Georgia criminal defense and car accident case law, statutes, and verdicts
Case-by-case analysis of Georgia criminal and car accident law from AJ Richman of Richman Law Firm — what the appellate courts actually held, the O.C.G.A. statutes behind the rulings, and real verdicts from Georgia courtrooms.
On Monday, September 21, a young criminal defense lawyer in San Antonio walked into a Bexar County courtroom for what should have been a two-minute trial announcement. No jury. No…
Back in May 2025, a story ran on the Atlanta WSB-TV news. A man had been arrested at a Mercedes dealership in Forsyth County after a service advisor said he…
Here’s a question I get from other lawyers more than you’d think: “The prosecutor who made the plea deal left the office — does the new one have to honor…
Here’s something I tell clients all the time: a traffic stop for expired tags is supposed to be about the expired tags. It’s not supposed to turn into a fishing…
Let me tell you about Byron Walker (Walker v. State, No. S25G1183 (Ga. June 30, 2026) In 2021, Walker’s estranged wife got a temporary protective order (TPO) against him. The…
Innocent until proven guilty, my ass. I want to tell you about Marquez Powell, because I think his story says more about our justice system than almost anything I could…
Equal Access in Georgia Drug Cases In Georgia drug prosecutions, one of the most important legal issues is whether the State can prove possession. Many cases do not involve drugs…
As a trial lawyer, it’s always interesting to know how other lawyers prepare for trial. And of course, how they deal with the stress. Let me give you a brief…
⚖️ 👶 In the recent U.S. Supreme Court case Pitts v. Mississippi, the Court reaffirmed that your Sixth Amendment constitutional rights cannot be sidelined by “mandatory” state statutes. The decision…
If you have a court date looming or a legal situation hanging over your head, you might be thinking about a quick getaway (Disclaimer–My legal advice is not to flee).…
Let me tell you about William. His ex-girlfriend called 9-1-1 because he told her he was going to kill himself. She heard what sounded like a gun cocking, then a…
I get asked these questions all the time. Someone gets arrested, spends thousands of dollars defending themselves, watches their reputation get dragged through the mud, and then—finally—the case gets dismissed…
If you’ve been arrested for the first time, it’s natural to feel anxious, confused, or overwhelmed about what happens next. The courthouse can seem intimidating when you don’t know what…
I’m relieved to report another complete jury trial victory in a case that never should have been prosecuted in the first place. After a full week of trial and approximately…
Let me tell you about my client’s case in Hall County, Georgia that we just won in October, 2025. Domestic argument turns physical. Her boyfriend hits her in the face.…
Let me tell you about Matthew. He got indicted by a grand jury in Cherokee County for Rape. His lawyer tried to get the grand jury transcript to see what…
Ready to take the guesswork out of Georgia’s criminal process? Download my FREE ebook “Arrested? Here Are 10 Things You Need to Know!” This guide is a no-nonsense, straight-talk roadmap…
Let me tell you about Sarah. She got rear-ended sitting at a red light—wasn’t her fault, obviously. Whiplash, concussion, couldn’t work for three months. You know what her insurance company…
This past week, I had the privilege of defending Matthew (I’ll leave the last name out in this article) in Cherokee County Superior Court before Judge Anthony Baker. Matthew had…
Georgia is cracking down on drunk driving in a new way: SB 121 (effective July 1, 2025 and now codified as O.C.G.A § 33-7-16) dramatically increases the auto insurance coverage…
On July 1, 2025, HB 582, the “Georgia Survivor Justice Act,” went into effect – a groundbreaking reform for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking who are charged with…
**Videos below the post! Check them out! SB 244, the “Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration Compensation Act,” took effect July 1, 2025, marking a huge step forward for justice in Georgia.…
Another significant update in Georgia’s criminal law as of July 1, 2025 is SB 132 (O.C.G.A § 17-7-129), aimed at streamlining the process for evaluating a defendant’s mental competency to…
Finally, HB 161 introduces new measures to combat modern crime, expanding the investigative reach of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and defining a new crime of domestic terrorism. Effective July…
On January 28, 2025, in Chambers v. State (2025), the Supreme Court of Georgia addressed the central part of the Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer statute – OCGA §…
On February 18, 2025, the Georgia Supreme Court issued a new decision in Clark v. The State, a case that clarified the role of the Department of Community Supervision (DCS) in…