Jimmy Michael Little, Jr. v. Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Services

Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________ August 17, 2026

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A27A0175. JIMMY MICHAEL LITTLE, JR. v. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES.

In February 2025, due to a child support arrearage, an administrative law judge affirmed a driver’s license suspension against Jimmy Little, Jr. Little filed a petition for judicial review to the superior court, and the superior court affirmed the administrative law judge’s decision. Little then appealed directly to this Court. We lack jurisdiction.

A party seeking to appeal a superior court order reviewing a decision of a state administrative agency must follow the discretionary appeal procedure. See OCGA § 5-6-35(a)(1), (b). See, e.g., Simmons v. Ga. Bureau of Investigation, 236 Ga. App. 59 (510 SE2d 618) (1999); Risner v. Ga. Dep’t of Labor, 168 Ga. App. 242 (308 SE2d 582) (1983). Similarly, appeals in domestic relations cases, including child support cases, must be brought in accordance with the discretionary appeal procedure. See OCGA § 5-6-35(a)(2); Fitzgerald v. Dep’t of Human Resources, 231 Ga. App. 129 (497 SE2d 659) (1998). In all cases, compliance with the discretionary appeal procedure is jurisdictional. Smoak v. Dep’t of Human Res., 221 Ga. App. 257, 257 (471 SE2d 60) (1996).

Little’s failure to follow the discretionary appeal procedure deprives us of jurisdiction over this appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 08/17/2026

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.