GEORGIA APPELLATE PRACTICE HANDBOOK 7th Edition - 1 - GEORGIA APPELLATE PRACTICE HANDBOOK 7th edition • 2012 CONTRIBUTORS Chief Editors Daniel F. Diffl ey Jeffrey J. Swart Associate Editors M. Scott Orrell L. Boone Park Melissa Mahurin Whitehead Principal Chapter Editors Judicial Contributors Van A. Anderson Justice David E. Nahmias Debra D. Bernstein Judge Christopher J. McFadden Nowell D. Berreth Adam J. Biegel Co-Chapter Editors Derin B. Dickerson Angela Adams Stephanie B. Driggers Lisa K. Bojko Christina Hull Eikhoff Bennett D. Bryan Gregory B. Mauldin Meredith Jones Wade Pearson Miller Kacy McCaffrey Daniel C. Norris Kimyatta E. McClary T. C. Spencer Pryor Ellen H. Persons Christopher A. Riley Jason D. Popp Samuel R. Rutherford Allison S. Thompson Douglas G. Scribner Andrew J. Tuck Brian R. Stimson Cover photograph: Doors to Georgia Judicial Building (detail) ©2012 Alston & Bird LLP Photography by Louis M. Lindic All rights reserved FOREWORD Alston & Bird LLP is pleased to provide this Seventh Edition of the Georgia Appellate Practice Handbook to the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia. The Handbook was fi rst published in 1985 under the leadership of Alston & Bird partner Terry Walsh, with the invaluable assistance of Supreme Court Justices Harold Clarke and George Carley (then a Court of Appeals Judge). The lawyers and judges who have contributed to updated editions of the Handbook during the intervening decades are too numerous to name, but we remain thankful for their contributions, leadership, and guidance in connection with this work. For this Seventh Edition, we are particularly grateful to Justice David E. Nahmias of the Supreme Court and Judge Christopher J. McFadden of the Court of Appeals, each of whom authored chapters for this edition of the Handbook. Their comments and insights will undoubtedly be of great interest to all appellate practitioners in Georgia. We are also deeply appreciative of the time and effort spent by Therese “Tee” Barnes, Clerk of the Supreme Court, and Holly K.O. Sparrow, Clerk of the Court of Appeals, in reviewing and commenting on relevant portions of this edition. The names of the Alston & Bird lawyers who contributed to this edition are found on the preceding page. We thank each of them for their outstanding effort to make the Seventh Edition of the Handbook both user-friendly and accurate. We hope that the Handbook will continue to be a valuable resource for all who practice in the Georgia appellate courts. Daniel F. Diffl ey Jeffrey J. Swart Chief Editors TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One Appeal Timetable Summary Chapter Two Jurisdiction, Availability, and Dismissals of Appeals Chapter Three Post-Trial Motions as Part of the Appeals Process Chapter Four Commencing the Appeal: Notice of Appeal, Transcript, and Record Chapter Five Stays of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment Chapter Six Briefs and Enumerations of Error Chapter Seven Oral Argument Chapter Eight Extraordinary Writs Chapter Nine Internal Procedures of the Appellate Courts Chapter Ten Proceedings Subsequent to Decisions Chapter Eleven An Overview of the Criminal Appellate Process and Procedure Chapter Twelve Civil Appeals Involving Pro Se Parties Chapter Thirteen Frivolous Appeals Chapter Fourteen Tips on Effective Oral Argument Chapter Fifteen Professionalism in Appellate Practice: The Importance of Selectivity Chapter Sixteen Forms - i - CHAPTER ONE: APPEAL TIMETABLE SUMMARY § 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 § 1.1.1 General Information ........................................................................ 2 § 1.2 Direct Appeals ................................................................................................ 4 § 1.2.1 Notice of Appeal and Cross-Appeal ................................................ 4 § 1.2.1.1 Time for Filing .............................................................. 4 § 1.2.1.2 Extensions of Time for Filing Notice............................ 4 § 1.2.2 Filing of Transcript .......................................................................... 5 § 1.2.3 Record ............................................................................................. 5 § 1.2.4 Docketing ........................................................................................ 6 § 1.2.4.1 Closing of the Docket ................................................... 7 § 1.2.5 Supersedeas ..................................................................................... 7 § 1.2.6 Payment of Costs ............................................................................. 7 § 1.2.7 Oral Argument ................................................................................. 8 § 1.2.8 Briefs and Enumerations of Error ................................................... 9 § 1.2.8.1 Briefs, Generally ........................................................... 9 § 1.2.8.2 Supplemental Briefs ...................................................... 9 § 1.2.8.3 Amicus Curiae Briefs .................................................... 9 § 1.3 Discretionary Appeals of Final Order or Judgment ....................................... 10 § 1.3.1 Application for Leave, Response, and Decision on Application ..... 10 § 1.3.1.1 Application .................................................................... 10 § 1.3.1.2 Costs .............................................................................. 10 § 1.3.1.3 Response ....................................................................... 10 § 1.3.1.4 Decision by Court on Application ................................. 11 - ii - § 1.3.2 Notice of Appeal .............................................................................. 11 § 1.4 Interlocutory Appeals ..................................................................................... 11 § 1.4.1 Automatic Stay ................................................................................ 11 § 1.4.2 Certifi cate of Immediate Review ..................................................... 11 § 1.4.3 Application for Interlocutory Appeal, Response, and Decision ...... 12 § 1.4.3.1 Application .................................................................... 12 § 1.4.3.2 Costs .............................................................................. 12 § 1.4.3.3 Response ....................................................................... 12 § 1.4.3.4 Decision by Court on Application ................................. 12 § 1.4.4 Notice of Appeal .............................................................................. 12 § 1.5 Motion For Reconsideration .......................................................................... 13 § 1.5.1 Motion in Supreme Court ................................................................ 13 § 1.5.2 Motion in Court of Appeals ............................................................. 13 § 1.5.3 Responding to a Motion for Reconsideration ................................. 14 § 1.6 Certiorari Petitions ........................................................................................ 14 § 1.6.1 Petition for Certiorari to Georgia Supreme Court ........................... 14 § 1.6.1.1 Record ........................................................................... 14 § 1.6.1.2 Response ....................................................................... 15 § 1.6.1.3 Briefs ............................................................................. 15 § 1.6.2 Petition for Certiorari to United States Supreme Court .................. 15 § 1.7 Stay of Remittitur Pending Petition for Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court ............................................................................................... 15 - iii - CHAPTER TWO: JURISDICTION, AVAILABILITY, AND DISMISSALS OF APPEALS § 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 17 § 2.2 Right of Appeal Generally ............................................................................. 18 § 2.2.1 Appeals from Superior and State Courts Generally ........................ 18 § 2.2.2 Appeals from Magistrate, Probate, and Juvenile Courts Generally ............................................................................. 19 § 2.3 Jurisdiction of the Georgia Appellate Courts ................................................. 19 § 2.3.1 Jurisdiction of the Georgia Supreme Court ..................................... 19 § 2.3.2 Jurisdiction of the Georgia Court of Appeals .................................. 21 § 2.4 Appealability of Judgments and Orders ......................................................... 22 § 2.4.1 Direct Appeals Generally ................................................................ 22 § 2.4.2 Direct Appeals from Final Judgments ............................................. 23 § 2.4.3 Direct Appeals from Non-Final Orders and Judgments .................. 24 § 2.4.4 Motions for Summary Judgment ..................................................... 25 § 2.4.5 Final Orders Appealable Only by Application ................................ 26 § 2.4.6 Orders Requiring Interlocutory Application for Appeal ................. 29 § 2.4.7 Basis for Granting Interlocutory Appeal ......................................... 29 § 2.4.8 Orders Requiring Interlocutory Appeal ........................................... 30 § 2.5 Procedure for Filing Appeal ..........................................................................