History will be made in Blue Ridge Friday, October 18, when the Georgia Court of Appeals holds an off-site oral argument at the Fannin County Courthouse. Superior Court Chief Judge Brenda S. Weaver invited the Court of Appeals to hold oral argument in Fannin County and was honored when the Court accepted. The Georgia Court of Appeals normally holds court in Atlanta but occasionally hears cases in locations around the state for the purpose of making the Court’s business and the judicial process more accessible to the public.
The Georgia Court of Appeals is composed of 15 judges who serve in five divisions. The Court of Appeals has statewide appellate jurisdiction of all cases except those involving constitutional questions, murder and habeas corpus cases where original appellate jurisdiction lies with the only other court higher than the Court of Appeals in Georgia – the Georgia Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeals may certify legal questions to the Georgia Supreme Court. Presiding Judge Ann Elizabeth Barnes, Judge Amanda H. Mercier and Judge E. Trenton Brown III will preside at the Blue Ridge session. The Court will hear argument on three cases. These cases do not originate from any local courts, but the issues are of interest to all individuals.
The first case, Soco Contracting Co., Inc. v. Fulton Co., Georgia is a sovereign immunity and contract case; the second case, Katherine Glynn Head v. Jadilson Silva De Sousa is a car accident case in which the defense is being blinded by sunlight; and the third case, Richard Paul Reason v. The State is a burglary case concerning a lesser included charge of criminal trespass.
Oral argument is open to all members of the public.
Court will convene Friday, October 18, at 9:30 a.m., at Fannin County Courthouse in the Jury Assembly Room.
Everyone is welcome to observe the proceedings.
Any individuals seeking to use a recording device must receive permission from the Court of Appeals by completing an application form, found at: https://www.gaappeals.us/mediarequest/index.php.