Justia Georgia Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

Appellant Johnny Rammage was convicted of malice murder and a firearm offense in connection with the shooting death of Chris Johnson. On appeal, he argued the trial court erred: (1) by not allowing him to introduce evidence of Johnson’s prior acts of violence; (2) by declining to give jury instructions on justification and accident; and (3) by admitting evidence of his prior conviction. Appellant also contended his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by not objecting to the court’s failure to give the jury instructions. After review of the record and the briefs, the Georgia Supreme Court found no reversible error and affirmed. View "Rammage v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Jonathan Jackson was convicted of malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with the shooting death of DeAngelo Head. On appeal, Jackson argued only that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his convictions. Finding the evidence to support his conviction, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed Jackson’s convictions. View "Jackson v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Tyrecquiss Wells appealed his convictions for felony murder and other crimes in connection with the shooting death of David Scott. Wells argued: (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his custodial statements on the ground that he did not knowingly waive his rights; (2) his confrontation right was violated when the trial court admitted an accomplice’s inculpatory statements; and (3) trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion to sever his trial from those of his co-defendants. The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed because: (1) the record showed that Wells knowingly waived his rights when he voluntarily agreed to speak with the police; (2) there was no confrontation violation because the accomplice testified at trial and Wells was able to cross-examine him; and (3) trial counsel’s reason for not filing a motion to sever was not objectively unreasonable. View "Wells v. Georgia" on Justia Law

In 2012, Sylvester Davis, Jr. was convicted of malice murder in connection with the 2011 shooting death of Marquis Wadley. Davis apppealed, arguing that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting certain testimony by a Georgia Bureau of Investigation (“GBI”) agent and in denying his motion for a mistrial, and that, to the extent that the Georgia Supreme Court concludes that he waived certain evidentiary objections by failing to raise them at trial, his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance. Finding no reversible error, the Supreme Court affirmed Davis’ conviction. View "Davis v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Sylvester Taylor was convicted by jury for malice murder and criminal attempt to commit rape, amongst other crimes, stemming from the beating death of Linda Madison. This appeal stemmed from an exchange between Taylor and the judge presiding over his pre-trial proceedings, specifically, at a 2014 preliminary hearing, wherein Taylor proclaimed “I ain’t killed that b*tch; that b*tch killed herself.” The trial court then cautioned, “Wait a minute.” Taylor, however, immediately launched into an uninterrupted (albeit brief), profanity-laced tirade in which he denied killing Madison. The tirade culminated in him saying, “Y’all can kiss my black a**.” The trial court found Taylor guilty of 13 instances of criminal contempt, one for each of the obscene words that he used during the outburst, and sentenced him to a total of 230 days in jail, not to be served until Taylor became eligible for release pursuant to bond or “by final disposition of the charges upon which [Taylor] is currently being held.” Taylor appealed, contending (among other things) that the trial court erred by finding him guilty of multiple instances of contempt. The State agreed with Taylor, and so did the Georgia Supreme Court. Judgment was vacated and the matter remanded for further proceedings. View "Taylor v. Georgia" on Justia Law

In 2016, Deonta Rich was convicted of murdering Sylvester Downs and kidnapping Taquoya Rogers. Rich: (1) challenged the sufficiency of the evidence to support his convictions; (2) argued the trial court erred by denying his motion for new trial while sitting as the thirteenth juror; and (3) contended his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object after the State, during its closing argument, inappropriately commented on his prior juvenile adjudication. Finding no reversible error, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed. View "Rich v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Lloyd Stephens and Demetrius Brewer were convicted after a joint jury trial for the murder of Eric Kemp. Both argued the trial court made multiple evidentiary errors. Additionally, Stephens argued he received ineffective assistance of counsel. Finding no reversible errors, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed both convictions. View "Stephens v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Clarence McCluskey was convicted of murder and related crimes arising out of the shooting death of his wife, Lisa. He appealed, arguing the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for cruelty to children in the third degree, and the trial court erred in refusing to give his requested charges on reckless conduct and involuntary manslaughter. The Georgia Supreme Court concluded the evidence was insufficient to allow a rational jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that McCluskey committed the offense of cruelty to children in the third degree and reversed his conviction as to those charges. However, the Court did determined the evidence sufficient as to all other charges and affirmed. View "McCluskey v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Appellant Rashard Mosley appealed his convictions for numerous offenses, including the 2014 murder of Ivory Carter and the attempted murder and attempted armed robbery of Frederick Knight. On appeal, Mosley contended the evidence was insufficient to sustain his convictions, that the trial court erroneously permitted the State to elicit various inadmissible hearsay statements, that the trial court erroneously permitted the State to adduce “intrinsic evidence,” and that trial counsel was ineffective. Finding no reversible error, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed. View "Mosley v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Appellant Kerri Redding was convicted of malice murder and other crimes in connection with the shooting death of Christopher Kenyatta. Appellant contended his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to raise the possible biases of two witnesses and by failing to object to certain testimony from the lead detective. Appellant also claimed the trial court erred by not allowing him to impeach an out-of-court declarant with a certified copy of the declarant’s conviction. Finding no reversible error, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed. View "Redding v. Georgia" on Justia Law