THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s /

Jul y 8, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 34 0 . AA-PROFESSIONAL BAIL BONDING v . DEAL.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e.

In t h i s m at t er, AA-Pro fes s i o n al Bai l Bo n di n g (“ AAPB”) ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g i t s m o t i on t o as id e t h e fo rfei t u re o f a b on d it i s s u ed o n b eh al f

o f An n e Ki s ud i l a fo l l o w i n g h er arres t fo r s h o p l i ft i n g

. Sp eci fi cal l y , A APB co n t en d s

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t hat Ki s u d i l a’ s en t ry i nt o a pret ri a l d i v e r s i o n

p ro g ram d i d n ot rel eas e i t fro m l i ab i l i ty on t he b o n d u n der a s t at u t e p ert ai n i n g t o t h at

i s su e. Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n f r a , we affi rm

.

At t h e o u t s et

, we n o t e t h at un d er OC G A § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ) (3 ), a m o ti o n m ay b e

b ro u gh t t o s et as i d e a ju d g m en t b as ed u p on , i n t er a l i a , a “ n o n am en d ab le d efect wh i ch

ap p ears up o n t h e face of t h e reco rd o r p l e a d i n g s

. ” An d a t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o nreg ard i n g a m o t i o n t o s et as i d e a ju d g m en t w i ll n ot b e rev ers ed ab sen t a “ s h o wi n g o f

m an i fes t ab u s e o f d is cret i on .” 1

Here, t h e u n d i sp u t ed reco rd s h o ws t h at o n F e b ru ary 11

, 2 0 11

, Ki s u d i l a was

arres t ed fo r sh op l i ft i n g

. T h at s am e d ay , s h e was rel eas ed o n b o n d aft er en t eri n g i n to

a b o n d a g r eem en t wi t h AAPB as t h e s u ret y

. Th en , o n Feb ru ary 2 3

, 2 0 1 1

, t h e

Gwi n n et t Co u n ty So li c i t o r (t h e “ St at e”) ch arg ed Ki s u d il a, v i a accu s at i o n , wi t h a

s i ng l e co u n t o f sh o p l i ft in g

. Ho wev er, o n Ap ri l 1 3

, 2 0 1 1

, K i s u d il a en t ered i n t o a

p r e t r i a l d i v ers i o n p ro g ram , t he t erm s o f wh i ch w ere s p eci fi cal l y p ro v i d ed fo r i n a

“ No t i ce o f Di v ers io n / Ab ey an ce” s i g n ed by t h e s o li ci t or, Ki s ud i l a, an d h er p ro b at i o n

o ffi cer, an d wh i ch was t h en fi l ed wi t h t h e cl erk o f co u rt

.

On M ay 2 5

, 2 0 1 1

, it was d et erm i n ed t h at Ki s ud i l a fai l ed t o c o m p l y wi t h t h e

t erm s req u i red b y t he p ret ri al d i v ers i o n pro g ram , an d t h erefo re, h er s h op l i ft i n g cas e

was p l aced b ack o n t h e co u rt ’ s Ju l y 2 0 1 1 arrai g n m en t cal en dar. W h en K i su d i l a fai l ed

t o ap p ear fo r arrai g n m en t o n J u l y 20

, 2 01 1

, t h e St at e fi l ed a m o t io n fo r a b en ch

warran t fo r h er arres t an d a fo rfe i t u r e o f h e r b o nd

, b o t h o f wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt

1 A.A. Pr o f ’l Ba i l v. S t a t e o

f Ga

. , 2 6 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2

, 4 2 (5 9 2 SE2 d 8 6 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2i m

m ed i at el y g ran t ed

. Su b s eq u en t l y, o n D ecem b er 1

, 2 0 11

, t h e t ri al co urt h el d an

ex ecu t i o n h eari ng , aft er w h ich i t en t ered ju dg m en t on t he b o nd fo rfei t u re fo r $ 1 ,3 5 7.

Th ereaft er, AAPB fi led a m o t i o n to s et as i d e t h e o rd er o f b o nd fo rfei t u re b as ed

u p o n a n o n am en d ab le d efect i n t h e reco rd

. Sp eci fi cal l y , AAPB a r g u e d t h a t i t was

r e l e a s ed fro m li ab i l i t y o n t he b o n d u n d er OCGA § 17 -6 -3 1 (d ) (1 ) (C), p ri o r t o t h e

o rd er of b on d fo rfei tu re, b ecau s e o f Ki s u di l a’ s en t ry i n t o t h e p r e t r i al d i v ers i o n

p ro g ram

. Th e t ri al co u rt h el d a h eari n g o n t h e i s s u e, b u t u lt i m at el y d en i ed AAPB’ s

m o ti o n

. AAPB t h en fi l ed an ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i scret i o n ary rev i ew, wh i ch we g ran t ed

.

Th i s ap p eal fo l l o ws

.

Al t h ou g h en u m erat ed as t h ree s ep arat e erro rs , AAPB es sen t i al l y co n t en d s t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ru l i n g t h at i t was n o t rel eas ed fro m l i ab i l i t y o n t h e b o n d u n d er

OCGA § 1 7 -6 -3 1 (d ) (1 ) (C). Sp eci fi cal l y , AAPB arg ues th at t h e co u rt erred in

i n t erp ret i n g t h e s t at u t e t o fi n d t h at Ki s u d i l a’ s v o l u n t ary en t ran ce in t o t h e p ret ri al

d i v ers i o n p ro g ram di d n o t co n s t i t u t e en t ran ce in t o a co u r t o r d er ed p ret ri al d i v ers i o n

p ro g ram . W e d i s ag ree.

In in t erp ret in g an y st at ut e, we n eces s ari ly beg i n o u r an al y s i s wi t h fam i l i ar an d

b i n d i n g can o n s o f co n s tru ct i o n

. An d i n co n s i d eri n g t h e m ean i n g o f a s t at u t e , o u r

ch arg e as an ap p el l at e co u rt i s t o “ p res u m e t h at t h e Gen eral A s s em b ly m ean t wh at i t

3s ai d an d s ai d w h a t i t m e an t .” 2 Th u s , we m u s t affo rd t h e s t at u to ry t ex t i t s p l ai n an d

o rd i n ary m ean i n g , 3 co n si d er t h e t ex t co n t ex t u al l y , 4 read th e t ex t “ i n i t s m o st n at u ral

an d reas on ab l e way , as an o rd i n ary sp eak er o f t he En g l i s h l an g u ag e wo u l d ,” 5 an d

s eek t o “ av o i d a co n s t r u c t i o n t h at m ak es s om e l an g u ag e m ere s u rp l u s ag e.” 6

2 Dea l v. Co lema n , 2 9 4 Ga. 1 7 0

, 1 7 2 (1 ) (a) (7 5 1 SE2 d 33 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); s ee Ma r t i n ez v. S ta t e , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 7

, 2 7 3 (2 ) (7 5 0 SE2 d

5 0 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (s am e).

3 S ee Dea l , 2 94 Ga. at 1 7 2 (1 ) (a) (“ T o th at en d

, we m u st affo rd t h e st at u t o ry

t e x t i t s p l ai n an d o rd i n ary m ean i n g .” (p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); S t a t e v. Ab le

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 2, 6 3 6 (7 4 2 SE2 d 14 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ A ju d g e i s ch arg ed wi t h i n t erp ret i n g t h e l aw i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h e o ri g in al an d / o r p l ai n m ean i n g of t h e t ex t at i ss u e (an d al l t h at

t h e t ex t fai rl y i m

pl i es ).

. . .”); A N T O N I N S C A LI A & B R Y A N A. G A R N E R
, R E A D I N G L A W :
T H E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N O F L E G A L T E X T S 1 6 (1 s t ed

. 2 0 1 2 ) (“ Tex t u al i s m , i n i t s p u res t
fo rm , b eg i n s an d en d s wi th wh at t h e t ex t s ay s an d fai rl y i m p l i es .”).

4 See Ar i z o n a v. In t er Tr i b a l Co u n ci l o f Ar i z o n a

, I n c

. ,

_ _ _ U.S.

_ _ _, (II) (B) (1 3 3 SCt

. 2 2 4 7 1 8 6 LE2 d 2 39 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ W o rd s t h at can hav e m o re t h an on e m ean i n g

are g ive n c onte nt, h o wev er, b y t h ei r s u rro u n d in g s

. ” (p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed )); Dea l

, 2 9 4

Ga. at 17 2 (1 ) (a) (“ [W ] e m u s t v i ew t h e st a t u t o r y t ex t i n t h e co n tex t i n wh i ch i t

ap p ears [.] ”); s ee a l

s o O C GA § 1-3 -1 (b ) (“ In al l in t erp ret at i o ns o f s t at u t es , t h e

o rd i n ary s i gn i fi cat i o n sh al l b e ap p l i ed t o al l wo rd s

. . . .”); S C A LI A & G A R N E R
, s u pr a 1 6 7 (“ Co n t ex t i s a p ri m ary d et erm i n an t o f m ean i n g

. ”).

5 Dea l , 2 9 4 Ga. at 1 7 2 -7 3 (1 ) (a); a cco r d Ma r ti n ez , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . at 2 7 3

.

6 In t h e In t er es t of L. T.

, 32 5 Ga. A p p

. 5 9 0

, 5 9 2 (7 5 4 SE2 d 3 8 0) (2 0 1 4 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); acco r d Ho l co m b v. Lo n g , 3 2 9 Ga. A p p

. 5 1 5

, 5 18 (1 ) (7 6 5

SE2 d 6 8 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ); s ee a l s o S C A LI A & G A R N E R
, s up r a 1 74 (“ Th e s u rp l u s ag e can o n h o l d s t h at i t is n o m o re t h e co u rt ’ s fu n ct i o n to rev i s e b y s u b t ract i on t h an by

ad d it i o n .”).

4Im

p o rt an t l y , w h e n t he l an g uag e o f a s t at u t e is p l ai n an d s u scep t i b le o f on l y o n e

n at u ral an d reas on ab l e co n s t ru ct i o n, co u rt s m u s t “ co n st ru e t h e s t at ut e acco rd i n g l y

. ” 7

Be a ri n g t h e fo reg o i n g p ri n ci p l es in m in d

, OCGA § 1 7 -6 -3 1 (d ) (1 ) (C) p ro v i d es

t h at a “ s u ret y s h al l b e rel eas ed fro m l i ab i l i t y i f, p ri o r t o en t ry o f ju dg m en t

, t h ere i s

.

. . [a] co u r t o rd

er ed pret ri al i n terv en t i o n p ro g ram

. . . .” 8 Bu t h e r e , K is u d il a’ s en t ry

i n t o th e p ret ri al d iv ers i o n p ro g ram 9 was bas ed u p o n an ag reem en t w i t h t h e St at e’ s

s o l i ci t o r rat h er t han as t h e res u l t o f an ex p l i ci t co u rt o rd er. In fact

, t h e t ri al co u rt was

n o t i n v o l v ed i n an y part of t h e St at e’ s d eci s io n to en t er Ki s u d i l a i n t o t h e p ro gram ; i t s

s i gn at u re ap pears n o w h ere on t h e “ No ti ce o f Di v ers i o n / Ab ey an ce” fo rm , w h i ch b o th

Ki s u di l a a n d t h e St at e’ s s o l i ci t o r s i gn ed ; an d t h e co u rt d i d n o t m o n i t o r Ki s u d i l a’ s

co m p l ian ce— or l ack t h ereo f— wi t h t he t erm s o f t h e p ro g ram

.

7 Lu a n g kh o t v. S ta t e , 2 9 2 Ga. 4 2 3

, 4 2 4 (1 ) (7 3 6 SE2 d 3 9 7) (2 0 1 3 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a c c o r d C

h a s e v. S t a t e , 2 8 5 Ga. 6 93

, 6 9 5 (2 ) (6 8 1 SE2 d 1 1 6 ) (2 0 0 9 );

Ho l lo wel l

v. Jo ve , 2 4 7 Ga. 6 7 8 , 6 8 1 (2 7 9 SE2 d 4 3 0 ) (1 9 8 1).

8 (Em p h as i s s u p pl i ed ).

9 W h i l e OCGA § 1 7 -6 -3 1 (d ) (1 ) (C) re f eren ces a p ret ri al “ in t erv en t i o n ”

p ro g ram , t he So l i ci to r’ s Offi ce o f Gwi n n et t Co u n t y refers t o t h i s ty p e o f pro g ram as

“ Di v ers i o n / Ab ey an ce.” Fo r t h e s ak e o f si m p l i ci t y , we wi l l ch aract eri ze t h i s p ro g ram

as a p ret ri al di v ers i o n p ro gram t h ro u g ho u t t h e op i n i o n , ex cep t wh en we are d i rect l y

q u o t i n g t h e s t at ut ory

l an g u ag e.

5Nev ert h el es s , A APB co n t en d s t h at t h e p ret ri al d iv ers io n p ro g ram at i s s u e h ere

was , es s en t i al l y , co u rt ord ered

. Sp eci fi cal l y , AAPB p o si t s t hat becau s e an accu s at i o n

fo rm al l y ch arg i n g Ki s u d i l a w as fi l ed

, t h e cas e was co m p l et el y wi t h i n t he j u ri s d i ct i o n

o f t h e t ri al co u rt , an d co n s eq u en t l y , an y ag reem en t b et w een Ki s u d il a an d t h e St at e,

i n c l u d i n g an ag reem en t fo r t h e en t ry of no l l e p r o s eq u i

, req u ired co u rt ap p ro v al

. 1 0

Th u s, AAPB reas o n s t h at becau s e d i s m i s s al o f t h e cas e i n t h i s i n s tan ce req u ired co u rt

ap p ro v al

, t h e N o t i ce o f D iv ers i o n / Ab ey an ce— wh i ch p ro v i d es t h at t he ch arg es wi l l

b e d i s mi s s ed i f t he d efen d an t co m p l i es w i t h t h e St at e’ s t erm s fo r t h e p ro g ram

— was ,

at l eas t i m

p l i ci t l y , s i m i l arl y

co u rt -s an ct io n ed

.

W e d o n o t fi n d AAPB’ s arg u m en t p ers u as i v e. W h i l e i t i s cert ai n l y t ru e t h at an

en t ry o f n o l l e pr o s eq u i m u s t be ap pro v ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, 1 1 as a pract ical m at t er, i f

t h e St at e ch o o s es t o no l o n g er p ro s ecu t e a d efen dan t , t h e cas e wi l l m o re t h an l i k el y

u l t i m at el y b e d i s m i s s ed

. Th u s , co n t rary t o AAPB’ s arg u m en t

, t h e l an g u ag e u s ed in

t h e No t i ce o f D i vers i o n / Ab ey an ce d o es n o t n eces s ari l y wri t e a ch eck t h at can o n l y b e

1 0 S ee S t a t e v. H

a ns o n , 2 4 9 Ga. 7 3 9

, 7 4 4 (2 ) (2 9 5 SE2 d 2 9 7 ) (1 9 8 2 ) (n o t i n g

t h at t h e p ro s ecu t o r, as p art o f t h e au t h o ri ty o f t h e o ffi ce, h as t h e s ol e di s cret i o n to
d i s m i s s cas es p ri o r t o in d i ct m en t b u t t h at t he p ro s ecu t o r m u st o b t ai n co urt ap p ro v al

fo r t h e en t ry

o f a n o l l e p ro s eq ui ).

1 1 S ee i d

.

6cas h ed wi t h t h e t ri al co urt ’ s e n d o rs em en t

. Mo reo v er, AAPB’ s read in g o f t h e t erm

“ co u rt o rd ered ” as em

b raci n g m ere co urt ap p ro v al o f act i o ns i n i t iat ed wh ol l y b y t h e

St at e i s far t o o ex p an si v e. In d eed

, s u ch a read i n g d o es a d is serv i ce t o t h e u n eq u i v o cal

t erm “ o rd er,” wh i ch i m

p l i es a d i rect n es s l ack i ng i n t h e t erm “ ap p ro v e.” 1 2 In an y ev en t

,

g i v en t h e co urt ’ s co m

p l et e l ack o f in v o l v em en t i n t h is p ret ri al d i v ers i o n p ro g ram an d

t h e cl ear an d un am

b i gu o u s t ex t o f OCGA § 1 7 -6 -3 1 (d ) (1 ) (C), i n d i cat in g t h at d i r ect

i n v o l v em en t b y t h e co u rt i s req u i red i n o rd er t o rel eas e a s u ret y fro m l i a b i l i t y f o r a

p ri n ci p al en t eri n g i n t o s u ch a p ro g ram , w e fi n d th at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s in t erp ret at i o n o f

1 2 S ee Th e Co m

p act O x fo rd En g l i sh Di ct i o n ary 1 22 3 (2 d ed . 1 9 9 1 ) (d efi n i n g

“ o rd er” as , i n t er a li a , t o g iv e o rd er, t o co m m an d

, au t h ori t at iv el y d i rect

. . . .”); i d

. at
6 6 (d efi n i n g “ ap p ro v e” as

, i n t er a l ia , t o m ak e g o o d

, as s en t t o as g o o d . . . .”).

7t h e s t at ut e i s c o r r e c t 1 3 an d it s d en i al o f AAPB’ s m o t i o n t o s et as i d e d i d n o t am o u nt

t o a m an i fes t ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. 1 4

2

. In s o m ewh at of an al tern at i v e arg u m en t

, A APB co n ten d s t hat t h e Gen eral

As s em b l y i m p l i ci t l y ex ci s ed t h e req u i rem en t t hat a p ret ri al d i v ers i o n pro g ram b e

co u rt o rd ered b efo re a s u ret y can b e rel i ev ed o f l i ab i l i t y u n der OCGA § 17 -6 -3 1 (d )

1 3 S ee Ab d u l ka d i r v. S t a t e , 2 79 Ga. 1 2 2

, 1 2 3 (2 ) (6 1 0 SE2 d 5 0 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (n o t i n g

t h at wh en “ t h e l an g u ag e o f a st at u t e i s p l ai n an d u n am b i g u o u s , ju di ci al co ns t ru ct i o n i s n o t o n l y u n n eces s ary b ut fo rb i d d en ” (p u nct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ))

s u p er s ed ed b y s t a t u t e o n o t h er g r o u n d s a s s t a t ed i n Ki r a t v. S t a t e , 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 0,

6 5 3 (1 ) (6 4 9 SE2 d 78 6 ) (2 0 0 7 ); Tel eco m US A, In c. v. Co l l i n s , 2 6 0 Ga. 3 6 2, 3 6 3 (1 ) (3 9 3 SE2 d 2 3 5 ) (1 9 90 ) (n o ti ng t h at t h e “ go l d en ru l e” o f st at u t o ry co ns t ru ct i o n

req u i res an ap p el l at e co u rt t o f o l l o w th e l i t eral l an g uag e o f t h e s t at ut e u n l es s i t

“ p ro d u ces co n t rad i ct i o n , a b s urd i t y o r s uch an i n co nv en i en ce as t o in su re t h at t h e l eg i s lat u re m ean t s o m et h i n g el s e” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); Fi d el i t y a nd Dep o s i t Co

.

o f Md

. v. La Fa r

g e Bl d g

. Ma t er i a l

s

, In c. , 3 1 2 Ga. A p p

. 8 2 1

, 8 2 3 (7 2 0 SE2 d 2 8 8 ) ( 2 011) ( r eco g n i zi n g t h at t h e fu n d am en t al p ri n ci p l e o f s t at u t o ry co n s t ru ct i o n “ req u i re s

u s t o fo l l o w t he l i t eral l an g u ag e o f t h e s tat u t e u n l es s it pro d u ces co n t rad i ct i o n, ab s u rd i t y o r s u ch an i n co n v en ien ce as t o i n s ure t h at t h e l eg i s l at u re m ean t s o m et h i n g el s e” (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed )).

1 4 S ee Dea l

, 2 9 4 Ga. at 1 7 3 (1 ) (a) (“ [I] f t h e s t a t u t o ry t ex t i s cl ear an d

u n am b i g u o u s , we at t ri bu te to t h e s t at u te it s pl ai n m ea n i n g , a n d o u r s earch fo r

s t at u to ry m ean i ng i s at an en d

. ” (p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed )); cf

. Ro s en b er

g Ba i l s Bo nd s

v. Or an g e Co un t

y , 6 6 3 S O 2 d 1 3 8 9

, 1 3 8 9-9 0 (Fl a. 5 t h DCA 1 9 9 5 (h o l d i n g t h at

s u ret y ’ s o b l i g at i o n was rel i ev ed u p o n d efen d an t ’ s ad m i s si o n t o a p ret ri al in t erv en t i o n

p ro g ram n o t ord ered by a co u rt p u rs u an t t o Fl a. St at . § 9 0 3 .3 1 , wh i ch p ro v i d ed t h at

“ [t ] h e o ri g in al ap pearan ce b on d s h al l n o t b e co n s t ru ed t o g u aran t ee

. . . co n d u ct
d u ri n g o r ap p earan ce aft er ad m i s s i o n t o a p ret ri al i n t erv en t i o n p ro g ram . . . .”).

8wh en i t s u b s eq u en tl y en act ed OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -8 0

, wh i ch au t h o r i zes t he St at e’ s

p ro s ecu to rs t o creat e s u ch p ro g ram s. On ce ag ai n , we d i sag ree.

Un d er OCGA § 1 5-1 8 -8 0 (a),

[t ] h e p ro s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey s fo r each ju di ci al ci rcu i t o f th i s s t at e sh al l be

au t h ori zed t o creat e an d ad m i n i s t er a Pret ri al In t erv en t i o n an d Di v ers i o n

Pro g ra m

. T h e p ro secu t in g at t o rn ey fo r s t at e co u rt s, pro b at e co u rt s ,

m ag i s t rat e co u rt s, m

u n i ci p al co u rt s, an d an y o t h er co u rt t h at h ears cas es

i n v o l v i n g a v io lat i o n o f t h e cri m i n al l aws o f t h i s st at e o r o rd i n a n c e

v i o l a t i o ns s h al l al s o b e au t h o ri zed to creat e an d ad m i ni s t er a Pret ri al

In t erv en t i on an d D i v ers i o n Pro g ram fo r o ffen s es wi t h i n t he j u ri s d i ct i o n

o f s u ch co u rt s

.

Ex p lai n in g t h e m ean in g o f t h e s t at u t e, s u b s ect i o n (b ) pro v i d es t h at “ [i ] t s h al l b e t h e

p u rp os e o f s u ch a p ro g ram t o p ro v i d e an al t ern at i v e t o p ro s ecu t i n g o ffen d ers i n t h e

cri m i n al ju s t i ce s y s t em .” 1 5 Ad d i t i o n al l y , s u bs ect i o n (c) d i rect s t h at “ [e] n t ry i n t o t h e

p r o g ram s h al l b e at t h e d i s cret i o n of t h e p ro secu t i ng at t o rn ey b as ed u p o n wri t t e n

g u i d el i n es .” 1 6

Read i n g OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -8 0 i n co n ju n ct i o n wi t h OCGA § 1 7 -6 -3 1 (d ), AAPB

arg u es t h at t h e fo rm er’ s g ran t o f au t h o ri t y t o cre a t e p ret ri al d i v ers i o n p ro g ram s to

1 5 S ee OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -8 0 (b ).

1 6 S ee OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -8 0 (c).

9p ro s ecu to rs d i s p en s ed wi t h t h e p ro s ecu t ors ’ n eed t o s e e k co u rt ord ers fo r s u ch

p ro g ram s

. Co n seq u en t l y , AAPB as s ert s t h at t h e req ui rem en t i n OCGA § 17 -6 -3 1 (d )

( 1 ) ( C ) t hat o n l y co u rt -o rd ered p ret ri al d iv ers i on p ro g ram s can rel i ev e a su ret y o f

l i ab i l i t y is , at b es t , v es ti g i al . Bu t ag ai n , we are n o t p ers u ad ed

.

AAPB i s co rrect t h at s t at u t es i n p a r i m a t er i a

— i .e. , s t at u t es rel at i n g t o t h e s am e

s u b ject m at t er— m

u s t b e co n s t ru ed t o g et h er. 1 7 H o wev er, wh i l e t h ere i s s l i g h t o v erl ap

b et ween t h e fo cu s o f OCGA § 15 -1 8 -8 0 an d t h i s o n e sm al l as p ect o f OCGA § 1 7 -6

-

3 1 (d ) (1 ) (C), t h e as s ert i on t h at t h e t wo s t at u t es rel at e t o t h e s am e s u bject m at t er s u ch

t h at t h e fo rm er s t at u t e i m p l i ci t l y am en ded t h e l at t er o n e s trai n s cred u l i t y

. In d eed

,

AAPB’ s arg um en t is bel i ed b y t h e fact t h at co u rt -o rd ered p ret ri al d i vers i o n p ro g ram s

s t il l cu rren t l y ex i st (ev en i f rare), d es p i t e t h e p as s ag e o f OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -8 0

. An d

i m p o r t a n t l y , OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -8 0 co n t ai n s n o l an g u ag e ex p l i ci t l y el im i n at i n g s u ch

p ro g ram s

.

M o re accu rat el y ch aract eri zed

, AAPB arg u es t h at t h e co urt -o rd ered p r et ri al

d i v ers i o n req u i rem en t fo r rel i ev i n g a su ret y o f li a b i l i t y in OCGA § 1 7 -6 -3 1 (d ) (1 )

(C) co n f l i ct s wi t h t h e au t h o r i t y i n OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -8 0 t h at al lo ws p ro s ecu t o rs to

1 7 See U.S

. Ba n k Na t. As s ’n v. Go r d on , 2 8 9 Ga. 12

, 1 5 (4 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 2 5 8 ) (2 0 1 1) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Tew v. S t a t e , 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 7, 13 0 (7 3 9 SE2 d

4 2 3 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

10b y

p as s s u ch o rd ers , an d t h at we s ho u l d res o l ve t h i s co n fl i ct b y read i n g “ co u rt

o rd ered ” o u t o f OCGA § 1 7 -6 -3 1 (d ). Bu t as d i s cu s s ed in D i v i s i o n 1

, s u p r a , t h i s

Co u rt i s n o t at li b ert y t o cas u al ly co n s t ru e s t at u to ry l an gu ag e as “ m ere s u rp l u s ag e.” 1 8

Th u s, ev en i f we were in cl i n ed t o ag ree t h at t h e st at ut es co n fl i ct ed

, t h e res o l u t i o n o f

an y t en s i o n b et ween th e t wo s t at u t es is a m at t e r f o r o u r Gen eral As s em

b l y to

ad d res s

. 1 9 An d wh i l e AAPB m ay h av e s ou n d p o l i cy arg u m en t s in fav o r o f al l o wi n g

a s u ret y t o b e rel i ev ed o f l i ab i li t y wh en a d efen d an t en t ers i n t o a n y t yp e o f p ret ri al

d i v ers i o n p ro g ram , i t is em p h at i cal l y t he p r o v i n ce an d du t y o f t h e ju d i ci ary t o s ay

wh at t h e l aw i s , n o t wh at ju d g es o r p art i es b el i ev e i t s ho u l d b e. 2 0

Acco rd i ng l y , fo r al l o f t h e fo reg o i ng reas o ns , t h e t ri al co u rt d id n ot m an i fes t l y

ab u se i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g AAPB’ s m o t i o n t o s et as i d e t h e b on d fo rfei t u re.

1 8 S ee In t he In t er es t

o f L. T.

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . at 5 9 2

.

1 9 S ee La yma n v. S t a te

, 2 8 0 Ga. 7 9 4

, 7 9 5 (6 31 SE2 d 1 0 7) (2 00 6 ).

2 0 S ee g en er a l l

y Ma r bu r y v. Ma d i s o n , 5 U.S. 1 3 7

, 1 77 (2 LEd 6 0 ) (1 8 0 3 ) (“ It

i s em p h at i cal l y t h e p ro v i n ce an d d u t y o f t h e ju d i ci al dep art m en t t o s ay wh at t h e l aw i s

. ”); F i nn ey v. D ep ’t o

f Co rr

. , 2 6 3 G a. 3 0 1, 3 0 2 (1 ) (4 3 4 SE2 d 4 5 ) (1 99 3 ) ( n o t i n g

t h at t h e pu rp o s e o f th e ju d i ci ary i s n o t t o s ay wh at t h e l aw ou g ht t o p ro v id e, an d t h at
i t s au t h ori t y ex t en d s on l y to i n t erp ret i n g th e l aw as i t was en act ed b y t he l eg i s l at u re);

Ab l e , 3 2 1 Ga. A p p. at 63 6 (“ A ju d g e i s ch arg ed w i th i n t erp ret i n g t he l aw in

acco rd an ce wi t h t he o ri g i n al an d / o r p l ai n m ean i n g o f t h e t ex t at i s s ue (an d al l t h at t h e

t ex t fai rl y i m p li es ). . . .”).

11Ju d

g men t a f f i r med

. McFa d

d en

, J., co n cu r s a n d El l i n g t on

, P. J., co n cu r s in

j u d g men t o n l y.

12