---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-12-165. Number of peremptory challenges.
collection: code
id: 15-12-165
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-12-165 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-12-165
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text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-12-165/text
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date: 2025
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heading_path: COURTS / JURIES / TRIAL JURIES / JURIES IN FELONY CASES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-12-165. Number of peremptory challenges.

Every person accused of a felony may peremptorily challenge nine of the jurors impaneled to try him or her. The state shall be allowed the same number of peremptory challenges allowed to the accused; provided, however, that in any case in which the state announces its intention to seek the death penalty, the accused may peremptorily challenge 15 jurors and the state shall be allowed the same number of peremptory challenges.

## History

Laws 1833, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. 835; Code 1863, § 4530; Code 1868, § 4549; Code 1873, § 4643; Code 1882, § 4643; Penal Code 1895, § 974; Penal Code 1910, § 1000; Code 1933, § 59-805; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1981, § 2; Ga. L. 2005, p. 20, § 7/HB 170; Ga. L. 2011, p. 59, § 1-59/HB 415.

## Cross References

Number of strikes allowed to defendants jointly indicted and tried for capital offense, § 17-8-4.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2005, p. 20, § 1/HB 170, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: ‘‘This act shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Criminal Justice Act of 2005.’’’

Ga. L. 2005, p. 20, § 17/HB 170, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that the amendment to this Code section shall be applicable to all trials which commence on or after July 1, 2005.

Ga. L. 2011, p. 59, § 1-1/HB 415, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: ‘‘This Act shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Jury Composition Reform Act of 2011.’’’

## Law Reviews

For article on 2005 amendment of this Code section, see 22 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 29 (2005). For annual survey of death penalty decisions, see 57 Mercer L. Rev. 139 (2005); 58 Mercer L. Rev. 111 (2006).

For note, ‘‘Toward an Integrated Rule Prohibiting All Race-Based Peremptory Challenges: Some Considerations on Georgia v. McCollum,’’ see 26 Ga. L. Rev. 503 (1992).

For comment on Alderman v. State, 241 Ga. 496, 246 S.E.2d 642, cert. denied, 439 U.S. 991, 99 S. Ct. 593, 58 L. Ed. 2d 666 (1978), see 31 Mercer L. Rev. 349 (1979).