Aleece Nicolette Wade v. State

Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________ July 17, 2026

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A26A2428. ALEECE NICOLETTE WADE v. THE STATE.

In February 2026, Aleece Nicolette Wade pleaded guilty to obstructing an emergency medical technician, for which she was sentenced as a first offender to five years, with the first three months to be served in confinement and the balance on probation. Wade then filed a pro se notice of appeal, seeking a direct appeal from her plea and sentence.1 We, however, lack jurisdiction.

Our General Assembly recently amended OCGA § 5-6-35 so that any direct appeal from a guilty plea entered on or after May 14, 2025, must “be initiated by filing an application for discretionary review.” Clark v. State, 378 Ga. App. 111, 111 n.1 (924 SE2d 346) (2025); see OCGA § 5-6-35(a)(5.3). Compliance with the discretionary appeals procedure is jurisdictional. Hester v. State, 378 Ga. App. 121, 121 (924 SE2d 457) (2025). Consequently, Wade’s failure to comply with the discretionary appeals procedure deprives us of jurisdiction over this appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 07/17/2026

I certify that the above is a true extract from the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Witness my signature and the seal of said court hereto affixed the day and year last above written.

, Clerk.

1 Two days after filing the notice of appeal, Wade filed a motion to withdraw her guilty plea in the superior court. The superior court has not ruled on that motion.