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2018 Georgia Code 9-14-40 | Car Wreck Lawyer

TITLE 9 CIVIL PRACTICE

Section 14. Habeas Corpus, 9-14-1 through 9-14-53.

ARTICLE 2 PROCEDURE FOR PERSONS UNDER SENTENCE OF STATE COURT OF RECORD

9-14-40. Legislative intent.

  1. The General Assembly finds that:
    1. Expansion of the scope of habeas corpus in federal court by decisions of the United States Supreme Court together with other decisions of the court substantially curtailing the doctrine of waiver of constitutional rights by an accused and limiting the requirement of exhaustion of state remedies to those currently available have resulted in an increasingly large number of convictions of the courts of this state being collaterally attacked by federal habeas corpus based upon issues and contentions not previously presented to or passed upon by courts of this state;
    2. The increased reliance upon federal courts tends to weaken state courts as instruments for the vindication of constitutional rights with a resultant deterioration of the federal system and federal-state relations; and
    3. To alleviate such problems, it is necessary that the scope of state habeas corpus be expanded and the state doctrine of waiver of rights be modified.
  2. The General Assembly further finds that expansion of state habeas corpus to include many sharply contested issues of a factual nature requires that only the superior courts have jurisdiction of such cases.

(Ga. L. 1967, p. 835, § 1.)

Law reviews.

- For note, "Seen But Not Heard: An Argument for Granting Evidentiary Hearings to Weigh the Credibility of Recanted Testimony," see 46 Ga. L. Rev. 213 (2011).

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

This article clearly expresses a new and liberal policy on the part of the state as to entertaining habeas corpus petitions by state prisoners. Hill v. Dutton, 277 F. Supp. 324 (N.D. Ga. 1967).

Restrictions on right of access to court must be drawn so as to avoid unjustifiably obstructing access to the courts and be clearly warranted by the particular circumstances of each case. Howard v. Sharpe, 266 Ga. 771, 470 S.E.2d 678 (1996).

After defendant's conviction has been affirmed on appeal, habeas corpus petition is one of three available remedies.

- Petitioner's motion to vacate the conviction was not an appropriate remedy in a criminal case after the petitioner's murder conviction had been affirmed on direct appeal. The court overruled Division 2 of Chester v. State, 284 Ga. 162 (2008), which had allowed such motions under O.C.G.A. § 17-9-4, and held that in order to challenge a conviction after the petition had been affirmed on direct appeal, the petitioner was required to file an extraordinary motion for new trial, O.C.G.A. § 5-5-41, a motion in arrest of judgment, O.C.G.A. § 17-9-61, or a petition for habeas corpus under O.C.G.A. § 9-14-40. Harper v. State, 286 Ga. 216, 686 S.E.2d 786 (2009).

Prisoner given wide latitude in filing petition.

- Under the expanded view in O.C.G.A. Ch. 14, T. 9, the assumption is that a prisoner should have wide latitude in filing a petition for habeas corpus. Giles v. Ford, 258 Ga. 245, 368 S.E.2d 318 (1988).

Court may not prohibit filing of complaint.

- O.C.G.A. § 9-15-2(d), which permits a trial court to deny the filing of a pro se in forma pauperis complaint after determining that on its face the pleading completely lacks justiciable law or fact, was not meant to apply to habeas corpus proceedings; therefore, a court may address a petition for habeas corpus only after it has been filed. Giles v. Ford, 258 Ga. 245, 368 S.E.2d 318 (1988).

Intent to make state remedy coextensive with federal remedy.

- This article was not designed to alter longstanding criminal trial procedure rules of this state with respect to waiver, but rather to allow the courts of this state to hear and adjudicate collateral attacks of criminal convictions in as broad a fashion as the federal courts, and to make the state remedy coextensive with the federal remedy. Stewart v. Ricketts, 451 F. Supp. 911 (M.D. Ga. 1978).

This article was intended to enable state habeas corpus courts to hear all claims which a federal court would hear. Stewart v. Ricketts, 451 F. Supp. 911 (M.D. Ga. 1978).

This article expanded the scope of state habeas corpus, modified the state doctrine of waiver of rights, and gave the superior court exclusive jurisdiction to try such cases because of "many sharply contested issues of a factual nature." McCorquodale v. Stynchcombe, 239 Ga. 138, 236 S.E.2d 486, cert. denied, 434 U.S. 975, 98 S. Ct. 534, 54 L. Ed. 2d 467 (1977).

Habeas made more readily available.

- It was the intent of the legislature in enacting this article to make the remedy of habeas corpus more readily available to prisoners resorting to the courts of this state and to facilitate a determination in each case of the ultimate issue of the legality or illegality of the imprisonment. Johnson v. Caldwell, 229 Ga. 548, 192 S.E.2d 900 (1972).

Unencumbered hearing assured.

- By its plain terms, this article assures a hearing unencumbered by the strict conditions arising from some case law in this state. Peters v. Rutledge, 397 F.2d 731 (5th Cir. 1968).

The law is an effective remedy for securing state court review of federal challenges to state convictions, and more than that, it is a legislative recognition by this state of the state's responsibilities to vindicate federally guaranteed, federally protected rights in the administration of justice. Peters v. Rutledge, 397 F.2d 731 (5th Cir. 1968).

Adjudication of guilt or innocence not authorized.

- This article has enlarged the scope of matters that will be considered on habeas corpus, but it does not authorize another adjudication of the question of guilt or innocence of the accused. Bush v. Chappell, 225 Ga. 659, 171 S.E.2d 128 (1969).

Following the statutory structure set out in law serves a triple public interest: (1) the system, if followed and faithfully applied, puts responsibility on the state; (2) it affords to the one contesting the conviction an effective remedy; and (3) it represents a mutual, even though not jointly expressed, state legislative judgment and a federal judicial comity conclusion that the rapid, explosive expansion of federal habeas cases in state convictions represents a substantial threat to the administration of justice. Peters v. Rutledge, 397 F.2d 731 (5th Cir. 1968).

Two sets of full-blown post-conviction trials not necessary.

- While it is important that federal constitutional claims may be asserted after conviction and that finally there be access to the federal court for its own independent judgment, these rights do not call for two sets of full-blown post-conviction trials; this law serves that end. Peters v. Rutledge, 397 F.2d 731 (5th Cir. 1968).

Denial of right to proceed under article to parolee as subversion of purpose.

- Statute's statement of legislative intent and purpose includes the intent to accord persons convicted in this state an adequate state remedy, and this purpose would be subverted if a state parolee were denied the right to proceed hereunder. Fox v. Dutton, 406 F.2d 123 (5th Cir. 1968), cert. denied, 395 U.S. 916, 89 S. Ct. 1764, 23 L. Ed. 2d 229 (1969).

Cited in In re Stoner, 252 Ga. 397, 314 S.E.2d 214 (1984); Powell v. Brown, 281 Ga. 609, 641 S.E.2d 519 (2007); Nazario v. State, 293 Ga. 480, 746 S.E.2d 109 (2013).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

13 Am. Jur. Pleading and Practice Forms, Habeas Corpus, § 1.

Cases Citing Georgia Code 9-14-40 From Courtlistener.com

Total Results: 20

Cook v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2022-03-15

Snippet: Habeas Corpus Act of 1967, now codified as OCGA § 9- 14-40 et seq., the General Assembly created a post-conviction

Schoicket v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2021-11-02

Snippet: under the Habeas Corpus Act of 1967, OCGA §§ 9-14-40 et seq. 14 In 1974, this Court held that the Act

Jackson v. Crickmar, Warden

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2021-06-21

Snippet: include “a petition for habeas corpus, see OCGA § 9-14-40.” Nazario, 293 Ga. at 488; see also Chambers v

Bellamy v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2014-04-22

Citation: 295 Ga. 119, 757 S.E.2d 864, 2014 Fulton County D. Rep. 1187, 2014 WL 1588640, 2014 Ga. LEXIS 300

Snippet: 17-9-61, or a petition for habeas corpus. OCGA § 9-14-40.” Harper v. State, 286 Ga. 216,

Nazario v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2013-07-11

Citation: 293 Ga. 480, 746 S.E.2d 109, 2013 Fulton County D. Rep. 2206, 2013 WL 3475330, 2013 Ga. LEXIS 611

Snippet: 17-9-61; or apetitionfor habeas corpus, see OCGA § 9-14-40. See Harper, 286 Ga. at 217; Williams, 287 Ga.

Leach v. Malcom

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2013-04-29

Citation: 292 Ga. 855, 742 S.E.2d 459, 2013 Fulton County D. Rep. 1389, 2013 WL 1789989, 2013 Ga. LEXIS 374

Snippet: terms of his probation. See OCGA §§ 9-14-1 (c), 9-14-40 et seq. See also Humphrey, 289 Ga. at 722 (“mandamus

Simpson v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2013-03-18

Citation: 292 Ga. 764, 740 S.E.2d 124, 2013 Fulton County D. Rep. 615, 2013 Ga. LEXIS 252

Snippet: 17-9-61, or a petition for habeas corpus. OCGA § 9-14-40.” Harper v. State, 286 Ga. 216, 217 (1) (686 SE2d

Thomas v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2012-04-24

Citation: 727 S.E.2d 123, 291 Ga. 18, 2012 Fulton County D. Rep. 1544, 2012 WL 1415458, 2012 Ga. LEXIS 363

Snippet: 17-9-61, or a petition for habeas corpus, OCGA § 9-14-40. See Harper v. State, 286 Ga. 216, 686 S.E.2d 786

Boyd v. JohnGalt Holdings, LLC

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2012-03-05

Citation: 724 S.E.2d 395, 290 Ga. 658

Snippet: seq., in the county of incarceration and OCGA § 9-14-40 et seq. See generally Patterson v. Earp, 257 Ga

Wilkes v. Terry

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2011-11-07

Citation: 717 S.E.2d 644, 290 Ga. 54, 2011 Fulton County D. Rep. 3426, 2011 Ga. LEXIS 867

Snippet: 1967 enactment of the Habeas Corpus Act, OCGA § 9-14-40 et seq., which gave all superior courts of this

Harper v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2009-11-23

Citation: 686 S.E.2d 786, 286 Ga. 216, 2009 Fulton County D. Rep. 3645, 2009 Ga. LEXIS 740

Snippet: 17-9-61, or a petition for habeas corpus. OCGA § 9-14-40. A majority of this Court ruled otherwise in Chester

Jones v. Henderson

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2009-09-28

Citation: 684 S.E.2d 265, 285 Ga. 804, 2009 Fulton County D. Rep. 3060, 2009 Ga. LEXIS 493

Snippet: procedures governing such actions, see OCGA § 9-14-40 et seq. Pursuant to OCGA § 9-10-14(a), the Administrative

Chester v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2008-07-11

Citation: 664 S.E.2d 220, 284 Ga. 162, 2008 Fulton County D. Rep. 2401, 2008 Ga. LEXIS 621

Snippet: 17-9-61, or a petition for habeas corpus. OCGA § 9-14-40. See Williams, supra, 283 Ga. at 95, n. 1. See

Nix v. Watts

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2008-06-02

Citation: 664 S.E.2d 194, 284 Ga. 100, 2008 Fulton County D. Rep. 1842, 2008 Ga. LEXIS 446

Snippet: Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia, OCGA § 9-14-40 et seq., because he is a person "whose liberty

Powell v. Brown

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2007-01-22

Citation: 641 S.E.2d 519, 281 Ga. 609, 2007 Fulton County D. Rep. 188, 2007 Ga. LEXIS 31

Snippet: seq.) and post-conviction habeas corpus. OCGA § 9-14-40 et seq.

Chatman v. Mancill

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2004-10-12

Citation: 604 S.E.2d 154, 278 Ga. 488, 2004 Fulton County D. Rep. 3335, 2004 Ga. LEXIS 830

Snippet: Georgia's statutory habeas corpus scheme (OCGA §§ 9-14-40 et seq.) is the "procedural default" rule: [A]

Capote v. Ray

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2002-11-15

Citation: 573 S.E.2d 25, 2002 Ga. LEXIS 1105

Snippet: jurisdiction to review habeas proceedings under OCGA § 9-14-40 et seq. notwithstanding the total absence of either

Capote v. Ray

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2002-11-15

Citation: 577 S.E.2d 755, 276 Ga. 1, 573 S.E.2d 25, 2002 Fulton County D. Rep. 3412, 2002 Ga. LEXIS 1033

Snippet: jurisdiction to review habeas proceedings under OCGA § 9-14-40 et seq. notwithstanding the total absence of either

O'DONNELL v. Durham

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2002-11-12

Citation: 573 S.E.2d 23, 275 Ga. 860

Snippet: corpus” in cases such as this is set forth in OCGA § 9-14-40 et seq. OCGA § 9-14-41. Thus, in all matters dealing

Orr v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 2002-03-28

Citation: 562 S.E.2d 498, 275 Ga. 141, 2002 Fulton County D. Rep. 2001, 2002 Ga. LEXIS 248

Snippet: his guilty plea lies in habeas corpus, OCGA §§ 9-14-40 to 9-14-53. Judgment affirmed. All the Justices