---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-19-10. Which of several counsel to be given preference in absence of client.
collection: code
id: 15-19-10
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-19-10 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-19-10
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-19-10.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-19-10/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t15-ch12-24-(v13a)-2015-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=cbb30143_0#page=388
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: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COURTS / ATTORNEYS / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-19-10. Which of several counsel to be given preference in absence of client.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘leading counsel’’ means the person who, at the time of the trial or the raising of any issue connected with the case, is, in the judgment of the court, the counsel upon whom the client relies more than any other.

(b) When two or more attorneys employed on the same side dispute about the direction to be given to their case and the client is not present, the judge shall hear all the facts and give preference to the leading counsel.

(c) If there is more than one leading counsel, the court shall, as between them, give preference to the counsel who was first employed.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, §§ 388, 389, 390; Code 1868, §§ 449, 450, 451; Code 1873, §§ 414, 415, 416; Code 1882, §§ 414, 415, 416; Civil Code 1895, §§ 4424, 4425, 4426; Civil Code 1910, §§ 4962, 4963, 4964; Code 1933, §§ 9-608, 9-609, 9-610.