Rule 4. REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTORNEYS, REGISTERED LAW STUDENTS, AND PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNDER THE PROVISIONAL ADMISSION RULES

An attorney must be in good standing and admitted to the bar of this Court in order to make an appearance, as provided in subsection (1) below. An attorney who is not admitted to practice in Georgia but who is admitted and authorized to practice law in the highest court in another state, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United States may appear pro hac vice in a particular case with permission of the Court as provided in subsection (9) below. A law student authorized to practice under the Student Practice Rule or a person authorized to practice under the Provisional Admission Rules for Recent Law School Graduates may appear in a particular case with the permission of the Court. The Court's website has detailed admission instructions. See https://www.gasupreme.us/court-information/attorney-admissions/ .

(1) Application and Oath . Any active member of the State Bar of Georgia may be admitted to practice in this Court upon written application, which shall include the certificates of at least two members of the bar of this Court attesting that the applicant is of good private and professional character. The oath, which is required to be taken in open court or before a Justice and which shall be subscribed in a book to be kept by the Clerk and known as the "Roll Book," is as follows: " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will conduct myself as an attorney or counselor of this Court, truly and honestly, justly and uprightly, and 5 according to law, and that I will support the Constitution of the State of Georgia and the Constitution of the United States. So help me God ."

(2) Fee. The fee for admission is $30. Once sworn in, the Clerk will issue a license under the seal of the Court as evidence of the admittee's authority to practice before the Court.

(3) Admission in Absentia. The Court allows active members of the State Bar of Georgia who reside outside of Georgia to be admitted in absentia. Two items are required: (1) the Application for Admission and

(2) the Oath to be administered by an appellate judge or a judge of a court of record, as shown by the admittee's signed affirmation and the judge's attestation. Upon receipt and verification of the original documents, the Clerk will mail the admittee a license under seal that evidences admission to the bar of this Court. The admittee must make an appointment with the Clerk's Office to sign the attorney Roll Book upon return to Georgia.

(4) Certificate of Good Standing. A certificate of good standing will be issued to members of the bar of this Court for a fee upon request. Instructions for making a request are available at https://www.gasupreme.us/court-information/purchase/ .

(5) Counsel of Record.

(a) Counsel of record includes attorneys who filed the notice of appeal, are listed on the certificate of service or the order being appealed, or whose names appear in any appellate brief, petition, motion, or other filing in the appeal.

(b) Additional Appearances. Any attorney not listed as counsel of record seeking to appear for a party must file a "Notice of Appearance" identifying the party represented. The appearance shall be effective upon docketing.

(6) Withdrawal or Substitution of Counsel. Any withdrawal, discharge, or substitution of attorneys of record shall be communicated to the Court in writing via the e-file system and shall include the name and number of the case in this Court and the name and address of the 6 counsel's client. Counsel shall provide a copy of the notification to the client, substituted counsel, and opposing counsel, including the Attorney General where required by law. Counsel will not be permitted to withdraw if the withdrawal will leave the client without counsel, except by prior permission of the Court.

(7) Change of Contact Information. If, during the pendency of any proceeding, counsel of record for any party changes their business address, e-mail address, or telephone number, counsel shall update the information on the e-file system in "Update My Profile" and shall notify the Clerk by e-filed letter of this change and show service on opposing counsel. Upon receipt of the notification, the Clerk will confirm that the Court's docket has been updated. Failure of counsel to receive notice of Court action shall not be grounds to reinstate or reconsider any matter adverse to counsel or counsel's client if counsel failed to properly update the e-file system or to notify the Court of any change of business address, e-mail address, or telephone number.

(8) Pro Se Parties. The words "counsel" and "attorney" as used in these rules include pro se parties if such parties are not represented by an attorney.

(9) Pro Hac Vice Appearance. A non-resident attorney who is not an active member in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia but who is a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and who seeks to appear in this Court pro hac vice in a single case, must first file an application for admission pro hac vice with the State Bar of Georgia at https://www.gabar.org/membership/howtojoin/pro- hac_application.cfm . If the application to the State Bar has not been approved before the first filing on which the non-resident attorney intends to appear, the attorney must still file an application for pro hac vice admission in this Court contemporaneously with the first filing. All applications filed in this Court must meet the following requirements: 7

(a) Application Contents: The application, which shall be served on all parties, shall contain the following information:

(i) A current certificate of good standing from the highest court of each jurisdiction in which the applicant is admitted to practice law, issued no more than 30 days before the application filing date.

(ii) The applicant's business address, e-mail address, and telephone number;

(iii) The name of the party or parties the applicant seeks to represent;

(iv) A statement whether the applicant (i) has ever been denied admission pro hac vice, (ii) had such admission revoked , or (iii) has otherwise been formally disciplined or sanctioned by any court, and if so, the nature and status of the matter;

(v) The number of times the applicant has been admitted pro hac vice to any Georgia court during the calendar year, with the case caption, case number, and jurisdiction for each case; and

(vi) Whether any formal written disciplinary proceeding has ever been brought against the applicant by a disciplinary authority in any jurisdiction. If so, provide a description of the nature and status of the disciplinary proceeding.

(b) Proof of Submission to State Bar: Each time an application for admission pro hac vice is filed in this Court, the applicant must attach an affidavit stating, "I submitted the pro hac vice application and fee submission to the State Bar of Georgia on (date of submission)." The affidavit must include as an exhibit a copy of the State Bar's acknowledgment of submission and payment. If the acknowledgment has not been received, the applicant may instead submit proof of successful electronic submission of the application and payment to the State Bar (e.g., a screenshot or a confirmation 8 email.). The applicant must supplement the application with the State Bar's acknowledgment within one business day of receipt.

(c) Fee Waiver: Attorneys seeking to represent an indigent party may qualify for a waiver of the application fee if they file with the application a statement that their representation is pro bono due to the client's indigence. Proof of the fee waiver must be included with the application.

(d) Obligations Owed by Counsel: A lawyer admitted pro hac vice has the continuing obligation during the period of admission to promptly notify the Court of a disposition made of pending charges or the institution of a new disciplinary proceeding or sanction.

(i) Upon the grant of the application, the applicant submits to the authority of the Court and the jurisdiction of the State Bar of Georgia for all conduct relating in any way to the proceeding in which the applicant seeks to appear. An attorney admitted pro hac vice may be disciplined in the same manner as a member of the bar of this Court.

(ii) Local Counsel: The application must be made by a member of the bar of this Court on behalf of the non-resident attorney, who will serve as local counsel of record and actively participate in the case.

(e) Electronic Registration: Attorneys admitted pro hac vice will be granted access to the Court's e-filing system. Attorneys are required to register and to comply with all applicable rules and requirements.

(10) Absences. Unlike the uniform rules for other courts, this Court does not recognize or grant leaves of absence. Counsel should make arrangements to monitor the case while absent. If appropriate to the pending matter, counsel may request an extension of time.

(11) Appearances by Former Attorneys or Justices of the Court. An attorney who formerly was an employee or a Justice of this 9 Court may not enter an appearance in any case during the six months after his or her service at the Court or in any case that was pending before the Court during his or her service.

(12) E-Filing Portal. The use of the Supreme Court's electronic filing docket system (SCED) is mandatory for attorneys. Attorneys are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of their account information. See Rule 4(7).