Verdict . News

•Supreme Court of Georgia unanimously denied certiorari petition in medical malpractice case

Georgia Supreme Court Denies Cert in Medical Malpractice Case

The Supreme Court of Georgia unanimously denied a petition for certiorari in Georgia Bone & Joint Surgeons, P.C. v. Keel, effectively ending the medical malpractice case's appeals process. The denial leaves standing a Court of Appeals ruling that rejected the medical practice's challenge to jury instruction procedures.

•Case involved dispute over jury instruction standards for evaluating medical expert testimony

•Gerald Jerome Clark was sentenced to life without parole for the murder of Mary Kilpatrick in September 2020

Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Life Sentence in Clark Murder Case

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the convictions of Gerald Jerome Clark, who was sentenced to life without parole for the brutal murder of Mary Kilpatrick in September 2020. Clark was found guilty of multiple felonies including malice murder, arson, and kidnapping.

•Clark was convicted on multiple felony charges including malice murder, arson, kidnapping, and aggravated assault involving entrapping the victim in a car trunk and setting it on fire

•Ronald Welsch convicted of murder and related crimes in 2021 double shooting deaths of Jamar Walton and Sherrod Gore

Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Life Sentence in Double Murder Case

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed Ronald Welsch's murder conviction and life sentence without parole in connection with the May 2021 shooting deaths of Jamar Walton and Sherrod Gore in Lowndes County. The court rejected Welsch's appeal challenging the sufficiency of evidence and trial court rulings.

•Co-defendant Kent Gillard pleaded guilty and testified against Welsch at September 2022 bench trial

•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

•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

Jan 21, 2026•5 min read

•Burns was sentenced to life without parole for felony murder after jury convicted him on two felony murder counts but deadlocked on malice murder

Georgia Supreme Court Reviews Burns Murder Conviction Appeal

The Georgia Supreme Court decided Burns v. State on January 21, 2026, addressing Anthony Alexander Burns' appeal of his 2024 felony murder conviction in the death of Howard Winning. Burns challenges the constitutional sufficiency of evidence and argues the trial court committed multiple procedural errors.

•Burns' four prior felony convictions led to enhanced recidivist sentencing under Georgia law

Jan 21, 2026•4 min read

•Dickerson received life without parole for felony murder plus additional consecutive sentences

Georgia Supreme Court Affirms Life Sentence in Emanuel County Murder

The Georgia Supreme Court upheld the felony murder conviction and life sentence without parole for John Lorenzo Dickerson in the 2016 shooting death of Bernie Givens. The court decided the appeal on January 21, 2026, after Dickerson challenged evidence admissibility and jury instructions.

•Jury acquitted on malice murder but convicted on felony murder and related charges

Jan 21, 2026•4 min read

•Marco Franklin convicted of felony murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, and firearm possession in 2018 shooting death of Jamarco Royal

Georgia Supreme Court Reviews Ineffective Counsel Claim in Murder Case

The Georgia Supreme Court decided Franklin v. State on January 21, 2026, reviewing Marco Franklin's appeal of his felony murder conviction in connection with the 2018 shooting death of Jamarco Royal. Franklin argues his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance, challenging convictions that resulted in a life sentence.

•Case required retrial after initial mistrial in March 2022, with conviction following September 2022 proceedings

Jan 21, 2026•4 min read

•Attorney Mylee McKinney faces disbarment for abandoning nine clients in family law matters

Georgia Supreme Court Reviews Attorney Disbarment Case for Client Abandonment

The Georgia Supreme Court is reviewing a disciplinary case against attorney Mylee McKinney, who faces potential disbarment for abandoning nine clients in family law matters. The case involves procedural disputes over McKinney's response to disciplinary charges filed in March 2025.

•Georgia State Bar claims McKinney's response to disciplinary charges was procedurally deficient