Verdict . News

•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 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

•Georgia Supreme Court denied habeas petition from Alexandro Huitron, convicted of felony murder in his 3-year-old daughter's death

Georgia Supreme Court Denies Habeas Petition in Child Death Case

The Georgia Supreme Court has denied a habeas corpus petition from Alexandro Huitron, who was convicted of felony murder and other crimes in connection with the 2010 death of his three-year-old daughter, Esmerelda Gomez. Huitron's appeal centered on claims that his appellate counsel provided ineffective assistance due to a conflict of interest.

•Huitron claimed his appellate counsel had a conflict of interest warranting a new appeal with different representation

•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

•Georgia Supreme Court denied Jeffrey Flakes Jr.'s appeal of murder conviction in 2018 shooting death

Georgia Supreme Court Splits on Murder Convictions in 2018 Shooting Case

The Georgia Supreme Court issued split decisions Feb. 3 in appeals stemming from the 2018 murder of Stanford Duane Jones, denying Jeffrey Flakes Jr.'s appeal while reviewing the State's challenge to Curtis Williams III's granted new trial motion.

•Curtis Williams III received new trial from lower court due to prosecutorial conflict of interest concerns

•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

•Travis Graham appeals felony murder conviction for 2020 shooting death of Jeffrey Franklin

Georgia Supreme Court Reviews Murder Conviction Appeal in Graham Case

The Georgia Supreme Court issued a decision February 3, 2026, in *Graham v. State*, addressing Travis Santel Graham's appeal of his felony murder conviction. Graham challenges his life sentence, claiming ineffective assistance of counsel regarding jury instruction requests.

•Claims ineffective assistance regarding jury instruction requests on property defense and character evidence

•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