Shakka Shaneak James v. Gwinnett County State Court

• Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
• Decided: May 8, 2026
• Docket: A26D0470
• Status: Published

Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________ May 08, 2026

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A26D0470. SHAKKA SHANEAK JAMES v. GWINNETT COUNTY STATE COURT.

Shakka Shaneak James filed a complaint and an affidavit of indigence in Gwinnett County State Court, requesting to be relieved from paying fees and costs. After James failed to appear for a hearing, the trial court denied her request. James has now filed this timely application for discretionary appeal from the trial court’s order. Under OCGA § 9-15-2(d), a trial court’s denial of indigent status is directly appealable.1 This Court will grant a timely application for discretionary review if the lower court’s order is subject to direct appeal. OCGA § 5-6-35(j). Accordingly, this application is hereby GRANTED. James shall have ten days from the date of this order to file a notice of appeal in the trial court, if she has not already done so. OCGA § 5-6-35(g).

1 The scope of appellate review is limited. This Court will not review a trial court’s factual findings regarding indigence. In re Estate of Woodall, 374 Ga. App. 16, 21(2) (910 SE2d 830) (2024). We will, however, review “the procedure used by the trial court when making an indigence ruling[.]” Williams v. DeKalb County, 355 Ga. App. 106, 108 (842 SE2d 570) (2020);see also Roberson v. State, 300 Ga. 632, 635(III) (797 SE2d 104) (2017). The clerk of the Gwinnett County State Court is directed to include a copy of this order in the record transmitted to the Court of Appeals.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 05/08/2026 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.