Witness Information
As a witness to a crime, your cooperation is very important to the prosecution of the person accused. Unfortunately, court hearings are postponed for any number of reasons. If there is a special reason you are unable to appear in court on the date you have been subpoenaed, please call the District Attorney’s Office at (770) 278-7990 immediately. Please review the following information to help you as you navigate your role as a witness in a case.
Change of Address/Telephone Number:
If you change your address or phone number, please notify the District Attorney’s Office so that we may communicate with you as needed and you may be kept informed of the case status.
Subpoena:
If you are needed for a court appearance you will receive a subpoena. If you receive a subpoena to appear in court, you are required by law to attend. Your subpoena may indicate that you are “On-Call” and your presence may not be required. If your subpoena is “On-Call” please call the District Attorney’s Office at (770) 278-7990 and leave a phone number where you can be reached in the event you are needed during trial week. You DO NOT have to come to court UNLESS someone from the District Attorney’s Office calls or contacts you to appear.
Be Prepared:
When you are called to testify in court for a hearing or a trial, you will be asked questions about the incident(s) you witnessed. Please review the case in your mind to help you remember what occurred. It may help to picture the scene in your head so that you can recall it more accurately when you speak to the Assistant District Attorney and when you are on the stand to testify.
Look Your Best:
What you have to say is very important. Please dress neatly and conservatively so that what you wear does not overshadow what you have to say. In addition, shorts, tank tops, and flip flops are not permitted attire in the courtroom. Gum and cellphone usage are also prohibited while in court.
Be Prepared to Wait:
We value your time and do our best to prioritize and accommodate your schedule whenever possible. A trial may take longer than you anticipate and you will likely have to wait for a period of time. Please be prepared to do so. You may want to bring something to read to help the time pass.
Listen Carefully:
When you are testifying in court, you will be asked questions about what you remember about the incident. Be sure you understand the question posed to you by both the Assistant District Attorney and the defense attorney before you answer, and then answer only what is asked of you. If you do not understand the question, please say so; if you do not know the answer, please do not guess.
Stay Calm and Be Polite:
While testifying, there may be a time that you become frustrated or upset by a question asked of you. Please remember to stay calm while testifying and avoid arguing with the defense attorney or the Judge while testifying.