---
title: O.C.G.A. § 51-5-6. Truth as justification.
collection: code
id: 51-5-6
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 51-5-6 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-5-6
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-5-6.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-5-6/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t51-(v39)-2017-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6b891965_0#page=575
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/51-5.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-5-5.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-5-7.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: TORTS / LIBEL AND SLANDER
---

# O.C.G.A. § 51-5-6. Truth as justification.

The truth of the charge made may always be proved in justification of an alleged libel or slander.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 2921; Code 1868, § 2928; Code 1873, § 2979; Code 1882, § 2979; Civil Code 1895, § 3839; Civil Code 1910, § 4435; Code 1933, § 105-708.

## Law Reviews

For article, ‘‘Defamation in Georgia Local Government Law: A Brief History,’’ see 16 Ga. L. Rev. 627 (1982).