Atlanta, October 12, 2023 – The Supreme Court of Georgia will hold its second day of October oral arguments at Pierce County High School in Blackshear, Ga., on Thursday, Oct. 26.

It is tradition for the Court to hold special sessions at various locations around the state for the purpose of making the Court’s business and the judicial process more accessible to the public. While this is not the first time the Court has planned a visit to South Georgia, it is the first time the Court has held oral arguments in the Waycross Judicial Circuit. The Waycross Judicial Circuit serves Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Coffee, Pierce, and Ware counties in southeast Georgia.

“My fellow Justices and I are looking forward to holding oral arguments in a part of Georgia that we have not before visited together as a Court, in particular a circuit that is very special to me,” said Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs, who grew up in Ware County and previously served as a Superior Court Judge in the Waycross Judicial Circuit. “On behalf of the Court, we also would like to extend our thanks to the Judges of the Waycross Judicial Circuit, members of the Waycross Bar Association, the Pierce County School District, and the high school administration and educators for hosting us.”

During this special session, the Court will hear appeals in two criminal cases—Palmer v. The State, S23A1091, and Gates v. The State, S23A1158. Oral arguments will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern, following a brief attorney admission ceremony. All nine of the Court’s Justices will be present. The Court’s October oral argument schedule includes a separate, preceding day of oral arguments in its courtroom inside the Nathan Deal Judicial Center in downtown Atlanta on Oct. 17.

The event will be live-streamed on the Court’s website at gasupreme.us.

Any media—print, digital, or broadcast—should submit a request form no later than Monday, Oct. 16th. Any media or public inquiries about the Court or its proceedings may be directed to Public Information Officer Kathleen Joyner at joynerk@gasupreme.us.

For additional resources, please visit https://www.gasupreme.us/remote-session/.