Justia Criminal Law Opinion Summaries

Pedro Lee Walker appealed his convictions and sentences for malice murder and armed robbery in connection with the death of Christopher Shuman. On appeal, Walker argued that the State did not adequately show the chain of custody of the blood-stained shoes from which blood samples that matched Shuman's DNA were taken, and therefore the DNA test results should not have been admitted at trial. Further, Walker argued that the trial court erred by denying his motion to admit certain evidence that the jury might have persuaded the jury that another was Shuman's killer. Finding no reversible error, the Supreme Court affirmed the trial court and Walker's convictions and sentences. View "Walker v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Appellant Mark Reed was convicted of malice murder and other offenses in connection with the 2007 shooting death of Marlon Green. Proceeding pro se, Reed appealed the denial of his motion for new trial on numerous grounds. Finding no error, the Supreme Court affirmed. View "Reed v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Appellant Antonio Hamm was convicted of murder and related offenses in connection with the 2008 shooting death of J. Remedios Ruiz-Mendieta. Appellant appealed the denial of his motion for new trial, contending that the trial court erred by failing to give certain jury instructions requested by defense counsel. Finding no reversible error, the Supreme Court affirmed. View "Hamm v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Anthony Hargis was tried by jury and convicted of several crimes relating to the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine. Following the denial of his motion for new trial, Hargis appealed, asserting seven claims of error, among which: the trial judge was disqualified by her receipt of an ex parte communication and, therefore, should have recused; and that the trial court erred when it denied a motion to suppress evidence of a similar transaction. The Court of Appeals agreed that the trial judge should have recused, and that the motion to suppress should have been granted. The appellate court reversed the judgment of conviction on those grounds without reaching the other claims of error. On the petition of the State, the Supreme Court granted certiorari to review the decision of the Court of Appeals. The Court concluded that the Court of Appeals erred with respect to both recusal and the motion to suppress. View "Georgia v. Hargis" on Justia Law

Appellant Tyrone Wright was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with the 2009 shooting death of Cedric Finley. The victim allegedly stole crack cocaine and cash from appellant the night before the shooting. Appellant appealed the denial of his motion for new trial and his conviction and sentence, arguing insufficiency of the evidence, improper denial of his motion to suppress, and ineffective assistance of counsel. Finding no error, the Supreme Court affirmed. View "Wright v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Appellant Karmbi Young was convicted of malice murder and other related crimes relating to the shooting death of Rickey Gibson. He appealed the denial of his motion for new trial in which he claimed the trial court erred by admitting evidence pertaining to a witness' identification of him shortly after the crimes and the same witness' in-court identification. Finding no error in the trial court's denial of the motion for new trial, the Supreme Court affirmed. View "Young v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Joshua Walker appealed his convictions and sentences for felony murder while in the commission of attempted armed robbery, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, all in connection with slaying of Michael Algreen and the armed robbery of Julie Looper. Finding no reversible error, the Supreme Court affirmed Walker's convictions and sentences. View "Walker v. Georgia" on Justia Law

The issue this case presented to the Supreme Court was one of first impression. Appellee David Newton was convicted by jury of burglary, theft by taking, and first degree forgery for taking jewelry while touring a home that he claimed he was interested in purchasing while using a fictitious name on a brokerage agreement. The indictment in this case charged Newton with "enter[ing] the dwelling house of another without authority and with the intent to commit a theft therein, to wit: Said accused did enter a room within the dwelling house of Cynthia Murphy without authority in order to commit a theft therein." Despite the fact that appellee engaged in subterfuge to gain permission to enter Murphy's home, the Court of Appeals reversed appellee's burglary conviction, concluding the evidence was insufficient to show that appellee was "without authority" to be in the victim's house. The Supreme Court granted the State's petition for certiorari, asking "whether a person enters a home 'without authority' when he enters with the consent of the owner, but when that consent was obtained by fraud, deceit, or false pretense." Because the Court determined the answer to its question was "yes," the Court of Appeals' decision was reversed and appellee's conviction reinstated. View "Georgia v. Newton" on Justia Law

Irving Folston was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder and other offenses in connection with the shooting death of Anthony President. On appeal, Folston contended (among other things) that the evidence presented against him at trial was insufficient to support the verdict, the trial court erred in admitting certain evidence, and that his trial counsel was ineffective. Finding no reversible error, the Supreme Court affirmed. View "Folston v. Georgia" on Justia Law

Appellants Maurice Flournoy and Michael Williams were tried jointly and each was convicted of felony murder and related crimes stemming from an armed robbery during a drug buy. Both filed a motion for new trial, which was denied. Finding that the trial court did not err in denying appellants' motions, the Supreme Court affirmed their convictions. View "Flournoy v. Georgia" on Justia Law