Porterdale Municipal Court, Newton County, GA
Please Note: With a limited staff, it is best if you call in advance should you have any in-person business on days we do not have court. By doing so, we can ensure someone will be present to assist you.
Please be advised that we cannot answer calls or assist walk-ins during court sessions. We will respond to all messages and emails on the next business day.
Office Closings:
06/29/26: Closing at 2:15 p.m.
06/30/26: Closing at 2:00 p.m.
07/03/26: Independence Day (Observed)- Closed
07/09/26: Closing at 3:30 p.m.
07/13/26: Closing at 2:30 p.m.
07/17/26: Closing at 4:00 p.m.
07/20/26 - 07/24/26: Closed
What To Expect:
Before you arrive, you will save yourself time if you bring only what you need: Your ID and an acceptable form of payment. Cell phones are permitted but must be silenced. You will be screened before entering the courtroom. Weapons including (but not limited to) guns, knives, explosives, and poisonous substances are all prohibited. If you have anything that is considered "harmful", you will be asked to place those items in your vehicle. No food or drinks (other than bottled water) shall be permitted in the courtroom.
Presently, the court's schedule includes sessions at 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., with a 3:30 p.m. session designated for bench trials. The doors will open 15 minutes before each scheduled session. Please do not enter the courtroom until instructed to do so by police or court personnel.
Due to limited seating capacity, accompanying individuals and/or spectators may be required to wait outside until space becomes available or the case is called.
At the court entrance, be sure to sign-in and collect a procedures and rights information form. If you do not sign in, your name will not be called.
While there are some exceptions, typically your name is called in the order of arrival. Remain seated until your name is called and keep conversations at a whisper. Well-behaved children are welcomed. If disruptions occur, we request that you exit the court room.
Please do not approach the judge or court staff until your name is called or you are specifically asked to come forward. Unauthorized approaches will result in being asked to sit down and may delay your case.
The longevity of Court depends entirely on the case load and how many solicitors are present. This varies each court day and can impact how quickly cases are handled. Please plan accordingly.
Court Attire:
Clothing should be conservative and respectful of the Court. Refrain from wearing hats, sunglasses, halter/tank tops, shorts, flip-flops, pajama bottoms, low-cut tops, and miniskirts. If you are cold-natured, a light jacket or sweater may be necessary. If you are dressed in a manner that is disrespectful to the Court, you will be asked to leave and return at a later date or you will be held in contempt which may result in either incarceration, a fine, or both. This will delay your case and require you to appear in court more than once.
Missed Court Date/ License Suspensions/ Bench Warrants:
Online and phone payments are disabled if you have missed your court date. To avoid a potential license suspension and/or a bench warrant, please call our office immediately to discuss your options.
Failure to appear in court results in an immediate, non-waivable $75.00 late fee. If a bench warrant is subsequently issued, an additional $125.00 warrant fee will be applied, and neither fee will be waived.
To reinstate a license suspended for Failure to Appear, you must visit the court office to resolve your citation and obtain a DS-912 suspension release form. You must then take that form to any Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) location and pay the reinstatement fee directly to DDS, as this is a separate payment from your court fine.
Please note: If your license has been suspended more than once for this same citation, the court cannot provide a release form until your case is completely finalized in court.
Court Appointed Attorney (Public Defender):
If you want attorney representation but cannot afford one, you may apply for a court appointed attorney on your assigned court date. When your name is called, please inform the solicitor that you want to apply for an attorney. You will be given an application to complete detailing your income and expenditures. When finished, the judge will review and compare it with the Federal Poverty Guidelines. If you qualify, you will be appointed an attorney and will be required to pay a $50.00 fee. If you do not qualify, you will have the option to move forward with your case that day or request a reset to hire your own attorney.
Points On License/ Reportable Offenses:
Many traffic offenses are reportable to DDS (Department of Driver's Services), which means that if a plea is entered or a fine is paid, the offense will be added to your driving history. Most offenses also have points associated with them. Some, like DUI's, do not have any points but will automatically suspend your license if a plea is entered.
The Clerk’s Office is not authorized to provide information regarding license points, the point values of specific charges, or your personal driving history. To find out more about points, suspensions, and reportable offenses, refer to the Traffic Court Reference Manual on the Department of Driver's Services website.
Probation Office:
Georgia Probation Management
2195 Pace Street, Suite C
Covington, GA 30014
(770) 788-1388
Website:
gpm-probation.com