The Georgia Indigent Defense Act of 2003 Marion Chartoff

Marsy's Law, a victims’ rights constitutional amendment, would bestow upon crime victims a vast array of often vague, difficult and costly to administer rights, including extensive notification, involvement, privacy, and restitution provisions, and enshrine them in state constitutions. This amendment has far-reaching consequences for state criminal justice systems across the country. Hear from various stakeholders and learn how state advocates can help stave off this legislation.

NACDL's 19th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
August 17-19, 2020 | Held Virtually

In 2019, the Georgia Legislature passed a bill entitled Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act (H.B. 481).  The Governor signed the bill into law but before it went into effect, litigation immediately commenced with the filing of a federal lawsuit.  In 2020, the U.S. District Court granted an injunction and the law remained inactive and unenforceable. Sistersong v. Kemp, 472 F. Supp. 3d 1297 (N.D. Ga. 2020).  The Attorney General appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit which withheld ruling due to the pending Dobbs case in the U.S. Supreme Court.

NACDL is providing resources regarding the Criminalization of Pregnancy and Reproductive Health to the criminal defense community. Resources are provided without warranty or guarantee. Please consult the laws and rules of your state and local authorities. Please log in to access them. Membership is NOT required.

NACDL deplores efforts to criminalize the right to vote in the United States. As a reflection of that concern NACDL and its Georgia affiliate, the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, have issued a joint statement condemning the provisions of Georgia’s so-called Election Integrity Act. Anticipating that people may be charged under those provisions, NACDL seeks to ensure that criminal defense lawyers are ready and able to stand with those who may be accused. Accordingly, NACDL seeks volunteers to join the GA Voter Defense Project to protect this critically important right to vote.

The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL) condemn the Georgia Election Integrity Act of 2021 provisions that criminalize ordinary, mundane, and harmless activity relating to voting.

NACDL opposed Marsy's Law, a sweeping victims' rights constitutional amendment, in Georgia.

See the various issues on which NACDL has conducted criminal justice advocacy in Georgia. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see active legislation in Georgia that NACDL is tracking.

Policies and rulings on lengthy imprisonment terms in Georgia.

Information on the policy and history of recording custodial interrogations in Georgia.

Attorney-client communications federal caselaw and state-specific anecdotal data in Georgia

In The Superior Court of [Redacted] County State of Georgia, Petitioner Randall William Nowill v. [Redacted] 

In 2015 Walker filed a civil rights action in the N.D. of Georgia alleging the City of Calhoun's use of a bail schedule violated due process and equal protection by setting initial bail amounts without regard to the financial resources of the arrestee. The City held court only once a week, leaving many in jail for a week or more on even minor offenses. While the case was pending the City amended its policies to ensure individuals were brought before a judge within 48 hours of arrest to have their bail reviewed by the court.