Many people get involved in legal cases that air on a national television network that livestreams from courts across the country, but did you know you can do the same thing through your computer or mobile device without leaving your couch on cases right here in your own courthouses in the Eighth Judicial District of Georgia?

Blame it partially on COVID, but some time back when stringent precautions were in place and the public wasn’t allowed to sit in the courtroom, the Eighth District urged county government to support broadcasting the courts live and online for cases that would normally be opened to the public, and the Judicial Districts complied.

Logging on to any courtroom in the Eighth District is as simple as going to www.eighthdistrict.org and following the Courtroom Live Stream link. There you will see what courts on online and then you can just click on the courtroom activity.

Circuits available online in the Eighth District are the Cordele Circuit, Dublin Circuit (which includes courts in Treutlen County), and the Ocmulgee Circuit. Of local interest are the Middle Circuit that includes courts in Toombs County, Candler County, Emanuel County, Jefferson County and Washington County, as well as the Oconee Circuit that encompasses the counties of Bleckley, Dodge, Montgomery, Pulaski, Telfair, and Wheeler.

While the cases are live, viewers should be aware that just as all journalists must adhere to what is called Rule 22 which prohibits recording and photographic devices in the courtroom unless approved specifically by the presiding judge, proceedings online are prohibited from being recorded including screenshots, video, audio and still shots. In addition, the presiding judge has the authority to mute audio during certain testimony and court proceedings when he or she feels it is in the best interest or the victim.