17-9-20. Action by juror on private knowledge as to facts, witnesses, or parties.

Civil Code 1895, § 5337; Civil Code 1910, § 5932; Code 1933, § 110-108; Ga. L. 2011, p. 99, § 32/HB 24.

Ga. L. 2011, p. 99, § 101/HB 24, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that this Act shall apply to any motion made or hearing or trial commenced on or after January 1, 2013.

Juror as witness, § 24-6-606.

For article discussing swearing a juror as a witness, see 11 Ga. B.J. 321 (1949). For article, ‘‘Evidence,’’ see 27 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 1 (2011). For article on the 2011 amendment of this Code section, see 28 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 1 (2011). For comment on Tumlin v. State, 88 Ga. App. 713, 77 S.E.2d 555 (1953), holding that a juror is competent to testify in a felony case against the accused and defendant is not deprived of right to fair trial, see 16 Ga. B.J. 346 (1954).

History of Code section.

This Code section is derived from the decisions in Chattanooga, R. & C. Ry. Co. v. Owen, 90 Ga. 265, 15 S.E. 853 (1892) and Pettyjohn v. Liebscher, 92 Ga. 154, 17 S.E. 1007 (1893).