2021 Georgia Code
Title 17 - Criminal Procedure
Chapter 10 - Sentence and Punishment
Article 2 - Death Penalty Generally
§ 17-10-37. Appointment of Assistant to Supreme Court to Review Death Sentences; Employment of Staff to Compile Data

1. There shall be an assistant to the Supreme Court who shall be an attorney appointed by the Chief Justice and who shall serve at the pleasure of the court. The assistant shall assist the Supreme Court in the review of all death sentences.
2. The court shall be authorized to employ an appropriate staff and such methods to compile such data as are deemed by the Chief Justice to be appropriate and relevant to the statutory questions concerning the validity of the sentence reviewed in accordance with Code Section 17-10-35.

(Code 1933, § 27-2537, enacted by Ga. L. 1973, p. 159, § 4; Ga. L. 2010, p. 420, § 2/HB 323.)

- Ga. L. 2010, p. 420, § 3/HB 323, not codified by the General Assembly, provides, in part, that the amendment of this Code section shall apply to any case docketed on or after July 1, 2010.

- For article, "Toward a Perspective on the Death Penalty Cases," see 27 Emory L.J. 469 (1978). For article surveying judicial developments in Georgia Criminal Law, see 31 Mercer L. Rev. 59 (1979). For note, "Reviewing the Georgia Supreme Court's Efforts at Proportionality Review," see 39 Ga. L. Rev. 631 (2005). For comment analyzing and criticizing the 1973 capital punishment statute in light of Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238, 92 S. Ct. 2726, 33 L. Ed. 2d 346 (1972), see 24 Mercer L. Rev. 891 (1973). For comment criticizing inadequate standards and nebulous measurements for review under Georgia death penalty statute, in light of Coley v. State, 231 Ga. 829, 204 S.E.2d 612 (1974), see 26 Mercer L. Rev. 331 (1974).

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

Constitutionality.

- This section was not subject to constitutional attack under U.S. Const., amends. 8 and 14. Coley v. State, 231 Ga. 829, 204 S.E.2d 612 (1974).

As to constitutionality of this section, see House v. State, 232 Ga. 140, 205 S.E.2d 217 (1974), cert. denied, 428 U.S. 910, 96 S. Ct. 3221, 49 L. Ed. 2d 1217 (1976); Floyd v. State, 233 Ga. 280, 210 S.E.2d 810 (1974), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 949, 97 S. Ct. 2667, 53 L. Ed. 2d 266 (1977); Stephens v. State, 237 Ga. 259, 227 S.E.2d 261, cert. denied, 429 U.S. 986, 97 S. Ct. 508, 50 L. Ed. 2d 599 (1976).

This section was not unconstitutional. Young v. State, 237 Ga. 852, 230 S.E.2d 287 (1976).

- Nothing in this section foreclosed the Supreme Court during the course of its independent review from examining nonappealed cases and cases in which the defendant pled guilty to a lesser offense. Ross v. State, 233 Ga. 361, 211 S.E.2d 356 (1974), cert. denied, 428 U.S. 910, 96 S. Ct. 3222, 49 L. Ed. 2d 1217 (1976).

- Duty of the state is not to duplicate the legal arsenal that may be privately retained by a criminal defendant in a continuing effort to reverse the defendant's conviction, but only to assure the indigent defendant an adequate opportunity to present the defendant's claims fairly in the context of the state's appellate process. Ross v. State, 233 Ga. 361, 211 S.E.2d 356 (1974), cert. denied, 428 U.S. 910, 96 S. Ct. 3222, 49 L. Ed. 2d 1217 (1976).

Cited in Coley v. State, 231 Ga. 829, 204 S.E.2d 612 (1974); McCorquodale v. State, 233 Ga. 369, 211 S.E.2d 577 (1974); Moore v. State, 233 Ga. 861, 213 S.E.2d 829 (1975); Owens v. State, 233 Ga. 869, 214 S.E.2d 173 (1975); Mitchell v. State, 234 Ga. 160, 214 S.E.2d 900 (1975); Chenault v. State, 234 Ga. 216, 215 S.E.2d 223 (1975); Brown v. State, 235 Ga. 644, 220 S.E.2d 922 (1975); Tamplin v. State, 235 Ga. 774, 221 S.E.2d 455 (1975); Goodwin v. State, 236 Ga. 339, 223 S.E.2d 703 (1976); Dobbs v. State, 236 Ga. 427, 224 S.E.2d 3 (1976); Pulliam v. State, 236 Ga. 460, 224 S.E.2d 8 (1976); Birt v. State, 236 Ga. 815, 225 S.E.2d 248 (1976); Banks v. State, 237 Ga. 325, 227 S.E.2d 380 (1976); Hill v. State, 237 Ga. 794, 229 S.E.2d 737 (1976); Douthit v. State, 239 Ga. 81, 235 S.E.2d 493 (1977); Peek v. State, 239 Ga. 422, 238 S.E.2d 12 (1977); Corn v. State, 240 Ga. 130, 240 S.E.2d 694 (1977); Campbell v. State, 240 Ga. 352, 240 S.E.2d 828 (1977); Lamb v. State, 241 Ga. 10, 243 S.E.2d 59 (1978); Dungee v. Hopper, 241 Ga. 236, 244 S.E.2d 849 (1978); Bowen v. State, 241 Ga. 492, 246 S.E.2d 322 (1978); Sprouse v. State, 242 Ga. 831, 252 S.E.2d 173 (1979); Willis v. State, 243 Ga. 185, 253 S.E.2d 70 (1979); Hamilton v. State, 244 Ga. 145, 259 S.E.2d 81 (1979); Bowden v. Zant, 244 Ga. 260, 260 S.E.2d 465 (1979); Franklin v. State, 245 Ga. 141, 263 S.E.2d 666 (1980); Hardy v. State, 245 Ga. 272, 264 S.E.2d 209 (1980); Patrick v. State, 245 Ga. 417, 265 S.E.2d 553 (1980); Dampier v. State, 245 Ga. 427, 265 S.E.2d 565 (1980); Stevens v. State, 245 Ga. 583, 266 S.E.2d 194 (1980); Thomas v. State, 245 Ga. 688, 266 S.E.2d 499 (1980); Fair v. State, 245 Ga. 868, 268 S.E.2d 316 (1980); Hance v. State, 245 Ga. 856, 268 S.E.2d 339; Wilson v. State, 246 Ga. 62, 268 S.E.2d 895 (1980); Lewis v. State, 246 Ga. 101, 268 S.E.2d 915 (1980); State v. Graham, 246 Ga. 341, 271 S.E.2d 627 (1980); Alderman v. Austin, 498 F. Supp. 1134 (S.D. Ga. 1980); Spivey v. State, 253 Ga. 187, 319 S.E.2d 420 (1984).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 21 Am. Jur. 2d, Criminal Law, § 718 et seq. 21A Am. Jur. 2d, Criminal Law, § 831 et seq.

- 24 C.J.S., Criminal Procedure and the Rights of the Accused, § 2521 et seq.