Georgia Case Commentaries

Limiting the “Bolstering” Harmless-Error Rule: Prior Inconsistent Statements Fall Outside the Exclusion in Georgia

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Limiting the “Bolstering” Harmless-Error Rule: Prior Inconsistent Statements Fall Outside the Exclusion in Georgia Introduction In Richardson v. State (Supreme Court of Georgia, Aug. 26, 2025), the...

Scott v. State (Ga. 2025): Independent Evidence Required to Show Prejudice on Ineffective-Assistance Claims Based on Unpursued Delusional-Compulsion Defenses; No Abuse in Denying Serial Continuances

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Scott v. State (Ga. 2025): Independent Evidence Required to Show Prejudice on Ineffective-Assistance Claims Based on Unpursued Delusional-Compulsion Defenses; No Abuse in Denying Serial Continuances...

Incremental Tort Reform Survives Equal Protection: Williams v. Regency Hospital Reaffirms Georgia’s Non‑Tolling Rule for Mentally Incompetent Medical‑Malpractice Plaintiffs

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Incremental Tort Reform Survives Equal Protection: Williams v. Regency Hospital Reaffirms Georgia’s Non‑Tolling Rule for Mentally Incompetent Medical‑Malpractice Plaintiffs Introduction In Williams...

Walton v. State: Preservation Pitfalls, Plain‑Error Limits, and the Narrow Path for Unpreserved 404(b) Gang Evidence

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Walton v. State: Preservation Pitfalls, Plain‑Error Limits, and the Narrow Path for Unpreserved 404(b) Gang Evidence Introduction In Walton v. State, the Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed Richard...

Record Silence and Personal Waiver Foreclose Ineffective-Assistance Claims About Advice Not to Testify: Woods v. State (Ga. 2025)

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Record Silence and Personal Waiver Foreclose Ineffective-Assistance Claims About Advice Not to Testify: Woods v. State (Ga. 2025) Introduction In Woods v. State, the Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed...

Equitable Estoppel Extended: Georgia Affirms Arbitrators’ Power to Bind Nonsignatories When Claims Are Inherently Intertwined

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Equitable Estoppel Extended: Georgia Affirms Arbitrators’ Power to Bind Nonsignatories When Claims Are Inherently Intertwined Introduction Jackson et al. v. Stevenson et al., A24A1853 (Ga. Ct. App....

“Harmless Coercion” – Fripp v. State Establishes That an Erroneous Coercion-Defense Instruction Is Harmless Where Evidence of Guilt Is Overwhelming

Date: Aug 14, 2025

“Harmless Coercion” – Fripp v. State Establishes That an Erroneous Coercion-Defense Instruction Is Harmless Where Evidence of Guilt Is Overwhelming 1. Introduction Fripp v. State (Supreme Court of...

Henderson v. State: Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies “Earliest Practicable Moment” Waiver Rule for Ineffective-Assistance Claims

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Henderson v. State: Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies “Earliest Practicable Moment” Waiver Rule for Ineffective-Assistance Claims Introduction On 12 August 2025 the Supreme Court of Georgia delivered...

Clarifying the Scope of “Brown”: Attorney Trust-Account Duties in Escrow Transactions Connected to Client Representation – Commentary on In re Dominique M. H. Lemoine

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Clarifying the Scope of “Brown”: Attorney Trust-Account Duties in Escrow Transactions Connected to Client Representation – Commentary on In the Matter of Dominique Marc Henri Lemoine (Ga. 2025) 1....

The Strang Standard: Default Disbarment for Indigent-Client Abandonment and Non-Cooperation with Bar Investigations

Date: Aug 14, 2025

The Strang Standard: Default Disbarment for Indigent-Client Abandonment and Non-Cooperation with Bar Investigations Introduction In In the Matter of Kathleen Strang, the Supreme Court of Georgia...

Mandatory Disbarment for Intentional Misappropriation of Client Funds in Georgia

Date: Aug 14, 2025

“Zero-Tolerance”: The Supreme Court of Georgia Establishes Mandatory Disbarment for the Intentional Conversion of Client Funds Introduction In In the Matter of William Keith McGowan, the Supreme...

Ivory v. State: Georgia Supreme Court Confirms Non-Testimonial Co-Defendant Statements to Private Individuals Fall Outside the Bruton Rule

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Ivory v. State: Georgia Supreme Court Confirms Non-Testimonial Co-Defendant Statements to Private Individuals Fall Outside the Bruton Rule Introduction Ivory v. State, decided by the Supreme Court of...

Peer-Review Pathologist Testimony and the Confrontation Clause: An Analysis of Johns v. State (Ga. 2025)

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Peer-Review Pathologist Testimony and the Confrontation Clause: A Comprehensive Commentary on Johns v. State, 319 Ga. ___ (Aug. 12, 2025) 1. Introduction On 12 August 2025 the Supreme Court of...

“Say It or Lose It” – The Supreme Court of Georgia Clarifies the Statutory Notice Requirement for Abusive-Litigation Claims under OCGA § 51-7-84(a)

Date: Aug 14, 2025

“Say It or Lose It” – The Supreme Court of Georgia Clarifies the Statutory Notice Requirement for Abusive-Litigation Claims under OCGA § 51-7-84(a) 1. Introduction P&J Beverage Corporation v. The...

“The Reynolds Principle”: Sufficiency of Evidence Without Particular Proof Types & Judicial Duty to Prevent Post-Conviction Delay

Date: Aug 14, 2025

“The Reynolds Principle” Sufficiency of Evidence Without Particular Proof Types & Judicial Duty to Prevent Post-Conviction Delay Introduction Reynolds v. State, Supreme Court of Georgia, decided 12...

The “Rhodes Rule” – Admissibility of Self-Incriminating Social-Media Posts with Religious or Satanic Content under OCGA §24-4-403

Date: Aug 14, 2025

The “Rhodes Rule” – Admissibility of Self-Incriminating Social-Media Posts with Religious or Satanic Content under OCGA §24-4-403 1. Introduction Rhodes v. State, decided by the Supreme Court of...

Robinson v. State (2025): Limiting Cronic-Based Presumptions and Reinforcing Waiver of Un-Preserved Sentencing Errors in Georgia

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Robinson v. State (Supreme Court of Georgia, 2025) “No Presumed Prejudice for Silent Counsel at Non-Capital Sentencing & Strict Waiver of Un-Preserved Sentencing Claims” 1. Introduction Robinson v....

“Moment-of-Plea Competence” Rule Confirmed: Robinson v. State (Ga. 2025)

Date: Aug 14, 2025

“Moment-of-Plea Competence” Rule Confirmed: Robinson v. State (Supreme Court of Georgia, 2025) 1. Introduction Robinson v. State presented the Supreme Court of Georgia with a recurring question in...

Rouse v. State: Georgia Supreme Court Solidifies the Intrinsic-Evidence Exception and Endorses Strategic Non-Publication of Trial Exhibits

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Rouse v. State: Georgia Supreme Court Solidifies the Intrinsic-Evidence Exception and Endorses Strategic Non-Publication of Trial Exhibits Introduction In Rouse v. State, S25A0959 (Ga. Aug. 12 2025),...

Whisnant v. State: Georgia Supreme Court Limits the Use of Battered Person Syndrome at Self-Defense Immunity Hearings

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Whisnant v. State: Georgia Supreme Court Limits the Use of Battered Person Syndrome at Self-Defense Immunity Hearings 1. Introduction On 12 August 2025 the Supreme Court of Georgia released its...