2017 Georgia Code
Title 45 - Public Officers and Employees
Chapter 16 - Coroners
Article 2 - Death Investigations
§ 45-16-38. Issuance of precept to sheriff to summon inquest jury; form

Whenever a coroner receives notice of the death of any person within the limits of the county of which he is coroner, which death occurred under circumstances which make it his duty, under the law, to hold an inquest, he shall make out a precept directed to the sheriff or any constable of the county having jurisdiction requiring him to summon a jury of inquest selected from the grand jury or traverse jury lists of the last excused term of the superior court of such county to appear before the coroner at the time and place mentioned in the precept, which precept may be in the following form:

State of Georgia

____ County

To the sheriff or any lawful constable of said county,

Greeting:

You are required immediately to summon six persons of said county,

chosen from the lists of grand jurors and traverse jurors of the last

excused term of the superior court of said county, to be and appear before

me, the undersigned, coroner of the county aforesaid, at ____, in said

county, on the ____ day of ____ at ____ :____ ____. M. of that same day, then

and there to inquire of, do, and execute all such things as in behalf of

the state shall be given them in charge concerning the death of ____

(or a person unknown, as the case may be), and be you then and there with

this precept to certify what you have done in the premises and further to

do whatsoever else may in behalf of the state be enjoined upon you.

Given under my hand and seal, this the ____ day of ____, in the year of

our Lord ____.

____ Coroner (L.S.)

Such precept shall be immediately executed by the sheriff or constable in whose hands it may be placed; and, if the services of the sheriff or a constable cannot be conveniently obtained, the coroner may summon the jury himself.