judges as well.

"You could have judges appearing virtually in some cases," Rickman said. "In some cases, on some panels you could have all three members of the panel in person."

To spread the word, court administrators took to Twitter to announce the continued availability of virtual proceedings, calling it "a tradition of outreach to all of Georgia."

The Court of Appeals continues its tradition of outreach to all of Georgia. Beginning in September, attorneys may request to appear at oral arguments virtually. pic.twitter.com/SCwQvlX1ZV

— AppealsCourtGA (@AppealsCourtGA) July 21, 2021

"Given continued challenges with COVID-19 and travel, we feel this is best for attorneys and litigants," Rickman wrote in a separate press release. "Our judges will work together to evaluate in real time how we can keep oral arguments accessible and safe."

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the court to suspend in-person hearings for two months before transitioning to its first virtual oral arguments in May of 2020. In the 14 months following, the appellate court has presided over close to 50 virtual sessions of oral arguments.

"Some parties prefer virtual, some parties can't stand virtual," Rickman said. "The next few months may give folks a chance to test out which they prefer."

Attorneys preferring to continue with virtual oral arguments, must make their request before 5 p.m. on the 25th day of the month prior to the proceedings. They must email requests to [email protected].