---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-7-111. Demurrers and special pleas to be in writing; right to plead ‘‘not guilty’’ if demurrer or plea denied.
collection: code
id: 17-7-111
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-7-111 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-7-111
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-7-111.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-7-111/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t17-(v15)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=8c04ccfe_0#page=569
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.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-7.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-7-110.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / PRETRIAL PROCEEDINGS / DEMURRERS, MOTIONS, AND SPECIAL PLEAS AND EXCEPTIONS / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-7-111. Demurrers and special pleas to be in writing; right to plead ‘‘not guilty’’ if demurrer or plea denied.

If the defendant, upon being arraigned, demurs to the indictment, pleads to the jurisdiction of the court, pleads in abatement, or enters any other special plea in bar, the demurrer or plea shall be made in writing. If the demurrer or plea is decided against the defendant, he may nevertheless plead and rely on the general issue of ‘‘not guilty.’’

## History

Laws 1833, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. 834; Code 1863, § 4526; Code 1868, § 4545; Code 1873, § 4639; Code 1882, § 4639; Penal Code 1895, § 950; Penal Code 1910, § 975; Code 1933, § 27-1501.