---
title: O.C.G.A. § 41-3-3. Dismissal of complaint filed by private citizen; substitution of district attorney or another private citizen for original complainant.
collection: code
id: 41-3-3
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 41-3-3 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/41-3-3
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/41-3-3.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/41-3-3/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t41-t42-(v29a)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=4afea80d_0#page=91
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/41-3.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/41-3-2.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/41-3-4.md
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: NUISANCES / PLACES USED FOR UNLAWFUL SEXUAL AND DRUG ACTIVITIES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 41-3-3. Dismissal of complaint filed by private citizen; substitution of district attorney or another private citizen for original complainant.

If the complaint is filed by a private citizen, it shall not be dismissed except upon filing of a sworn statement by the complainant and his attorney setting forth the reasons why the action should be dismissed and upon approval of the dismissal by the district attorney in writing or in open court. If the court shall be of the opinion that the action ought not to be dismissed, it may direct the district attorney to maintain the action and, if the action is continued more than one term of court, any private citizen of the county or the district attorney may be substituted for the original complainant and directed to maintain the action.

## History

Ga. L. 1917, p. 177, § 3; Code 1933, § 72-306.