---
title: O.C.G.A. § 9-10-185. Prejudicial statements by counsel; prevention by court; rebuke of counsel and instruction to jury; mistrial.
collection: code
id: 9-10-185
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 9-10-185 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-10-185
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-10-185.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-10-185/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t9-ch1-10-(v6)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=f3cabc45_0#page=890
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: CIVIL PRACTICE / CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE GENERALLY / ARGUMENT AND CONDUCT OF COUNSEL
---

# O.C.G.A. § 9-10-185. Prejudicial statements by counsel; prevention by court; rebuke of counsel and instruction to jury; mistrial.

Where counsel in the hearing of the jury make statements of prejudicial matters which are not in evidence, it is the duty of the court to interpose and prevent the same. On objection made, the court shall also rebuke counsel and by all needful and proper instructions to the jury endeavor to remove the improper impression from their minds. In its discretion, the court may order a mistrial if the plaintiff’s attorney is the offender.

## History

Civil Code 1895, § 4419; Civil Code 1910, § 4957; Code 1933, § 81-1009.

## Cross References

Effect of judge’s expression to jury of opinion of factual issue or expression of approval or disapproval of jury verdict, §§ 9-10-7, 9-10-8.

Similar provision pertaining to criminal actions, § 17-8-75.

## Law Reviews

For note, “Argument of Counsel,” see 1 Ga. L. Rev. No. 1 p. 44 (1927).

## History of Section.

This Code section is derived from the decisions in Augusta & S.R.R. v. Randall, 85 Ga. 297, 11 S. E. 706 (1890); Croom v. State, 90 Ga. 430, 17 S. E. 1003 (1892); Metropolitan St. R.R. v. Johnson, 90 Ga. 501, 16 S. E. 49 (1892); and Farmer v. State, 91 Ga. 720, 18 S. E. 987 (1893).