---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-8-76. Argument to or in front of jury as to possibility of clemency.
collection: code
id: 17-8-76
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-8-76 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-8-76
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-8-76.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-8-76/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=930
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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heading_path: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / TRIAL / CONDUCT AND ARGUMENT OF COUNSEL
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-8-76. Argument to or in front of jury as to possibility of clemency.

(a) No attorney at law in a criminal case shall argue to or in the presence of the jury that a defendant, if convicted, may not be required to suffer the full penalty imposed by the court or jury because pardon, parole, or clemency of any nature may be granted by the Governor, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, or other proper authority vested with the right to grant clemency.

(b) If counsel for either side in a criminal case argues to or in the presence of the jury as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, opposing counsel shall have the right immediately to request the court to declare a mistrial, in which case it shall be mandatory upon the court to declare a mistrial. Failure to declare a mistrial shall constitute reversible error.

(c) This Code section shall be construed as setting forth requirements in addition to other requirements of law.

## History

Ga. L. 1955, p. 191, §§ 1-3.

## Law Reviews

For note, ‘‘Can’t Do the Time, Don’t Do the Crime?: Dixon v. State, Statutory Construction, and the Harsh Realities of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing in Georgia,’’ see 22 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 519 (2005).

## U.s. Code.

Closing arguments, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 29.1.