Justia Georgia Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

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 evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for false imprisonment. Finding no error, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed. View "Smith v. Georgia" on Justia Law

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. The Georgia Supreme Court found the trial court determined that “jury-wide discussion of improper information about legal terminology compromised the integrity of a verdict and manifestly necessitated a mistrial.” Having reviewed the record, the Supreme Court concluded that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in declaring a mistrial. View "Blake v. Georgia" on Justia Law

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 court made certain evidentiary errors, and that the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict. Finding no reversible error, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed Doleman's convictions. View "Doleman v. Georgia" on Justia Law

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 trial, that trial counsel was ineffective, and that the trial court erred in admitting certain testimony. Finding no error, the Supreme Court affirmed Henderson's conviction. View "Henderson v. Georgia" on Justia Law

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 court sentenced Welborn and denied his motion for. Anew trial, Weldon appealed, contending he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel by failing to move to strike a certain prospective juror for cause, and that the trial court erred by allowing the State to present testimony regarding statements Welbon allegedly made to the police involuntarily. The Court found the evidence sufficient to support the conviction. Nevertheless, the Court vacated the trial court's order denying a new trial and remanded the case for the trial court to consider Welbon's involuntariness claim under the proper legal standard, and to make appropriate factual findings. The trial court did so on remand, and denied the motion for a new trial a second time, concluding the State carried its burden of demonstrating the voluntariness of Welbon's statements by a preponderance of the evidence. Finding no error, the Supreme Court again affirmed, finding the evidence sufficient to sustain Welbon's convictions. View "Welbon v. Georgia" on Justia Law

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 sentenced to a life sentence plus 10 years. He argued on appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court that the trial court erred in denying a motion to suppress evidence. Finding no reversible error, the Supreme Court affirmed Mizell's conviction. View "Mizell v. Georgia" on Justia Law

In 2016, a jury found Edwin Williams guilty of felony murder and criminal attempt to commit armed robbery in connection with the death of Tyler Johnson. Williams was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole. He appealed the trial court’s denial of his amended motion for new trial, asserting that the evidence was insufficient to convict him as a party to the crime. Finding that the evidence was sufficient, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed most of the judgment but vacated a portion of the sentence and remanded for resentencing. A separate sentence for the criminal attempt to commit armed robbery was not authorized because that count merged with the felony murder count as a matter of law. View "Williams v. Georgia" on Justia Law

James Harris was convicted by jury for murder and related crimes. He appealed, contending he received ineffective assistance of counsel. Finding no constitutionally deficient assistance of counsel, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed Harris’ conviction and sentence. View "Harris v. Georgia" on Justia Law

In August 2012, a jury found Justin Dunn guilty of malice murder, felony murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with the shooting death of Marquette Maurice Woods, armed robbery of Ricarlos Butler, and aggravated assault on Ruben Johnson. Dunn was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 55 years. His amended motion for new trial was denied. He appealed, arguing only that the trial court erred in granting the State’s challenge to a defense jury strike pursuant to Georgia v. McCollum, 505 U. S. 42 (1992). Finding no reversible error, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed Dunn’s conviction. View "Dunn v. Georgia" on Justia Law

A jury found Dantazias Raines guilty of malice murder and other crimes in connection with the 2011 killing of Brandy Guined, as well as three counts of misdemeanor obstruction of a police officer. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 40 years to serve consecutively. His amended motion for new trial was denied, and he appealed, asserting insufficiency of the evidence with respect to venue, corroboration of accomplice testimony, and the misdemeanor obstruction charges. He also argued the trial court erred in failing to charge on accomplice corroboration; that the jury improperly considered materials not admitted into evidence; and that his sentence of life without parole was void as a matter of law. After review, the Georgia Supreme Court found the evidence sufficient except with respect to venue on the obstruction charges, and found no plain error with respect to the jury instruction or the consideration of evidence by the jury. Therefore, the Court affirmed in part and reversed in part, vacated Raines’ sentence in part, and remanded this case to the trial court for resentencing in light of the Court’s subsequent decision in Veal v. Georgia, 784 SE2d 403 (2016). View "Raines v. Georgia" on Justia Law