---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-8-2. Indictments and special presentments to be presented to jury; exception for settlements between prosecutor and defendant which are approved by court.
collection: code
id: 17-8-2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-8-2 (2025)
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md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-8-2.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-8-2/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=707
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
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publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / TRIAL / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-8-2. Indictments and special presentments to be presented to jury; exception for settlements between prosecutor and defendant which are approved by court.

All indictments or special presentments shall be submitted to and passed upon by a jury under the direction of the presiding judge unless there is a settlement of the case between the prosecutor and the defendant, which settlement shall be valid only by the approval and order of the court on examination into the merits of the case.

## History

Laws 1850, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. 864; Code 1863, § 4588; Code 1868, §§ 4609, 4610; Ga. L. 1870, p. 422, § 2; Code 1873, § 4706; Code 1882, § 4706; Penal Code 1895, § 956; Penal Code 1910, § 981; Code 1933, § 27-1701.