---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-7-24. Time granted parties to prepare case and to secure counsel; granting of bail where hearing delayed.
collection: code
id: 17-7-24
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-7-24 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-7-24
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-7-24.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-7-24/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=454
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: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / PRETRIAL PROCEEDINGS / COMMITMENT HEARINGS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-7-24. Time granted parties to prepare case and to secure counsel; granting of bail where hearing delayed.

A reasonable time shall be given to the defendant and prosecutor for the preparation of the case. In no event shall the defendant be forced to attend the hearing without the aid of counsel if there is a reasonable probability of his securing counsel without too great delay. Where the hearing is postponed to a future day at the instance of either party or the court, it shall not be necessary to commit the defendant to jail pending the hearing; but he shall have the right to give bail for appearance at the hearing before the court of inquiry if the offense is bailable under the authority of the court.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 4613; Ga. L. 1865-66, p. 236, § 1; Code 1868, § 4635; Code 1873, § 4732; Code 1882, § 4732; Penal Code 1895, § 908; Penal Code 1910, § 933; Code 1933, § 27-403.

## Cross References

Constitutional guarantee of benefit of counsel, Ga. Const. 1983, Art. I, Sec. I, Para. XIV.

## Law Reviews

For article, ‘‘The Indigent Defendant in Georgia Prior to Gideon v. Wainwright,’’ see 2 Ga. St. B.J. 207 (1965).

For note, ‘‘Bail in Georgia: Elimination of ‘Double Bonding’ — A Partially Solved Problem,’’ see 8 Ga. St. B.J. 220 (1971).