Atlanta, June 22, 2015 – The Supreme Court of Georgia this afternoon issued a temporary stay
of proceedings in the death penalty trial of Jamie Donnell Hood so it could consider a number of
issues raised by the State. Late Friday, the State filed an emergency motion asking the high court
to more permanently halt Hood’s trial in order to consider a full appeal. The State argues among
other things that the Athens-Clarke County trial court erred in ordering that jurors be picked in
Elbert County and transported to Athens due to pre-trial publicity.
Hood has been indicted for murder in connection with the 2011 shooting deaths of
Athens-Clarke County police officer Elmer “Buddy” Christian and Omari Wray. He also has
been indicted for aggravated assault upon a police officer with intent to murder involving the
shooting of Athens-Clarke County police officer Tony Howard, as well as additional crimes. The
State is seeking the death penalty.
The Georgia Supreme Court has not indicated when it will rule on the State’s motion and
either grant a more permanent stay to hear an appeal or lift the temporary stay.