Supreme Court of Georgia Decisions

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2014, Willie Mizell was convicted by jury of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and for concealing the death of another in connection with the death of Cassandra Bryant. For these crimes, Mizell was sen...

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case's first appearance before the Georgia Supreme Court in 2014, Wayne Welbon was found guilty of malice murder and other crimes in connection with the 2013 shooting death of Taurean Reeves. After the trial cour...

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant Frank Henderson was convicted of felony murder and related offenses in connection with the beating death of Monica Davis. On appeal, Appellant contended that the Georgia Supreme Court should grant him a new tri...

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2015, a grand jury charged Dantevoise Doleman with a series of offenses including murder, armed robbery and possession of a firearm. He was convicted in a jury trial and appealed that conviction, arguing the trial cou...

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant R’Shon Chauncey Blake challenged the trial court’s denial of his plea in bar, based on double jeopardy, after the court declared a mistrial over Blake’s objection of his murder trial during jury deliberations....

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant Jonathan Smith appealed his convictions for murder and related offenses arising out of the beating death of sixteen-year-old Cheyenne Hair and her unborn child. On appeal, Appellant argued only that the evidenc...

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant James Hightower was convicted of malice murder, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of aggravated battery, a firearm offense, and misdemeanor obstruction in connection with the shooting death of Anthony...

Justia Opinion Summary: Jeneral Walter appealed his convictions for felony murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Both convictions stemmed from the 2010 shooting death of T’Shanerka Smith. Walter argued the trial...

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant Alejandro Rivera was tried and convicted of malice murder and related offenses in connection with the February 2008 shooting death of Mark Martin. Rivera appealed, alleging the evidence was insufficient to supp...

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2006, Terrence Johnson was tried jury and convicted of armed robbery, aggravated assault with intent to rob, and unlawful possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Johnson appealed, and the Court of Ap...

Justia Opinion Summary: The Georgia Supreme Court granted Markell Rawles' application for a certificate of probable cause to appeal the denial of his petition for habeas corpus. The issue presented was whether the habeas court erred in finding...

Justia Opinion Summary: Christopher Willis was tried by jury and convicted of murder and other crimes in connection with the shooting death of Robert Lee Murry, Jr. Willis appealed, arguing: (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conv...

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant Zjuantavious Marquis Jackson appealed his convictions for malice murder and other charges related to the shooting death of Detavious Milner at an April 2015 house party in Floyd County, Georgia. He argued on ap...

Justia Opinion Summary: In October 2014, a jury found Wright Greyhound Phoenix guilty of malice murder, aggravated assault, felony murder predicated on aggravated assault, and obstruction of an officer, all in connection with the stabbing death...

Justia Opinion Summary: Pro se appellants Jack and Lynette Beavers (Appellants) appeal from the dismissal of their petition for habeas relief. Appellants are the parents of three minor children. On May 12, 2017, the children were taken from the...