The Act removes the requirement that the Georgia Supreme Court must review and adopt the standards and rules set forth for the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission. This removal effectively withdraws the approval power given to the Supreme Court by the original Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission Senate Bill (SB) 92. This
On May 3, 2011, Governor Nathan Deal signed into law House Bill 24 (HB 24) bringing a new set of evidence rules to the State of Georgia.
The new rules went into effect on January 1, 2013. The author of this article was the Reporter for the State Bar Evidence
The Act provides the defense and the prosecution with an equal number of peremptory strikes in criminal trials. The Act establishes the number of peremptory challenges at three strikes for misdemeanors, nine strikes for felonies, and fifteen strikes for cases seeking the death penalty. The Act gives the prosecuting attorney
The Act amends Title 15 of the Georgia Code as it relates to the funding of local victim assistance programs. The Act requires the court officer who is charged with collecting and distributing funds to submit a monthly report and a list of the organizations, agencies, and programs that were
The Act amends the general provisions regarding magistrate courts. The Act raises monetary jurisdiction of civil claims in magistrate courts to an amount demanded or value of property claimed from $5000 to $15,000.
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The Act changes provisions relating to termination of parental rights when the child is not in the parent's custody. The Act makes the adoption of children easier by terminating parental rights in appropriate cases. The Act makes it more difficult for parents to circumvent termination by attempting to
The Act establishes factors for courts to consider in deciding whether to allow filming or videotaping of judicial proceedings. The Act provides courts with the discretion to allow cameras to film all or a portion of a judicial proceeding. The Act does not apply to the use of electronic or
The Act allows for the arrest prior to trial of those persons cited or accused and being prosecuted for violation of a county loitering ordinance.
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The Act provides a modernized method for serving process upon minors or incapacitated adults in probate court proceedings. There are two requirements. First, the probate court must mail, by certified mail, a copy of the document being served to the minor or incapacitated adult. Second, the probate court must serve
The Act provides that chief magistrates may establish no contest cash bond schedules, allows persons arrested or accused of misdemeanor bad check violations to post a no contest cash bond, and deems failure to appear for trial to be a guilty plea and forfeiture of the bond, unless the court
The Act provides for a means of funding court-annexed or court-referred alternative dispute resolution programs in every county. The Act enables counties to collect a sum not to exceed five dollars, in addition to other legal costs, for each civil action or case filed in one of the designated courts
