Supreme Court of Georgia Decisions

Nine justices serve on the Georgia Supreme Court, which expanded from seven justices in 2017. Under the Georgia Constitution, the Court has exclusive jurisdiction over appeals involving issues of constitutional law or cases contesting elections. It has general jurisdiction over appeals in cases certified for its review, as well as cases involving divorce or alimony, title to real estate, wills or equity, the death penalty, and writs of habeas corpus or certiorari. More broadly, if the Court finds that a case before a Georgia Court of Appeals involves a matter of great public importance, it may assert jurisdiction over that case.

A candidate for a seat on the Court needs only to be a resident of Georgia who has been licensed to practice law in the state for at least the last seven years. Each new justice is selected through a non-partisan election, which means that the candidates are listed on the ballot without their party affiliation. Once they are elected, a justice serves a six-year term. If a seat becomes vacant before the end of a term, the Governor of Georgia will appoint an interim replacement by using the assisted appointment method. This means that the Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission compiles a list of candidates, and the Governor likely will select the interim justice from that list, although this is not technically required. The Governor appoints the 18 members of the Commission. Their list generally will consist of at least five candidates. The justices elect the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court from among their members, and the position rotates among them.

A justice may face removal, retirement, or other forms of discipline if the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission determines that discipline is appropriate. However, the Georgia Supreme Court makes the final decision on removal or retirement. A justice also may be removed if they are impeached by the Georgia House of Representatives and convicted by the Georgia State Senate in a two-thirds vote.

Browse Opinions From the Supreme Court of Georgia
Recent Decisions From the Supreme Court of Georgia
JACOBS v. THE STATE  
Date: July 1, 2025
 Docket Number: S25A0570

Justia Opinion Summary: Steven Alford Jacobs was convicted of malice murder and other crimes related to the shooting death of Curtis Pitts. The incident occurred on September 21, 2018, and Jacobs was indicted on multiple charges, including…

ADAMS v. THE STATE  
Date: July 1, 2025
 Docket Number: S25A0665

Justia Opinion Summary: Xavier Adams, Jr. was convicted of felony murder and other crimes related to the shooting death of Sean Peterson. The incident occurred on September 5, 2017, when Peterson, Adams, and Adams's then-wife, Destinee Pannell,…

CHAPMAN v. THE STATE  
Date: July 1, 2025
 Docket Numbers: S25A0710, S25A0711

Justia Opinion Summary: Yaquan Chapman and Jordan Watson were convicted for the shooting death of William Trawick and the assault of Aubrey Stansill and Griffin Cleveland. On February 16, 2021, Chapman, Watson, Calvin Rozier, and Carey Williams…

HILTON v. THE STATE  
Date: July 1, 2025
 Docket Number: S25A0755

Justia Opinion Summary: Gregory M. Hilton was convicted of malice murder and other crimes after he shot and killed his next-door neighbor, Tommy Allen, on January 29, 2018. Hilton was indicted on charges of malice murder, felony murder,…

KITCHENS v. THE STATE  
Date: July 1, 2025
 Docket Number: S25A0788

Justia Opinion Summary: Deonte Kitchens was convicted of malice murder and other crimes related to the shooting death of Alveno Culver. Kitchens was indicted in November 2015 and tried alone in September 2016, where the jury found him guilty on…

Lewis v. State  
Date: June 26, 2025
 Docket Number: S25A0023

Justia Opinion Summary: Aaron Lewis was indicted in Gwinnett County in 2021 for the felony murders of Dieterick Stephen Duncker and Alexandria Thompson, along with other related crimes. The indictment alleged that Lewis sold and distributed…

FLEUREME v. CITY OF ATLANTA  
Date: June 24, 2025
 Docket Number: S24G0995

Justia Opinion Summary: Roodson Fleureme alleged that he was injured when struck by a City of Atlanta vehicle driven by a city employee. Before filing a lawsuit, Fleureme sent several timely ante litem notices via Federal Express, including one…

WALMART STORES EAST, LP v. LEVERETTE  
Date: June 24, 2025
 Docket Number: S24G1104

Justia Opinion Summary: Bettie Leverette was shopping at a Walmart store in Conyers, Georgia, when two Walmart employees moving a 2,000-pound box on a pallet jack backed into her. Leverette initially reported no significant injury but later…

GUY v. HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUGUSTA  
Date: June 24, 2025
 Docket Number: S24G1346

Justia Opinion Summary: A local housing authority, authorized by state statute and activated by city government, faced a personal injury lawsuit. The plaintiff alleged that the authority negligently failed to ensure the safety of the apartment…

FULLER v. THE STATE  
Date: June 24, 2025
 Docket Number: S25A0019

Justia Opinion Summary: Sonya Fuller was convicted of felony murder predicated on aggravated assault related to the fatal shooting of Anthony Reid. The incident occurred on August 31, 2020, at a hotel in Spalding County, where Fuller, her son…

ARNSDORFF v. THE STATE  
Date: June 24, 2025
 Docket Number: S25A0062

Justia Opinion Summary: Tony Arnsdorff and Scott Pinholster were jointly indicted for malice murder and other crimes related to the death of Courtney Wells. Wells had a romantic relationship with Pinholster and stayed with Arnsdorff after an…

BOWDERY v. THE STATE  
Date: June 24, 2025
 Docket Number: S25A0077

Justia Opinion Summary: Ryan Bowdery, Rashad Barber, and David Wallace were convicted of murder, aggravated assault, and related crimes in connection with the shooting death of Darius Bottoms and the nonfatal shooting of Jared Robinson. The…

HART v. THE STATE  
Date: June 24, 2025
 Docket Number: S25A0136

Justia Opinion Summary: A woman was convicted of malice murder and related offenses following the death of her four-year-old daughter, who suffered extensive and fatal injuries from prolonged physical abuse. The child lived with her mother, two…

COLEMAN v. THE STATE  
Date: June 24, 2025
 Docket Numbers: S25A0191, S25A0192, S25A0199, S25A0200

Justia Opinion Summary: Timothy Coleman, Jr., and Tyriek D. Walker were convicted of criminal contempt for refusing to testify in the trial of Arthur Newton, a fellow gang member accused of ordering the murder of Dominique Powell. Coleman and…

LEE v. THE STATE  
Date: June 24, 2025
 Docket Number: S25A0213

Justia Opinion Summary: Terrence Darnell Lee was convicted of felony murder and other crimes related to five incidents in the summer of 2018, including the shooting death of Kemar Hawkins on August 2, 2018. The incidents occurred on July 21,…

The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

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