---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-12-83. Court reporters attending grand jury proceedings; oath; appointment and compensation; role and responsibilities; utilization of digital recording systems.
collection: code
id: 15-12-83
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-12-83 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-12-83
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-12-83.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-12-83/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t15-ch12-25-(v13a)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=487ea255_0#page=19
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: Effective January 1, 2026.
in_force: true
other_versions:
  - version: Effective until January 1, 2026.
    in_force: false
    md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-12-83.md?version=until+January+1%2C+2026
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COURTS / JURIES / GRAND JURIES / GENERAL PROVISIONS
extraction_warnings:
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---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-12-83. Court reporters attending grand jury proceedings; oath; appointment and compensation; role and responsibilities; utilization of digital recording systems.

(a) Upon the request of the district attorney or when the grand jury proceedings are in accordance with Code Section 17-7-52, a court reporter shall be authorized to be present and shall attend such proceedings. Before attending the grand jury proceedings, the court reporter shall take the following oath:

“I do solemnly swear that I will keep secret all things and matters coming to my knowledge while in attendance upon the grand jury, so help me God.”

(b) The district attorney of the circuit in which the county is located shall appoint the court reporter and, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, fix the compensation therefor, and such compensation, including the cost of transcripts, shall be paid by the county.

(c) The court reporter shall take and transcribe the testimony of any witness appearing before the grand jury and any argument or legal advice provided to the grand jury by the prosecuting attorney and shall furnish such transcript to the district attorney.

(d) When a witness testifies pursuant to a grant of immunity as provided in Code Section 24-5-507, such testimony shall be transcribed, a copy of the transcript shall be provided to the district attorney, and the original transcript shall be filed under seal in the office of the clerk.

(e) The court reporter shall be incompetent to testify at any hearing or trial concerning any matter or thing coming to the knowledge of the court reporter while in attendance upon the grand jury.

(f) The district attorney may utilize a digital recording system, as defined in Code Section 15-14-22, and as provided for by uniform court rules adopted and published by order of the Supreme Court with the advice and consent of the council of the affected class or classes of trial courts to record grand jury proceedings.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, a recording, any court reporter’s notes, and any transcript prepared from such recording or notes shall be provided solely to the district attorney, who shall retain control of such recording, notes, and transcript. The district attorney may use such materials to the extent such use is appropriate to the proper performance of his or her official duties, including compliance with Article 1 of Chapter 16 of Title 17.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-12-83, enacted by Ga. L. 2016, p. 186, § 3/HB 941; Ga. L. 2025, p. 151, § 2-3/HB 179, effective January 1, 2026.

## Amendments

The 2025 amendment, effective January 1, 2026, added subsection (f) and redesignated former subsection (f) as present subsection (g).

## Delayed Effective Date

Code Section 15-12-83 is set out twice in this Code. This version is effective January 1, 2026. For version effective until January 1, 2026, see the preceding version.