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Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies Framework for Evaluating Extraordinary Motions for New Trial Based on Scientific Developments, Holding Trial Court Applied Incorrect Legal Standard in Denying “Shaken B...

Article • February 1, 2026 • from CLN March, 2026

Filed under: Forensic Sciences, New Trial/Judgment of Acquittal, Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of, Daubert Standards, Expert and Opinion Testimony

Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies Framework for Evaluating Extraordinary Motions for New Trial Based on Scientific Developments, Holding Trial Court Applied Incorrect Legal Standard in Denying “Shaken Baby Syndrome” Challenge by David Kim by David Kim The Supreme Court of Georgia clarified that the diligence requirement for extraordinary motions for new …

News In Brief

Article • February 1, 2026 • from CLN March, 2026

News In Brief by Arkansas: The Saline Courier reported a swift fall from grace for Bryant Police Department (BPD) Sgt. Brett Carpenter, after he was observed off-duty driving his pickup the wrong way on a service road off I-30 on January 13, 2026. Saline County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) deputies stopped …

NEWS IN BRIEF

Article • December 15, 2025 • from CLN January, 2026

NEWS IN BRIEF by Alabama: In a rare victory for ethics enforcement in the Cotton State, a Lauderdale County jury returned a guilty verdict on November 7, 2025, against a former state judge accused of public corruption. According to the Alabama Political Reporter, Gilbert Porterfield Self, Sr., former presiding judge …

USA v. Fulton County, GA, Monitor's First Report, Jail Conditions, 2025

Brief • August 21, 2025

Filed under: Jail Specific

USA v. Fulton County, GA, Monitor's First Report, Jail Conditions, 2025 Case 1:25-cv-00024-LMM Document 15-1 Filed 08/21/25 Page 1 of 40 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA ATLANTA DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. FULTON COUNTY AND SHERIFF PATRICK LABAT, IN HIS OFFICIAL …

Georgia Eliminates Legal Standard That Sent Intellectually Disabled Prisoners to Death Row

Article • May 15, 2025 • from CLN June, 2025

Filed under: Mental Health, Capital Punishment

Georgia Eliminates Legal Standard That Sent Intellectually Disabled Prisoners to Death Row by David Kim Georgia has joined a growing number of states that prohibit the execution of people with intellectual disabilities after Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill into law on May 12, 2025, establishing clearer legal protections for …

Georgia Supreme Court Grants Habeas Relief Where Both Trial and Appellate Counsel Provided Ineffective Assistance by Failing to Challenge Indictment for Residential Burglary That Failed to Allege Defe...

Article • January 15, 2025 • from CLN January, 2025

Filed under: Habeas Corpus, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Constitutional Challenges/Law

Georgia Supreme Court Grants Habeas Relief Where Both Trial and Appellate Counsel Provided Ineffective Assistance by Failing to Challenge Indictment for Residential Burglary That Failed to Allege Defendant Illegally Entered a ‘Dwelling’ by Anthony Accurso by Anthony W. Accurso The Supreme Court of Georgia unanimously granted a defendant’s habeas petition …

USA v. Fulton County, GA, Consent Decree, Jail Conditions, 2025

Brief • January 6, 2025

Filed under: Jail Specific

USA v. Fulton County, GA, Consent Decree, Jail Conditions, 2025 Case 1:25-cv-00024-LMM Document 3 Filed 01/06/25 Page 1 of 71 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA ATLANTA DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. FULTON COUNTY AND SHERIFF PATRICK LABAT, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY, …

News In Brief

Article • December 1, 2024 • from CLN December, 2024

Filed under: News in Brief

News In Brief by Alabama: A former Tuscumbia police officer was sentenced to 20 years in prison on August 24, 2024, after pleading guilty to manslaughter in connection with a fatal pedestrian accident. The incident occurred in October 2022 when James “Jay” Keith Steward’s vehicle struck and killed 60-year-old Terry …

Georgia Supreme Court: Discovery of Common Law Wife’s Infidelity Entitled Defendant to Voluntary Manslaughter Instruction in Malice Murder Prosecution

Article • November 1, 2024 • from CLN November, 2024

Filed under: Murder/Felony Murder

Georgia Supreme Court: Discovery of Common Law Wife’s Infidelity Entitled Defendant to Voluntary Manslaughter Instruction in Malice Murder Prosecution by Sam Rutherford by Sam Rutherford The Supreme Court of Georgia held that the trial court erred in refusing to give the jury a lesser included offense instruction of voluntary manslaughter …

News in Brief

Article • October 1, 2024 • from CLN October, 2024

Filed under: News in Brief

News in Brief by Alabama: Former Centre policeman Michael Kilgore, 40, should have known co-conspirators will bumble any crime. After his co-conspirator went singing to authorities, Kilgore was fired and charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance in May 2023. WRCB reported, that according to the plea agreement, Kilgore …

Georgia Supreme Court Grants Habeas Where Defense Counsel Failed to Understand State Self-Defense Statute Provides Complete Defense to Felony Murder Based on Felon-in-Possession Charge

Article • October 1, 2024 • from CLN October, 2024

Filed under: Habeas Corpus, Felon in Possession Statute, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Murder/Felony Murder

Georgia Supreme Court Grants Habeas Where Defense Counsel Failed to Understand State Self-Defense Statute Provides Complete Defense to Felony Murder Based on Felon-in-Possession Charge by Anthony Accurso by Anthony W. Accurso The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to argue that self-defense is a …

News in Brief

Article • August 1, 2024 • from CLN August, 2024

Filed under: News in Brief

News in Brief by

SCOTUS: Reiterates Jury Verdict of Acquittal for Any Reason Bars Retrial Under Double Jeopardy Clause of Fifth Amendment

Article • May 15, 2024 • from CLN May, 2024

Filed under: Double jeopardy

SCOTUS: Reiterates Jury Verdict of Acquittal for Any Reason Bars Retrial Under Double Jeopardy Clause of Fifth Amendment by Richard Resch by Richard Resch In a unanimous opinion, the Supreme Court of the United States held that a jury’s verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity is an “acquittal” …

USA v. Hill, GA, Opinion, Excessive Force, 2024

Brief • May 6, 2024

Filed under: Excessive Force, Restraints

USA v. Hill, GA, Opinion, Excessive Force, 2024 Case 1:24-cv-01945-ELR Document 1-4 Filed 05/03/24 Page 1 of 56 USCA11 Case: 23-10934 Document: 60-1 Date Filed: 04/29/2024 Page: 1 of 56 [PUBLISH] In the United States Court of Appeals For the Eleventh Circuit ____________________ No. 23-10934 ____________________ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, …

Peterkin v. Hill, GA, Complaint, Excessive Force, 2024

Brief • May 3, 2024

Filed under: Excessive Force, Restraints

Peterkin v. Hill, GA, Complaint, Excessive Force, 2024 Case 1:24-cv-01945-ELR Document 1 Filed 05/03/24 Page 1 of 12 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA ATLANTA DIVISION RAHEEM PETERKIN, Plaintiff, Civil Action No.: v. VICTOR HILL, individually, CORRECTHEALTH CLAYTON, LLC, JURY TRIAL DEMANDED Defendants. COMPLAINT 1. When Raheem Peterkin …

Horton v. Fulton County, GA, Complaint, Failure to Protect, 2024

Brief • May 1, 2024

Filed under: Failure to Protect (General)

Horton v. Fulton County, GA, Complaint, Failure to Protect, 2024 State Court of Fulton County **E-FILED** 24EV003756 5/1/2024 2:01 PM Donald Talley, Clerk Civil Division IN THE STATE COURT OF FULTON COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA MICHAEL HORTON, Civil Case Number.: PLAINTIFF, vs. FULTON COUNTY GEORGIA & FULTON COUNTY SHERRIFS OFFICE, …

DEA and Police Use Pretense of Consent Searches to Effectively Steal Cash From Airport Travelers

Article • March 15, 2024 • from CLN March, 2024

Filed under: Racial Profiling, Consent, False Inducement, Police/Govt Misconduct

DEA and Police Use Pretense of Consent Searches to Effectively Steal Cash From Airport Travelers by Anthony Accurso by Anthony W. Accurso Voluntary consent allows law enforcement to search property without a warrant, and officials in Georgia are using this loophole to locate cash belonging to airport travelers in Atlanta, …

Estate of Joseph Walter Brown v. Hatcher, GA, Complaint, Wrongful Death -Failure to Protect, 2024

Brief • February 5, 2024

Filed under: Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death)

Estate of Joseph Walter Brown v. Hatcher, GA, Complaint, Wrongful Death -Failure to Protect, 2024 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA MACON DIVISION DARLENE BROWN and KELVIN BROWN, as surviving parents of Joseph Walter Brown and as putative personal representatives of the estate of Joseph Walter …

Doe v. Georgia Dept of Corrections, GA, Complaint, Transgender, 2023

Brief • December 6, 2023

Filed under: Transgender, Transgender Medical Procedures

Doe v. Georgia Dept of Corrections, GA, Complaint, Transgender, 2023 Case 1:23-cv-05578-MLB Document 1 Filed 12/06/23 Page 1 of 85 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA JANE DOE, Plaintiff, v. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF Civ. Case No. _________________ CORRECTIONS; COMMISSIONER TYRONE OLIVER, in his official …

Doe v. Georgia Dept of Corrections, GA, Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Transgender, 2023

Brief • December 6, 2023

Filed under: Transgender, Transgender Medical Procedures

Doe v. Georgia Dept of Corrections, GA, Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Transgender, 2023 Case 1:23-cv-05578-MLB Document 2 Filed 12/06/23 Page 1 of 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA JANE DOE, Civ. No. Plaintiff, v. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS et al., Defendants. PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY …