---
title: Ga. Const. Art. VI, Sec. V, Para. IV. Certification of question to Supreme Court.
collection: code
id: ga-const:art-vi-sec-v-para-iv
cite_as: Ga. Const. Art. VI, Sec. V, Para. IV
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text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/constitution/ga/art-vi-sec-v-para-iv/text
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date: 2016
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
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current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONSTITUTION OF THE / JUDICIAL BRANCH / COURT OF APPEALS
---

# Ga. Const. Art. VI, Sec. V, Para. IV. Certification of question to Supreme Court.

A constitution provision shown as in force is in force as printed in the volume. A court decision can make a printed provision unenforceable without changing the volume, and the volume does not record that.

The Court of Appeals may certify a question to the Supreme Court for instruction, to which it shall then be bound.

## 1976 Constitution.

Art. VI, Sec. II, Paras. IV and VIII.

## Certification of Question Authorized.

The Court of Appeals was authorized to certify a question to the Supreme Court as to the constitutionality of retroactive application of the cap on damages recoverable against the state provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-21-26. Department of Human Resources v. Phillips, 223 Ga. App. 520, 478 S.E.2d 598 (1996).

When Supreme Court can decline

## To Answer.

When the answer to a certified question would constitute the decision in the main case, the Supreme Court will decline to answer the question. Lawrence v. State, 268 Ga. 420, 489 S.E.2d 850 (1997).