Georgia CommonsCourt opinions
Georgia Supreme Court decisions with plain-language summaries. Browse by year and case type, or search by case name.
Garcia-Martinez v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Newton County man's murder conviction, ruling that the evidence, including eyewitness testimony and his own statements, was legally sufficient despite his claims of self-defense and accidental shooting.
George v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that police cannot seize items outside a search warrant's scope just because those items are 'relevant,' and instead must meet the stricter plain view doctrine before taking such evidence.
In the Matter of Monte Kevin Davis
The Supreme Court of Georgia imposed a public reprimand on attorney Monte Kevin Davis after he admitted sending a threatening text to a former client, warning he would report her immigration status to federal authorities.
ROCKDALE COUNTY. v. U. S. ENTERPRISES, INC.; And Vice Versa
The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that Rockdale County's zoning definition of a prohibited 'truck stop' was not unconstitutionally vague, reversing a superior court decision that had struck it down and letting a QuikTrip permit dispute continue.
Schoicket v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that a woman who pleaded guilty to felony murder cannot use her court-granted out-of-time appeal as a way to also file a late motion to withdraw her guilty plea, though it fixed an error in her sentence on a separate count.
Stafford v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Fulton County man's felony murder conviction, finding that even though some evidence was wrongly admitted at trial, it did not affect the outcome given the strength of the other evidence against him.
American Civil Liberties Union, Inc. v. Zeh
The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that a Glynn County misdemeanor public defender sued the ACLU for defamation was a public official, meaning he had to prove the ACLU knew its blog post was false or recklessly disregarded the truth, which he failed to show on the current record.
Barrett v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Richmond County man's felony murder conviction, ruling the evidence was enough to show he was a party to an armed robbery and that admitting a glitchy interview recording was not an abuse of discretion.
Devanna v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed Alexander DeVanna's murder conviction, ruling that even if his trial lawyer should have requested a better self-defense jury instruction, the overwhelming evidence of guilt meant that failure did not change the trial's outcome.
Harper v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Floyd County man's murder conviction, rejecting his claim that voir dire had to be transcribed and finding enough evidence to reject his self-defense claim.
Jones v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Waycross man's murder conviction, finding the circumstantial evidence, including DNA on the murder weapon, was sufficient and that he had waived his mistrial claim about improper character testimony.
Miller v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld Keontay Miller's malice murder conviction in the shooting death of Tellis Fort, finding the evidence, including DNA on the guns and cell phone records, was sufficient to support the verdict.
State v. Henry
The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that a driver seeking an independent DUI test must speak clearly enough that a reasonable officer would understand the request, rejecting a looser standard used by the Court of Appeals.
State v. Stanford
The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that a trial judge could not suspend part of a recidivist burglar's prison sentence, holding that Georgia's burglary statute flatly bars suspended sentences for repeat offenders with four or more burglary convictions.
Walker v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that a trial court's order dismissing a DUI case for lack of prosecution counts as a dismissal without prejudice even if the statute of limitation has since run, reversing the Court of Appeals.
COLLINS v. THE STATE (Three Cases)
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld the murder convictions of three men tried together in the shooting death of Milton Carl Kelley, rejecting challenges to jury instructions, denial of a separate trial, and claims that their lawyers performed poorly.
Department of Transportation v. Mixon
The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that a constitutional provision requiring the government to pay for property it takes or damages can also let landowners sue for an injunction, not just money, in certain circumstances.
Emmons, Warden v. Bryant
The Supreme Court of Georgia reversed a habeas court order that had granted a new trial to a man convicted of aggravated sexual battery, finding his appellate lawyer did not provide constitutionally inadequate representation.
Harris v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Fulton County man's felony murder conviction from a 2008 shooting over a cable TV dispute, rejecting his claims that the evidence was insufficient and that his lawyer was ineffective.
Hughs v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld the felony murder conviction of a man whose 18-month-old niece died of abuse while in his care, rejecting claims of insufficient evidence, ineffective counsel, and a coercive jury instruction.