Christopher Scott v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
• Decided: October 29, 2025
• Docket: A26A0674
• Status: Published

Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________ October 29, 2025

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A26A0674. CHRISTOPHER SCOTT v. THE STATE.

In 2022, a jury found Christopher Scott guilty of malice murder and other offenses, and the trial court imposed a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole on the malice murder conviction. Scott has appealed to this Court from the denial of his motion for a new trial. We lack jurisdiction. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over “[a]ll cases in which a sentence of death was imposed or could be imposed.” Ga. Const. of 1983, Art. VI, Sec. VI, Par. III(8). Because a penalty of death may be imposed for the crime of malice murder, jurisdiction is proper in the Supreme Court. See OCGA § 16-5-1(a), (e)(1). See also Hart v. State, 322 Ga. 1, 10–11 (1) (917 SE2d 631) (2025) (even in murder cases in which the death penalty was not sought, the Supreme Court has opted to exercise its jurisdiction to review all such cases). Accordingly, this case is hereby TRANSFERRED to the Supreme Court for disposition.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 10/29/2025 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.