Georgia CommonsCourt opinions
Georgia Supreme Court decisions with plain-language summaries. Browse by year and case type, or search by case name.
Hurston v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld the murder conviction of a teenager involved in a gang-related shooting, rejecting claims that his absence from a witness meeting violated his rights and that his trial lawyer was ineffective.
In the Matter of David R. Sicay-Perrow
The Supreme Court of Georgia disbarred attorney David R. Sicay-Perrow after finding he mishandled and misappropriated client settlement funds, including money belonging to other clients, and misled clients about repayment.
In the Matter of Jeffrey Bull Grable
The Supreme Court of Georgia accepted a Fulton-area lawyer's voluntary surrender of his law license after he admitted failing to file lawsuits for a client and then not telling her about a resulting judgment against her.
In the Matter of Patrick A. Powell
The Supreme Court of Georgia disbarred attorney Patrick A. Powell after he abandoned a client facing federal criminal charges, took thousands of dollars in fees, and then ignored the court and disciplinary authorities for over two years.
Lofton v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld Hakim Lofton's murder conviction, ruling that circumstantial evidence including phone and cell tower records was sufficient and that police reliance on then-existing law to obtain his cell records without a warrant did not require throwing out the evidence.
Mims v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Richmond County man's murder conviction for stabbing his ex-girlfriend 37 times, rejecting his argument that he lost control of his own actions and could not be held responsible.
POLO GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. v. CUNARD
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Forsyth County ordinance requiring homeowners associations to maintain stormwater systems, rejecting a homeowners association's claims that the rule forces illegal trespass, involuntary servitude, or exceeds the county's authority.
Smith v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Clayton County man's felony murder conviction, ruling that the trial court properly limited cross-examination about alleged vandalism and gang tattoos, and that his ineffective-assistance claim was not preserved.
Suggs v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Moultrie man's malice murder conviction for a fatal shootout outside a nightclub, rejecting claims about jury selection, a secret recording, crime scene photos, and his lawyer's performance.
In the Matter of David E. Morgan III
The Supreme Court of Georgia ordered attorney David E. Morgan III reinstated to practice law after he satisfied the conditions the court had set for his return following an earlier disciplinary case.
Allen v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld Alfredo Allen's malice murder conviction for stabbing his ex-girlfriend's sister to death, rejecting his claim the jury should have found voluntary manslaughter instead.
HALL, WARDEN v. JACKSON (And Vice Versa)
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a habeas court's finding that a Paulding County man's appellate lawyer had an actual conflict of interest, but ruled the fix should be a new appeal, not a new trial.
Henderson v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld the murder conviction of a DeKalb County man who shot a stranger at a gas station over a parking spot dispute, rejecting challenges to his police statement and a limit on his trial testimony.
In the Matter of Stephen Vincent Fitzgerald, Jr
The Supreme Court of Georgia granted a former attorney's application to be certified fit to practice law again, nearly a decade after he surrendered his license for mishandling about $455,000 in client funds.
In the Matter of William D. Thompson Jr
The Supreme Court of Georgia rejected an attorney's request to accept a one-year Florida suspension as equivalent discipline in Georgia, finding his petition incomplete and misleading about his current standing.
Jefferson v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that a trial judge's order partially granting a new trial motion, because the evidence was insufficient on two armed robbery counts, was a final and immediately appealable judgment.
Jordan v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that a man who pleaded guilty to felony murder mid-trial had an absolute right to withdraw that plea before sentencing, and reversed the trial court's refusal to let him do so.
Kirkland v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Fulton County man's murder conviction, ruling that a witness's photo lineup identification was properly allowed even though it was shown to him twice and administered by a detective who knew his identity.
Kitchens v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld a Richmond County man's murder convictions in the stabbing deaths of his neighbor and her boyfriend, ruling that any error in allowing a hearsay statement was harmless given the overwhelming evidence against him.
Middlebrooks v. State
The Supreme Court of Georgia upheld Deshaun Middlebrooks' murder conviction in a gang-related shooting, rejecting his challenges to gang evidence and his lawyer's performance, but vacated a related aggravated assault conviction that should have merged into the murder charge.