ga-draft-order · diff
v0.1.0 to v0.1.0
138 added, 27 removed. Audit A to A.
---
name: ga-draft-order
description: >
- Scaffold a proposed order for a Georgia court.
+ This skill should be used to scaffold a Georgia proposed order for a
+ judge's signature. Triggers include "proposed order Georgia", "draft
+ an order for the judge", "draft a Georgia proposed order", "proposed
+ order granting motion to compel Georgia", "default judgment order
+ Georgia", "draft an order on summary judgment Georgia". Produces a
+ proposed order with the caption replicated, recitals and findings,
+ numbered "IT IS HEREBY ORDERED" decretal paragraphs mirroring the
+ relief sought in the underlying motion, and a judge-signature line;
+ flags that the order takes effect only upon signature and entry by
+ filing under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58.
version: 0.1.0
---
# Draft a Georgia Proposed Order
- > **TODO**: Author substantive content. This is a scaffolded
- > stub. Research the Georgia analog from authoritative sources
- > before writing — do not search-and-replace from another
- > state plugin.
-
> **NOT LEGAL ADVICE.** This skill scaffolds a court document
> as a drafting aid. The user — not the skill — chooses the
> findings, the relief, and the form of the order. Only a
> judge signs an order; this skill prepares the proposed form
> for the judge's consideration. Verify every rule, deadline,
> and citation against current law before filing. Pair with
> substantive review by counsel where stakes warrant.
- ## State context
+ Use this skill in addition to `ga-statewide-format` when a motion or
+ stipulation calls for a **proposed order** the judge can sign. The
+ proposed order replicates the caption (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-10(a)), recites
+ the matter before the court, states the findings, and sets out the
+ decretal paragraphs. A judgment or order is effective only when it is
+ **signed by the judge and filed with the clerk** (entry by filing,
+ O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58).
- - **State**: Georgia
- - **Format rule**: O.C.G.A. § 9-11-10 + Uniform Superior Court Rules
- - **Civil rules**: Georgia Civil Practice Act (O.C.G.A. Title 9, Ch. 11)
- - **Evidence rules**: Georgia Evidence Code (O.C.G.A. Title 24)
- - **Style manual**: Georgia appellate citation (Bluebook-based)
+ ## Cardinal rule — the proposed order mirrors the motion
- ## What to author
+ The order's relief should **mirror exactly** the relief requested in
+ the motion. Two failure modes:
- 1. Description: replace the placeholder with realistic trigger
- phrases for how a Georgia pro se filer would ask about this
- 2. Body: substantive content matching the role
- 3. Composition notes: which other ga- skills this layers
- with
- 4. References: the supporting `references/*.md` files
+ - **Over-reaching**: ordering something the motion did not request —
+ judges strike or modify these.
+ - **Under-reaching**: omitting something the motion requested.
- ## References to author
+ Cross-check the prayer for relief in the motion (`WHEREFORE…`) against
+ the order's decretal paragraphs (`IT IS HEREBY ORDERED…`) one item at a
+ time.
- - Research the Georgia analog from authoritative sources
- before authoring; do NOT search-and-replace from another
- state plugin
+ ## Standard proposed-order structure
- ## Cross-references
+ ```
+ [Caption — exactly matching the motion,
+ per O.C.G.A. § 9-11-10(a)]
- - `ga-statewide-format` for format baseline
- - `ga-fulton` / `ga-cobb` / `ga-county-courts` for venue
- - `ga-pro-se` for pro se conventions
+ [DOCUMENT TITLE: ORDER ON DEFENDANT'S
+ MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY]
+
+ This matter comes before the Court on [Movant]'s [Motion Title] (the
+ "Motion"), filed [date]. The Court, having reviewed the Motion, any
+ response and reply, the supporting affidavits and exhibits, and the
+ record, FINDS as follows:
+
+ 1. [Finding 1 — e.g., "Defendant timely served Plaintiff with its
+ First Interrogatories and Requests for Production on [date]."]
+
+ 2. [Finding 2 — e.g., "Plaintiff did not timely respond to
+ Interrogatories Nos. 3, 5, and 7 or Requests for Production Nos. 2
+ and 8 within the time allowed by O.C.G.A. § 9-11-33 and § 9-11-34."]
+
+ 3. [Finding 3 — additional findings as needed.]
+
+ The Court CONCLUDES that good cause exists to grant the Motion.
+
+ IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
+
+ (a) [Movant]'s Motion to Compel Discovery is GRANTED.
+
+ (b) Plaintiff shall serve, within [14] days of entry of this Order,
+ full and complete responses to Defendant's Interrogatories Nos. 3,
+ 5, and 7 and Requests for Production Nos. 2 and 8, without
+ objection.
+
+ (c) [Additional decretal paragraphs as needed.]
+
+ SO ORDERED, this ___ day of __________, 20__.
+
+ _____________________________
+ Judge, [Superior / State] Court
+ of [County] County
+ ```
+
+ ## Findings vs. ordering — keep them separate
+
+ Georgia judges expect a clear separation between **factual findings**
+ (numbered, neutrally stated) and the **decretal paragraphs** (the
+ lettered or numbered list of specific commands). Conflating the two
+ makes it harder for the judge to delete a finding without invalidating
+ a command.
+
+ ## Default judgment order
+
+ For a default judgment, the proposed order should recite the predicate
+ findings:
+
+ ```
+ This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff's motion for default
+ judgment. The Court FINDS:
+
+ 1. Defendant was served with the Summons and Complaint on [date] per
+ the return of service filed [date].
+
+ 2. Defendant failed to answer or otherwise respond within the time
+ allowed by O.C.G.A. § 9-11-12(a), and the case is in default under
+ O.C.G.A. § 9-11-55(a); the default was not opened.
+
+ 3. Plaintiff is entitled to judgment in the amount of $______,
+ consisting of [principal $____; interest $____; costs $____].
+
+ IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that judgment is entered in favor of Plaintiff
+ and against Defendant in the amount of $______.
+ ```
+
+ ## Entry, signature, and effect — O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58
+
+ - **Only a judge signs and enters an order.** The filer submits the
+ order in proposed form; the judge fills any remaining blanks, may
+ strike portions the Court declines to grant, signs, and the clerk
+ files it.
+ - A judgment is effective only upon signing by the judge and **entry by
+ filing** with the clerk (O.C.G.A. § 9-11-58). Deadlines that run from
+ "entry of judgment" run from that filing date, not the date the
+ proposed order was submitted.
+ - The signature line should name the court and county:
+ `Judge, [Superior / State] Court of [County] County`.
+
+ ## Filing checklist
+
+ - [ ] Caption replicates the motion's caption exactly
+ - [ ] Findings are numbered, neutral, and separate from the decretal paragraphs
+ - [ ] Decretal paragraphs mirror the motion's prayer item-by-item
+ - [ ] Signature line names the court and county; dated blank left for the judge
+ - [ ] No relief beyond what the motion requested
+ - [ ] Format check passes (`scripts/format-check.py`)
+
+ ## Composition
+
+ - For format: `ga-statewide-format`
+ - For the supporting motion: `ga-draft-motion`
+ - For the supporting affidavit: `ga-draft-declaration`
+ - For the post-hearing signed-order workflow: `ga-submit-order`
+ - For the venue overlay: `ga-fulton`, `ga-cobb`, `ga-gwinnett`,
+ `ga-state-court`, `ga-magistrate`, `ga-county-courts`,
+ `ga-family-court`
+ - For post-judgment specifics: `ga-post-judgment`
+ - For family-law decrees: `ga-family-law`
+ - For pre-filing QC: `ga-quality-check`, `ga-fact-check`
+
+ ## References
+
+ - `references/proposed-order-template.md` — annotated template
+ - `references/default-judgment-order.md` — default-judgment findings variant
+ - `references/findings-vs-order.md` — separation conventions