---
title: O.C.G.A. § 5-6-3. Filing of briefs on court order where cases not disposed of during term; additional argument; effect of failure to comply with order.
collection: code
id: 5-6-3
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 5-6-3 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/5-6-3
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/5-6-3.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/5-6-3/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t4-6-(v4)-2013-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=8c0a1199_0#page=470
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: APPEAL AND ERROR / CERTIORARI AND APPEALS TO APPELLATE COURTS GENERALLY / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 5-6-3. Filing of briefs on court order where cases not disposed of during term; additional argument; effect of failure to comply with order.

(a) Whenever the appellate court may be unable to dispose of all cases on its docket for any term before the time fixed by law for the succeeding term to begin, the court may pass an order requiring counsel in all such cases to file their briefs in the clerk’s office of the court on or before a certain day prior to the succeeding term. All cases in which briefs are thus filed shall be considered as heard at the term of the court to which returned. They shall be determined and the decision therein shall be announced by the court as soon after the briefs are filed as may be practicable. Should the court desire to hear argument in addition to that submitted in the briefs, the court may pass an order requiring counsel to submit further argument by brief or in open court at such time as may be prescribed in the order.

(b) Upon failure of counsel for the appellant to comply with the order of the court, where no sufficient excuse is shown for noncompliance, the case shall be dismissed for want of prosecution.

## History

Ga. L. 1878-79, p. 151, §§ 1-4; Civil Code 1910, §§ 6198, 6199, 6200, 6201; Code 1933, §§ 6-1602, 6-1603, 6-1604, 6-1605.

## Cross References

Ga. Const. 1983, Art. VI, Sec. IX, Para. II. Schedule of terms of Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, §§ 15-2-4, 15-3-2. Filings in clerk’s office, Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia, Rule 1. Filing with clerk’s office, Rules of the Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia, Rule 1.