---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-14-12. Cases of special public importance.
collection: code
id: 16-14-12
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-14-12 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-14-12
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-14-12.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-14-12/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t16-ch12-17-(v14b)-2024-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=a591fa7b_0#page=763
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: CRIMES AND OFFENSES / RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-14-12. Cases of special public importance.

The state may, in any civil action or civil forfeiture proceeding brought pursuant to this chapter, file with the clerk of the court a certificate stating that the case is of special public importance. A copy of such certificate shall be furnished immediately by such clerk to the chief judge or, in his or her absence, the presiding chief judge of the court in which such civil action or civil forfeiture proceeding is pending; and, upon receipt of such certificate, the judge shall immediately designate a judge to hear and determine such civil action or civil forfeiture proceeding. The judge so designated shall promptly assign such civil action or civil forfeiture proceeding for hearing, participate in the hearings and determination, and cause such civil action or civil forfeiture proceeding to be expedited.

## History

Code 1933, § 26-3411, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 1385, § 6; Code 1981, § 16-14-12, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 1385, § 12; Ga. L. 2015, p. 693, § 2-25/HB 233.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2015, p. 693, § 4-1/HB 233, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: “This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2015, and shall apply to seizures of property for forfeiture that occur on or after that date. Any such seizure that occurs before July 1, 2015, shall be governed by the statute in effect at the time of such seizure.”

## Law Reviews

For article on the 2015 amendment of this Code section, see 32 Georgia St. U.L. Rev. 1 (2015).