Georgia Case Commentaries

“Quintanar v. State”: Georgia Supreme Court Re-anchors Juvenile Confession Analysis on “Coercive-Police-Activity” and Clarifies Limits on Self-Defense & Mutual-Combat Charges

Date: Jun 30, 2025

“Quintanar v. State”: Georgia Supreme Court Re-anchors Juvenile Confession Analysis on “Coercive-Police-Activity” and Clarifies Limits on Self-Defense & Mutual-Combat Charges I. Introduction...

Turner v. MCCG: Re-defining the Reach of Nestlehutt and Requiring Claim-Specific Analysis of Georgia’s Medical Malpractice Damage Caps

Date: Jun 30, 2025

Turner v. MCCG: Re-defining the Reach of Nestlehutt and Requiring Claim-Specific Analysis of Georgia’s Medical Malpractice Damage Caps Introduction In The Medical Center of Central Georgia, Inc. v....

“A Trivial Sum, Not a Treasure Chest” – Georgia Supreme Court Re-defines the Ceiling on Nominal Damages in Walmart Stores East, LP v. Leverette

Date: Jun 30, 2025

“A Trivial Sum, Not a Treasure Chest” – Georgia Supreme Court Re-defines the Ceiling on Nominal Damages in Walmart Stores East, LP v. Leverette Introduction On 24 June 2025, the Supreme Court of...

Wilson v. State: Georgia Supreme Court Narrows “Common Plan or Scheme” under Rule 404(b) and Clarifies Harmless-Error Review

Date: Jun 30, 2025

Wilson v. State: Georgia Supreme Court Narrows “Common Plan or Scheme” under Rule 404(b) and Clarifies Harmless-Error Review 1. Introduction Citation: Wilson v. State, S25A0430, Supreme Court of...

Reaffirming the “Any-Particular” Corroboration Standard & Harmless-Error Review of Rule 404(b) Evidence: Commentary on Boone v. State (Ga. 2025)

Date: Jun 11, 2025

Reaffirming the “Any-Particular” Corroboration Standard & Harmless-Error Review of Rule 404(b) Evidence: Commentary on Boone v. State (Supreme Court of Georgia, 2025) 1. Introduction On 10 June 2025...

Clark v. State: Judicial Discretion to Validate Timely Pro Se Notices of Appeal Filed While Counsel of Record Remains

Date: Jun 11, 2025

Clark v. State: Judicial Discretion to Validate Timely Pro Se Notices of Appeal Filed While Counsel of Record Remains Introduction Clark v. State, decided by the Supreme Court of Georgia on 10 June...

Coston v. State: Surveillance Video as Direct Evidence and the Limited Reach of Georgia’s Circumstantial-Evidence Rule

Date: Jun 11, 2025

Coston v. State: Surveillance Video as Direct Evidence and the Limited Reach of Georgia’s Circumstantial-Evidence Rule Introduction On 10 June 2025 the Supreme Court of Georgia decided Coston v....

“No Toll for Minors”: The Supreme Court of Georgia Declares OCGA § 9-3-90(b) Inapplicable to Municipal Ante Litem Notices in Dates v. City of Atlanta

Date: Jun 11, 2025

“No Toll for Minors”: The Supreme Court of Georgia Declares OCGA § 9-3-90(b) Inapplicable to Municipal Ante Litem Notices in Dates v. City of Atlanta 1. Introduction In Dates v. City of Atlanta,...

“Direct Evidence Prevails & Assault-Merger Mandate” — Comment on Douglas v. State (Supreme Court of Georgia, 2025)

Date: Jun 11, 2025

“Direct Evidence Prevails & Assault-Merger Mandate” A Comprehensive Commentary on Douglas v. State, 315 Ga. ___ (2025) 1. Introduction On 10 June 2025 the Supreme Court of Georgia decided Douglas v....

Floyd v. State: Reinforcing Circumstantial-Evidence Sufficiency for Predicate Armed Robbery and Delineating Confrontation Clause Limits when a Co-Indictee Refuses to Testify

Date: Jun 11, 2025

Floyd v. State: Reinforcing Circumstantial-Evidence Sufficiency for Predicate Armed Robbery and Delineating Confrontation Clause Limits when a Co-Indictee Refuses to Testify Introduction Floyd v....

James v. State: Confrontation Clause Does Not Extend to a Defendant’s Own Witness Invoking the Fifth Amendment

Date: Jun 11, 2025

James v. State: Confrontation Clause Does Not Extend to a Defendant’s Own Witness Invoking the Fifth Amendment Introduction In James v. State, the Supreme Court of Georgia confronted two familiar...

Lewis v. State: The Supreme Court of Georgia Re-Affirms Jury Primacy in Self-Defense Determinations and Clarifies Abandonment of Unbriefed Ineffective-Assistance Claims

Date: Jun 11, 2025

Lewis v. State: The Supreme Court of Georgia Re-Affirms Jury Primacy in Self-Defense Determinations and Clarifies Abandonment of Unbriefed Ineffective-Assistance Claims Introduction In Lewis v. State...

“Back to First Principles” – The Georgia Supreme Court Re-Inscribes a Strict Non-Delegation Rule and Rejects Federal-Style Third-Party Standing

Date: Jun 11, 2025

“Back to First Principles” – The Georgia Supreme Court Re-Inscribes a Strict Non-Delegation Rule and Rejects Federal-Style Third-Party Standing 1. Introduction The consolidated appeals Republican...

Scott v. State: Clarifying the Admissibility of Unredacted Death Certificates under Georgia’s Post-2013 Evidence Code

Date: Jun 11, 2025

Scott v. State: Clarifying the Admissibility of Unredacted Death Certificates under Georgia’s Post-2013 Evidence Code 1. Introduction Scott v. State, __ Ga. __ (June 10, 2025), is a Supreme Court of...

From “Void” to “Voidable”: The Georgia Supreme Court Re-defines the Effect of an Ineligible Juror on Speedy-Trial Calculations — Commentary on State v. Embert (2025)

Date: Jun 11, 2025

From “Void” to “Voidable”: The Georgia Supreme Court Re-defines the Effect of an Ineligible Juror on Speedy-Trial Calculations — Commentary on State v. Embert (2025) 1. Introduction State v. Embert...

State v. Mickel: The Georgia Supreme Court Reinforces the Duty of Trial Courts to Enter Comprehensive Findings of Fact in Probable-Cause Suppression Rulings

Date: Jun 11, 2025

State v. Mickel: The Georgia Supreme Court Reinforces the Duty of Trial Courts to Enter Comprehensive Findings of Fact in Probable-Cause Suppression Rulings 1. Introduction State v. Mickel, S25A0255,...

Refining Confession Admissibility: Interpreting “Slightest Hope of Benefit” and “Remotest Fear of Injury” under OCGA § 24-8-824

Date: May 29, 2025

Refining Confession Admissibility: Interpreting “Slightest Hope of Benefit” and “Remotest Fear of Injury” under OCGA § 24-8-824 Introduction In Short v. State, decided May 28, 2025, the Supreme Court...

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Georgia Case Commentaries

“Quintanar v. State”: Georgia Supreme Court Re-anchors Juvenile Confession Analysis on “Coercive-Police-Activity” and Clarifies Limits on Self-Defense & Mutual-Combat Charges

Turner v. MCCG: Re-defining the Reach of Nestlehutt and Requiring Claim-Specific Analysis of Georgia’s Medical Malpractice Damage Caps

“A Trivial Sum, Not a Treasure Chest” – Georgia Supreme Court Re-defines the Ceiling on Nominal Damages in Walmart Stores East, LP v. Leverette

Wilson v. State: Georgia Supreme Court Narrows “Common Plan or Scheme” under Rule 404(b) and Clarifies Harmless-Error Review

Reaffirming the “Any-Particular” Corroboration Standard & Harmless-Error Review of Rule 404(b) Evidence: Commentary on Boone v. State (Ga. 2025)

Clark v. State: Judicial Discretion to Validate Timely Pro Se Notices of Appeal Filed While Counsel of Record Remains

Coston v. State: Surveillance Video as Direct Evidence and the Limited Reach of Georgia’s Circumstantial-Evidence Rule

“No Toll for Minors”: The Supreme Court of Georgia Declares OCGA § 9-3-90(b) Inapplicable to Municipal Ante Litem Notices in Dates v. City of Atlanta

“Direct Evidence Prevails & Assault-Merger Mandate” — Comment on Douglas v. State (Supreme Court of Georgia, 2025)

Floyd v. State: Reinforcing Circumstantial-Evidence Sufficiency for Predicate Armed Robbery and Delineating Confrontation Clause Limits when a Co-Indictee Refuses to Testify

James v. State: Confrontation Clause Does Not Extend to a Defendant’s Own Witness Invoking the Fifth Amendment

Lewis v. State: The Supreme Court of Georgia Re-Affirms Jury Primacy in Self-Defense Determinations and Clarifies Abandonment of Unbriefed Ineffective-Assistance Claims

“Back to First Principles” – The Georgia Supreme Court Re-Inscribes a Strict Non-Delegation Rule and Rejects Federal-Style Third-Party Standing

Scott v. State: Clarifying the Admissibility of Unredacted Death Certificates under Georgia’s Post-2013 Evidence Code

From “Void” to “Voidable”: The Georgia Supreme Court Re-defines the Effect of an Ineligible Juror on Speedy-Trial Calculations — Commentary on State v. Embert (2025)

State v. Mickel: The Georgia Supreme Court Reinforces the Duty of Trial Courts to Enter Comprehensive Findings of Fact in Probable-Cause Suppression Rulings

Refining Confession Admissibility: Interpreting “Slightest Hope of Benefit” and “Remotest Fear of Injury” under OCGA § 24-8-824

Exclusivity Requirement of Paragraph V: Suits for Declaratory Relief Must Be Brought Against the County Alone

Autonomy in Firearm Regulation Under Georgia’s Constitution: Upholding Paragraph VIII’s “Manner Clause”

Establishment of One-Year Suspension Standard for Client Abandonment Under Georgia Professional Conduct Rules