Verdict . News

•Georgia Supreme Court reversed Jalen Shakur Biggs's life sentence for malice murder in 2021 shooting death of Keith Basham

Georgia Supreme Court Reverses Murder Conviction Over Excluded Evidence

The Georgia Supreme Court has reversed the malice murder conviction of Jalen Shakur Biggs, ruling that the trial court abused its discretion by excluding evidence of the victim's prior violent acts. Biggs was serving life without parole for the 2021 shooting death of Keith Basham.

•Trial court abused discretion by excluding evidence that victim had previously assaulted the mother of defendant's fiancée

•Georgia Supreme Court affirmed denial of Jeremy Wade Gibson's motion to withdraw guilty but mentally ill plea for wife's murder

Georgia Supreme Court Denies Murder Defendant's Plea Withdrawal Appeal

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed a Dawson County court's denial of Jeremy Wade Gibson's motion to withdraw his guilty but mentally ill plea for murdering his wife Amy Gibson. Gibson claimed his attorney was ineffective due to conflicts of interest, but the court found no demonstrable error.

•Gibson claimed his attorney was ineffective due to conflict of interest, but court found no demonstrable error

•Jenkins appealed directly from dismissal of his speedy trial demand under OCGA § 17-7-171, bypassing required procedural steps

Georgia Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal Over Speedy Trial Procedure

The Georgia Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Roshoun Jacarri Jenkins who challenged the denial of his speedy trial demand, ruling that the court lacked jurisdiction because Jenkins failed to follow proper interlocutory appeal procedures required under state law.

•The Georgia Supreme Court ruled it lacked jurisdiction because speedy trial demand dismissals require interlocutory appeal procedures under § 5-6-34(b)

•Georgia Supreme Court affirmed Jamal Kerns' conviction for murdering his cousin Keschon Kerns and assaulting Malik Golar

Georgia Supreme Court Affirms Murder Conviction in Cousin Killing Case

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Jamal Kerns for the malice murder of his cousin Keschon Kerns and aggravated assault of Malik Golar. The court's decision on Feb. 3, 2026, upheld a life sentence with possibility of parole plus additional consecutive terms.

•Kerns received life in prison with possibility of parole plus consecutive terms totaling 25 additional years

•NBCUniversal failed to meet Georgia's 45-day deadline for responding to garnishment proceedings

Georgia Supreme Court Rejects NBCUniversal's Constitutional Challenge

The Georgia Supreme Court ruled against NBCUniversal Media, LLC in its attempt to overturn a $500,000 default judgment after the company failed to respond timely to continuing garnishment proceedings. The court rejected constitutional challenges to Georgia's garnishment default statute.

•Default judgment of over $500,000 was entered despite NBCU's claim it owed less than $1,000

•Georgia Supreme Court affirmed Riley's felony murder conviction for the 2021 shooting death of Devion Miley

Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Murder Conviction Despite Brady Claims

The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed Zajaliq Riley's felony murder conviction, rejecting his claims that prosecutors violated due process by failing to disclose a witness agreement and that his counsel was ineffective.

•Court rejected Brady violation claims, finding no agreement existed with witness Bush before trial

•Georgia Supreme Court affirmed felony murder convictions of Lewis Shells and Marcus Leslie for 2016 robberies resulting in death of Darius Tucker

Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Felony Murder Convictions in 2016 Robbery

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the felony murder convictions of Lewis Shells and Marcus Leslie for their roles in November 2016 robberies that resulted in the shooting death of Darius Tucker. The court rejected appeals challenging evidence sufficiency and procedural violations.

•Five defendants were indicted on 22 counts including home invasion, burglary, aggravated assault, armed robbery, and kidnapping involving multiple victims

•Georgia Supreme Court affirmed suppression of murder suspect's incriminating statements made during police interrogation

Georgia Supreme Court Affirms Suppression of Murder Suspect's Statements

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed a trial court's decision to suppress incriminating statements made by Michael Donnell Lee during custodial interrogation in connection with a fatal shooting in Atlanta. Lee had invoked his constitutional rights to counsel and to remain silent before making the statements.

•Michael Donnell Lee had properly invoked his constitutional rights to counsel and to remain silent before the interrogation

•Taylor convicted of malice murder in September 2019 shooting death of Miguel Munoz

Georgia Supreme Court Affirms Murder Conviction in 2019 Shooting

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the murder conviction of Shauntae Laquana Taylor in connection with the 2019 shooting death of Miguel Munoz in DeKalb County. Taylor was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after being found guilty on all charges.

•Co-defendant Jessica Smith testified for prosecution after cases were severed