THI RD DI VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, GOBEI L and HODGES, 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 l s .us /r ule s

June 20, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A0 69 8 . THE STATE v . BRIENZA.

A1 9 A0 69 9 . BRIENZA v . THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , Ch i ef J u d g e.

In Cas e No

. A1 9 A 0 69 8

, t h e St at e ap p eal s fro m t h e St at e Co u rt o f Fay et t e

Co u n t y ’ s g ran t o f Ty l er Bri en za’ s m o ti o n t o ex cl ud e th e u s e o f cert ai n p o rt i o n s o f a

v i d eo reco rd ed d u ri n g h i s en co u n t er wi t h p ol i ce, wh i ch l ed t o ch arg es o f o bs t ru ct i o n

o f ju s t ice. Th e St at e arg u es th e t ri al co u rt erred i n s u p p res s i ng t h e rel ev an t po rt i o n o f

t h e reco rd i n g a f

t e r c o n cl u d i n g t hat

, at t h e po i n t it was m ad e, o ffi cers l ack ed

reas on ab l e, art i cu lab l e s u s p i ci o n t o co n t i n u e det ai n i n g Bri en za. Th i s i s t h e s eco n d

t i m e t h is ap p e al h as b een d o ck et ed w i t h th i s Co urt

, an d i n Cas e No

. A1 9 A0 6 9 9,

Bri en za ch al l en ges t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fai l u re t o d i s m i s s t h e St at e’ s ap p eal fo r t h e

reas on s t h at res u l t e d i n o u r pri o r rem an d

— i .e.

, t he fai l u re t o t ran s m i t a co m p l et et ran s cri p t

. Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n f r a

, we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n i n Cas e

No . A1 9 A0 6 9 9 an d d i s m i s s t he St at e’ s ap p eal i n Cas e No . A1 9 A0 6 9 8.

1

. Ca s e Nu mb er A1 9

A 0 6 9 9

. Befo re reach i n g t h e m eri t s o f t h e St at e’ s ap p eal

i n Cas e No

. A1 9 A0 6 9 8, we m u s t fi rs t ad d res s wh et h er t h at ap peal i s p ro p erl y b efo re

u s

.

B r i e n za was ch arg ed b y accu s at i o n wi t h o b st ru ct io n o f a law-en fo rcem e n t

o ffi cer 1 an d d i so rd erl y co n d u ct

. 2 He s u b seq u en t l y fi l ed a “ m o t i o n i n l i m i n e,” s eek i n g

t o ex cl u d e “ al l t es t i m o n y fro m an y an d al l s t a t e w i t n e s s es t h at res u l t ed fro m t h e

p ro l o n g ed d et en t i o n an d i n v es t i g at i o n

. . . wi t h ou t reas o n ab l e art i cu l ab l e s u s p i ci o n.”

Fo l l o wi ng a h eari n g , t h e t ri al co u rt g ran ted t h i s m o t i o n i n a s u m m ary o rd er.

Th e reco rd i n Cas e No

. A 1 9 A0 69 8 s h o ws th at aft er t h e St at e i n i t i al l y fi l ed i t s

n o t i ce o f ap p eal t o th e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f Bri en za’ s m o t i o n in Ap ri l 2 0 1 7

, Bri en za

m o ved t h ree m o nt h s l at er, i n Ju l y 2 0 1 7

, t o d is m i ss t he St at e’ s ap p eal d u e t o a fai l u re

t o ti m el y req u es t p ro d u ct i o n o f t h e t ran s cri p t

. Bu t b y t h e t i m e th e m o t i o n cam e b efo re

t h e t r i a l c o u r t fo r arg um en t at a s ch ed u l ed heari n g

, t h e ap p eal h ad al read y b een

t ran s m i t t ed t o an d do ck et ed in t h i s Co u rt as Cas e Nu m b er A1 8A0 2 1 3

. Acco rd i n g l y

,

1 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -1 0 -2 4 (a).

2 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -3 9

.

2Bri en za co n ced ed t h at t h e t ri al co u rt n o l o ng er ret ai n ed ju ri s d i ct i o n t o co n s i d e r h i s

m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s , an d i t was t h en d en i ed as m o o t

.

Nev ert h el es s

, aft er t h e cas e w a s d o ck et ed wi t h t h i s Co u rt

, t h e St at e fi l ed a

m o t i o n t o rem an d t h e cas e b ecau s e t h e reco rd h ad b een “ m i s t ak en l y fo rward ed

. . .

wi t h o u t t he en t i re t ran scri p t .” Bri en za o b j ect ed to t h e St at e’ s req u es t b ecau se i t fai l ed

t o s eek an ex t en s i o n o f t h e 3 0-d ay p eri o d wi t h i n wh i ch to fi l e t h e t ran s cri pt an d h ad

al read y cau s ed an u n r eas o n ab l e d el ay o f th e p ro ceed i ng s

, 3 an d

, t h en m o v ed fo r

d i s m i s s al o f t h e St at e’ s ap p eal o n t h o s e g ro u n d s

. 4

3 S ee OCGA § 5 -6 -3 9 (a) (3 ) (“ An y ju d g e o f t h e t ri al co u rt o r a n y j u s t i ce o r

ju d g e o f t h e ap p el l at e co u rt t o wh i ch t h e ap p eal i s t o b e tak en m ay

, i n h i s d i s cret i o n,

an d wi t h o u t m o t io n o r no t i ce t o t h e o t h er p art y

, gran t ex ten s i o n s o f t i m e fo r th e fi l i n g

o f[ ]

. . . [t ] ran s cri p t o f t h e ev i d en ce an d p ro ceed in g s o n ap p eal o r i n an y o t h er

i n s t an ce w h ere fi l in g o f t h e t ran s cri p t i s req u i red o r p erm i t t ed b y l aw[.] ”); OCGA §

5 -6 -4 2 (“ Th e p art y h av i n g th e res p o ns i b i l it y o f fi l i n g t he t ran scri p t s hal l cau s e i t t o

b e fi l ed wi t h in 3 0 d ay s aft er fi l in g o f t h e n o t i ce o f ap peal o r d es i g n at i o n by ap p el l ee,

as t h e cas e m ay b e, u n l es s t h e t i m e i s ex t en d ed as p ro v i d ed in Co d e Sect i o n 5 -6 -3 9.

In al l cas es

, it sh al l b e t h e d u ty o f t h e t ri al ju dg e t o g ran t s u ch ex t en s i o n s o f t i m e as

m ay b e n eces s ary t o en ab l e t h e co u rt rep o rt er t o co m p l et e h i s t ran s cri p t o f ev i d en ce

an d p ro ceed in g s .”).

4 S ee OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c) (“ [T] h e t ri al co u rt m ay

, aft er n o t i ce an d o p p o rt u n i t y

fo r h eari ng

, ord er t h at t h e ap p eal b e di s m i s s ed w h ere t h ere h as b een an u n reas o n ab l e

d el ay i n t h e fi l i n g o f t h e t ran s cri p t an d i t i s s h o wn t h at t h e d el ay was i n ex cu s ab l e an d

w a s c a u s e d b y s uch p art y

. In l i k e m an n er, t h e t ri al co u rt m ay ord er t h e ap p e a l

d i s m i s s ed w h ere t h ere h as b een an u n reas o n ab l e d el ay in t h e t ran s m is si o n o f t h e

reco rd to t h e ap p el l at e co u rt

, an d i t i s s een t h at t h e del ay was i n ex cu s ab l e an d was

c au s ed b y th e fai l u re o f a p art y t o p ay co s t s i n t h e tri al co u rt o r fi l e an affi d av i t o f

3In res p o ns e, t h is Co u rt d en i ed Bri en za’ s m o t i o n b ecau s e w e l ack t h e au t h o ri t y

t o di s m i s s an ap p eal o n t h e b as i s o f a d el ay ed fi l i n g o f a t ran s cri p t

, 5 an d i n d o i n g s o

ci t ed Co urt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 0 , wh i ch p ro v id es t h at

Ap p el l ee s h al l b e d eem ed t o h av e wai v ed an y fai l u re of t he ap p el l an t t o

co m p ly wi th t h e p ro v is i on s o f t h e A p p el lat e Pract i ce A ct rel at i n g t o th e

fi li n g o f t h e t ran scri p t of t h e ev i d en ce an d p ro ceed i n g s or t ran s m i t t al o f

t h e reco rd to t h i s Co u r t

, u nl es s o b ject i o n t h eret o was m ad e an d ru led

u p o n i n t h e t r i a l co u rt b efo re t ran s m i t t al an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er i s

ap p eal ed as p ro v id ed b y

l aw.

W e di d

, h o wev er, g ran t th e St at e’ s m o t i o n t o rem an d t h e cas e fo r co m p l et i o n o f t h e

en t i re reco rd

.

Up o n ret urn o f t he cas e t o t he t ri al co u rt

, Bri en z a i m med i a t el y m o v ed to

d i s m i s s t h e St at e’s ap p eal

, fi li n g t h e s am e m o t i o n as befo re. Th e co u rt co n d u ct ed a

h eari n g

, 6 an d t hen d en i ed t h e m o t i o n

, fi n d i n g t h at t he fact s d id n o t warran t d is m i s s al

.

i n d i g en ce[.] ”).

5 S ee i d. (“ No ap p eal s h al l b e d i s m i s s ed by t h e ap p el l at e co u rt no r co n s i d erat i o n

o f an y erro r th erei n refu s ed b ecau s e o f fai lu re o f an y p art y t o cau s e t h e tran s cri p t o f

ev i d en ce an d p ro ceed i n g s t o be fi l ed w i t hi n t h e ti m e al l ow e d b y l a w o r o rd er o f

co u rt [.] ”).

6 Bri en za d id n o t i n cl ud e a t ran scri p t of t h i s J an u ary 2 0 1 8 h eari n g wi t h h i s

cro s s -ap p eal

.

4It i s t h i s deci s i on Bri en za cro s s-ap p eal s

, arg u i n g t h at t h e St at e’ s ap p eal s h ou l d h av e

b een di s m is s ed u po n r e m a n d d u e t o it s fai lu re t o t im el y o rd er an d fi le a co m p l et e

t ran s cri p t p ri o r t o t h e d i rect ap p eal ’ s fi rs t ap p earan ce b efo re t h i s Co u rt

. W e ag ree.

OCGA § 5 -6 -4 2 p ro v i d es t h at w h e n “ t h ere i s a t ran s cri p t o f ev id en ce an d

p ro ceed in g s t o b e i n cl u ded i n t h e r e c o r d o n ap p eal

, t h e ap p el l an t s h al l cau s e t h e

t ran s cri p t t o b e p rep ared an d fi l ed

. . . wi t h i n 3 0 d ay s a f t e r fi l i ng o f t he n o t i ce o f

ap p eal

. . . . ” An d t h e t ri al co u rt “ m ay

, aft er n o t i ce an d o p po rt u ni t y fo r h eari n g

, o rd er

t h at t he ap p eal b e d i sm i s s ed [wh en ] t h ere has b een an u nreas o n ab l e d el ay i n t h e fi l i n g

o f t h e t ran s cri pt an d i t i s sh o w n t h a t t h e d el ay w as i n ex cu s ab l e an d was cau s ed by

s u ch p art y

. ” 7 It i s wel l -es tab l i s hed t h at a d el ay o f m o re t h an 3 0 d ay s i s “ p ri m a faci e

u n reas o nab l e an d i n ex cu s ab l e, b u t t h i s p res u m pt i o n i s s u b

ject t o reb u t t al i f t h e p art y

co m es fo rward wi t h ev i den ce to s h o w t hat t h e d e l ay w as nei t h er u n reas o nab l e n o r

i n ex cu s ab l e.” 8

7 OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c).

8 Kel l y v. Da ws o n Cn t

y

., 2 8 2 Ga. 18 9

, 1 8 9 (6 46 SE2 d 5 3 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Go r d

o n v. Den n i s

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 0, 1 1 4 ( 1 ) ( 8 1 7 SE2 d 5 6 1 )

(2 0 1 8); Br a n d

en b ur g v. Al l -Fl eet

Ref i n i s h i n g , In c. , 2 52 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 , 4 4 (5 5 5 SE2 d

5 0 8 ) (2 0 0 1 ); S t o n e v. Bo

yn e

, 2 4 5 Ga. Ap p . 8 68 , 8 70 (5 3 9 SE2 d 2 0 9 ) (2 0 00 ).

5W h en co n s i d eri ng a m o t i o n t o d i sm i s s o n g ro u n d s o f a fai l u re t o t im el y fi l e t h e

t ran s cri p t

, t h e t ri al co u rt m u s t “ d et erm i n e t h e l en g t h o f th e d el ay

, t he reas o n s fo r t h e

d el ay

, wh et h er th e ap peal in g p art y cau sed t h e d el ay

, a n d w h e t h er t he d el ay was

i n ex cu s ab l e, an d t h en

. . . ex erci s e d i s cret io n i n d ec i d i n g w h et her to di sm i s s t h e

ap p eal .” 9 An d we wi l l on l y rev ers e a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l in g on s u ch a m o t i o n i f t h e co u rt

ab u sed i t s d i s cret i o n. 1 0

Here, th e tri al co u rt ex p l ai n ed t h at i t co n s id ered “ th e l en g t h o f t h e d el ay

,

wh et h er t h e ap p el lan t req u es ted an ex t en si o n

, th e ex is t en ce o f n eg l ig en ce o n t h e p art

o f t h e ap peal i n g p art y

, an d wh et h er su ch del ay reas o n ab l y s h ou l d h av e b een d et ect ed

an d t i m el y co rrect ed .” In ev al u at i n g t h es e co ns i d erat i o n s , t he co u rt m ad e s u ffi ci en t

fi nd i ng s of fac t t o d em o n s t rat e t h at i t co n s i dered t h e rel ev an t fact ors d el i n eat ed in

OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c)— i .e.

, t h e l en g t h o f t he d el ay

, th e reas o n s fo r t h e del ay

, wh et h er

9 Pr o p s t v. M o r g a n

, 2 8 8 Ga. 8 6 2, 8 6 3 (7 08 SE2 d 2 9 1 ) (2 0 1 1); a cco rd Go r d o n

v. D en n i s

, 3 4 1 Ga. A p p. 7 9 5, 7 9 7 (1 ) (8 02 SE2 d 7 7 ) (2 0 1 7 ); s ee OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c)

( “ [ T ]h e t ri al co u rt m ay o rd er t h e ap p eal di s m i s s ed w h ere t h ere h as b een an

u n reas o nab l e d el ay i n t h e t ran s m i s s i o n o f t h e reco rd t o t h e ap p el l at e co u rt , an d i t i s

s een t h at t h e d e l a y w a s i n ex cu s ab l e an d was cau s ed b y t h e fai lu re o f a p art y t o p ay

co s t s i n t h e t ri al co urt o r fi l e an affi d av i t o f i n d i g en ce.”).

1 0 S ee Pr o p s t

, 28 8 Ga. at 2 6 3 (“ Th e t r i a l c o u rt ’ s ru l i n g wi l l b e rev ers ed o n

ap p eal o nl y

fo r ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n .”).

6t h e ap p eal i n g p art y cau s ed t h e d el ay

, an d wh et h er t he d el ay was i nex cu s ab l e. 1 1

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, w hen is s u i n g i t s o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt at t i m es co nfu s ed t h e t erm s

“ u n r e a s o n ab l e” an d “ i nex cu sab l e,” s eem in g l y referri n g t o o n e w h en i t i n t en d ed t o

refer t o th e o th er. 1 2 Bu t des pi t e t h is co n fu s i o n i n t erm s, t h e co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n an d

fact ors i t co n s i d ered i n reach i n g t h at co n cl u s i o n rem ai n t h e s am e. 1 3 Nev ert h el es s

, we

wi l l u s e t h e p ro p er t erm s wh en d es cri b i n g an d as s es si ng t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s an al y s i s

.

1 1 S ee Ca l l a wa

y v. Ga r ner

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p. 1 76

, 18 0 -8 1 (1 ) (7 9 6 S E 2 d 9 0 6 )

(2 0 1 7) ( “ [ I ]n t hi s cas e, al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d o es n o t us e t he wo rd s

‘ un reas on ab l e’ o r ‘ i n ex cu s a b l e

, ’ t h e co u rt m ad e s u ffi ci en t fi nd i n g s of fact to

d em o n s t rat e t h at i t co n s id ered th e rel ev an t fact o rs d el i n eat ed i n OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c).

An d Geo rg i a co u rt s hav e affi rm ed d i s m i ss al o rd ers u n d er s u ch ci rcu m s t an ces

, ev en

wh en t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t us e t h e s p eci fi c t erm i n o l o g y o u tl i ned i n t h e s t at u t e. To d o

o t h erwi s e wo u l d b e t o el ev at e fo rm o v er s u b s t an ce, an d t h at i s n o t s om et h i n g OCGA

§ 5 -6 -4 8 (c) req u i res .” (fo o t n ot e o m i t t ed )); A

. Ro b er t s Co r p. v. Ro ber t

s

, 2 0 7 Ga. Ap p.

6 6 3

, 6 6 4 (4 2 8 SE2 d 6 7 1 ) (1 9 9 2) ( “ Al t h o ug h t h e t ri al co u rt di d n o t u s e t h e s p eci fi c

t e r m in o lo g y d el i n eat ed in t h e st at u t e, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er i nd i cat es t hat t h e c o u r t

co n si d ered t h o se fact ors i n co n cl u d i n g t h at the di s m i s s al o f t h e ap p el l an t s ’ ap p eal was

p ro p er.”).

1 2 W e hav e p rev i ou s l y e x pl ai n ed t h at t he “ t hres h o ld q u es t i o n o f wh et h er a d el ay

i n f i l i n g a t ran scri p t i s u n reas o n ab l e i s a s ep arat e m at t er fro m th e i s s u e o f w h e t h e r

s u ch a d el ay is i n ex cu s ab l e, an d refers p ri n ci pal l y t o t h e l en g t h an d effect of t h e d el ay

rat h er t h an t h e cau s e o f t h e d el ay .” Co o k v. McNa mee , 2 2 3 Ga. Ap p . 4 60 , 4 6 1 (4 7 7

SE2 d 8 8 4) (1 9 9 6).

1 3 S ee s u p r a n o t e 1 1

.

7Befo re p ro ceed i n g fu rt h er, w e a ls o no t e t h at Bri en za d i d n o t i n cl u d e t h e

t ran s cri p t o f t h e tri al co u rt ’ s h eari ng o n t h e m ot i o n t o di s m i s s wi t h h i s cro s s-ap p eal

,

an d we as s u m e i n s uch i n s t an ces t h at t h e t ran s cri p t s u p p o rt s th e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s o f

fact

. 1 4 Ou r rev i ew, t herefo re, i s l i m i t ed t o “ d et erm i n i n g i f, b as ed o n t h e fact s i t fo u n d,

t h e t r i a l co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i on [.] ” 1 5 Bu t ev en u n der t h at l i m i t ed rev i ew, we

1 4 S ee Jen ki ns v. E

d el h er t z

, 2 72 Ga. 4 8 0

, 4 8 1 (5 3 2 SE2 d 9 4) (2 00 0 ) (ex p l ai n i n g

t h at

, wh en t h ere i s n o t ran s cri pt o f a heari ng p res en t ed fo r ap p el l at e rev i ew, we m u s t

as s u m e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s o f f a c t reg ard i n g t hat h eari n g are co rrect );

S a d eg h y v. S t a t e

, 2 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 2

, 3 22 (1 ) (5 2 9 SE2 d 44 6 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (“ W i t h o u t a

t ran s cri p t t o rev i ew, t h i s co u rt m us t as s u m e as a m at t er o f law t h at t h e ev i d en ce

p res en t ed at t ri al s u p p o rt ed t h e co u rt ’ s fi n di n g s .” (p un ct u at io n o m it t ed )).

1 5 B u r g e r v. Kr u eg er

, 22 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 7 9

, 1 7 9 -8 0 (4 8 0 SE2 d 2 3 0 ) (1 9 9 6 ); s ee

Ro g er s v. No r r i s

, 2 62 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 7

, 8 5 7 (1 ) ( 5 8 6 S E 2 d 7 4 7) (2 0 03 ) (“ [Ap p el l ee]

a r g u es t h at t h e ab s en ce o f t h e m o t i o n to d i s m is s h eari n g t ran s cri p t i n t he ap p el l a t e

reco rd m ak es t h e erro r harm l es s, i n t h at we m u s t p res u m e t h e ev i d en ce s u p p o rt ed t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s act i o n s

. Ev en p res u m i n g t h e ev i d en ce s u pp o rt ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s act i o n s

,

we m u s t fi rs t h av e t h e req u i red fi n d i n g s of fact fo r rev iew s o t h at we k n o w t h at t h e

co u rt co n s i d ered t h e co rrect fact o rs i n ex erci s i n g i t s d i s cret i o n .”); s ee a l s o Jo h n so n

v. Jo h n s o n

, 2 4 2 G a. 3 3 9

, 3 39 -4 0 (2 4 9 SE2 d 2 2 ) (1 9 7 8 ) (“ W i t h o u t a t ran s cri p t o f t h e

p ro ceed in g s bel o w, we m u s t as s u m e t h at t h e ev i d en ce su p po rt s t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

‘ Fi n di n g s o f Fact .’ T h es e fi n d i ng s ad eq u at el y s u p po rt t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ju d g m en t as to

t h e award of al i m o ny .” (ci t at io n o m i t t ed )); Ma r s h v. W h i t e

, 1 8 5 G a

. A p p

. 6 4 2

, 6 4 4

(1 ) (3 6 5 S E 2 d 4 64 ) (1 98 8 ) (“ As s u m i n g t h e ev i d en ce s u p p o rt ed t h e fi n d i n g s

, as we

m u st

, t h e fi n d i n g of fact reci t ed i s no t

, ev en wi t h o u t ad d it i o n al fi n d i n g s as to h o w t h e

ch an ged ci rcu m st an ces ad v ers el y affect ed t h e ch i ld

, an i n su ffi ci en t b as is

, wh en

co n si d ered i n co n t ex t, fo r t h e co u rt ’ s u lt i m a t e c o n cl u s i o n t h at t h e fo u n d an d s t at ed

ch an ges i n ci rcu m s tan ce m at eri al l y affect ed t h e ch i l d’ s i n t eres t an d wel fare.

. . . Th i s

co u rt wi l l affi rm t hat d eci s i on i f t h ere i s reas o n ab l e ev i d en ce t o s u pp o rt i t

. In as m u ch

as t h e l ower co u rt ’ s f

i n d i ng s are s up p o rt ed as a m at t er o f l aw, we can no t co n cl u d e

8co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n di n g s of fact do n o t s up p o rt i t s co ncl u s io n s o f l aw

t h at t h e St at e’ s d el ay was n ei t h er u n reas o nab l e n or in ex cu s ab l e. Th erefo re, t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n fai l in g t o d i s m i s s t h e St at e’ s ap p eal

. 1 6

Th e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at t he d el ay i n fi l i n g t he tran s cri p t w as i n ex ces s o f

3 0 d ay s

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t he co u rt fo u n d t h at 8 4 d ay s p as s ed b et ween t he ti m e t h e St at e

fi led i t s n o t i ce of ap p eal on A p ri l 2 1

, 2 0 1 7

, an d wh en i t req u es t ed t h e en ti re tran s cri pt

o n J u l y 1 2

, 2 0 1 7. An d t he co u rt co rrect l y ack n o w l ed g ed t h at a d el ay i n ex ces s o f 3 0

d ay s i s p r i ma f

aci e un reas on ab l e an d i n ex cu s ab l e. N ev ert h el es s

, th e co urt co n cl u d ed

t h at t h e l en g th o f t h e d el ay i n t h i s cas e was n o t “ u n reas o n ab l e” d u e t o “ t h e [c] o urt ’ s

h eav y cas el o ad ,” ci t i n g i t s cal en d ar bet ween th e fi l i n g o f t h e n o t i ce o f t h e ap p eal an d

wh en t h e St at e o rd ered t h e en t i re t ran scri p t

. Th e co u rt ex p l ai n ed t h at

, d u ri n g t h e

rel ev an t t i m e p eri o d

, 3 9 day s o f co u rt were h el d wi t h fo u r w eek s o f ci v i l an d cri m i n al

t h at t h e co urt ab u s ed i ts d i s cret i o n .” (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed )).

1 6 Cf

. Ha l l v. B u s s ey

, 20 0 Ga. Ap p. 3 11

, 31 1 -1 2 (4 0 8 SE2 d 4 3 0 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (“ [A]

t ran s cri p t o f t h e h eari n g o n th e m o t i o n t o d i s m is s d efen dan t ’ s ap p eal d o es no t ap p ear

i n t h e reco rd

. Ho wev er, t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er s h o ws t h at d ef e n d a n t ’ s ap p eal was

d i s m i s s ed b ecau s e o f t he lack of s peci fi c ex p l an at i o n fo r t h e o v er fi v e-m o n t h d el ay

i n fi l i n g a t ri al tran s cri p t.

. . . Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we can n o t s ay t h e t ri al co u rt

ab u sed i ts d i s cret i o n i n fi n di n g t h at d efen d an t ’ s co n d u ct cau s ed t h e u n reas o nab l e an d

i n ex cu s ab l e d el ay i n fi li n g t h e t ri al t ran scri p t

. Th ere was no erro r i n t h e di s m i s s al o f

d efen d an t ’ s ap p eal

. ”).

9t ri al s

, 1 2 cri m i n a l a r r ai g n m en t d ay s

, sev en d ay s o f cri m i n al an d ci v i l h eari n g s

, an d

t wo d ay s o f cri m i n al b en ch t ri al s

. An d t h i s w as t he co urt ’ s s o l e reas on fo r d ecl i n i n g

t o fi n d t he l en g t h o f t he St at e’ s d el ay “ u n reas o nab l e.” Bu t reg ard l es s of wh et h er t h e

co u rt i n t en d ed t h i s fi n d i n g t o su p po rt a co n cl u s i o n t h at t h e d el a y w a s n ot

“ u n reas o n ab l e,” o r wh et h er i t m ad e t h i s fi n d i n g t o s u pp o rt i t s s ep arat e an d l at er

co n cl u s i o n t h at t h e d el ay was n o t “ i nex cu s ab l e,” 1 7 i t s u p p o rt ed n ei th er co n cl u s i o n.

In d eed

, t h e co u rt ’s h e a v y cas el o ad b ears n o rel at i o n t o t h e St at e’ s ab il i ty

— an d i t s

d u t y

— t o req u es t t h e ap p ro pri at e t ran scri p t fo r i t s ap p eal an d t h en m o n i t o r t h e

p ro g res s o f t h at t ran s cri pt ’ s p rep arat i o n

. 1 8

1 7 See s u p r a n o t e 1 2 (ex pl ai n i n g t h e d i s t i n ct i on b et ween “ u n reas o n ab l e” an d

“ i n ex cu s ab l e”).

1 8 S ee Mer cer v. Mu n n

, 3 2 1 G a. Ap p. 72 3

, 7 2 6 ( 1 ) ( 7 4 2 SE2 d 7 47 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(“ [T] h e du t y t o o r d e r th e t ran s cri p t an d t o m o ni t o r t i m el y t h e p ro g res s o f t h e

rep o rt er’ s offi ce i n t ran scri p t p rep arat i o n i s v es t ed u p on t h e ap p ro p ri at e ap p eal i n g

p art y .” (p u n ct u at i on o m it t ed )); Co p t i c Co n s t. Co

. v. Ro l l e

, 2 7 9 Ga. A p p

. 4 5 4

, 4 5 5

(6 3 1 SE2 d 4 7 5 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (s am e); s ee a l s o Ja cks o n v. B eech Ai r cr a f t Co r p

. , 2 1 7 Ga.

Ap p

. 4 9 8

, 5 0 2 -0 3 (2 ) (4 5 8 SE2 d 3 7 7 ) (1 9 95 ) (“ At n o t i m e d i d t h e co u rt rep o rt er h av e

a du t y t o i n fo rm an y part y t o t h e t ri al th at t h e t ran scri p t h ad n o t b e e n o f f i ci al l y

o rd ered o r t h at i t was no t b ei n g p rep ared

. Th e s t at u t ory d ut y t o fi l e t i m el y a tran s cri pt

d o es n o t res t wi t h t h e co u rt rep o rt er; ra t h e r th e d u t y t o o rd er th e t ran s cri p t an d to

m o ni t o r t i m el y t h e p ro g res s o f th e rep o rt er’ s o ffi ce i n t ran s cri p t p rep arat i o n i s v es t ed

u p o n t h e a p p r o p r i at e ap p eal i n g p art y

. . . . It w o u l d creat e an u n accep t ab l e an d

i m p ract i cal b u rd en on t h e co u rt rep o rt er’ s o ffi ce t o req u i re th em to co n t act at t o rn ey s

o r p art i e s an d rep o rt o n t h e s t at u s o f al l o rd ered tran s cri p t s or t o co n t act at t o rn ey s

i n q u i ri n g wh et her a t ran s cri p t was b ei n g o rd ered ; we d ecl i n e t o t ak e t h i s o p p o rt u n i t y

10Fu rt herm o re, wi t h reg ard t o t h e reas on s an d cau se fo r t he del ay

, al t h o u g h t h e

t ri al co urt n o t ed t h at t h e St at e req u es t ed “ s o m e o f t h e t ran scri p t ” o r “ a p o rt i o n o f t h e

t ran s cri p t ” wi t hi n t wo day s o f fi l i n g i t s n o ti ce o f ap p eal

, 1 9 i t al s o fo u n d t hat t h e St at e

(1 ) m ad e n o req u es t fo r an ex t en s i o n

, (2 ) was at l eas t “ s l i g h t [l y ] ” n eg l ig en t (t h o u g h

t h e co u rt d i d n o t ex p l ai n w h y i t co n cl ud ed t h e n eg l i g en ce was “ s l i g h t ” )

, an d (3 )

p res en t ed n o evi d

en ce o f an y e f

f o rt t o fo ll o w u p on i t s req u es t ed “ po rt i o n ” o f t h e

t ran s cri p t an d

, t hu s

, t he “ d el ay s h o ul d h av e b een co rrect ed .” Th e co u rt fu rt h er n o t ed

t h at th e o ri g i n al l y req u es t ed “ po rt i o n ” o f t h e t ran s cri p t was ev en t u al l y fi l ed in t h e t ri al

co u rt o n J u l y 28

, 2 0 1 7

, o n l y aft er t h e St at e’ s J u l y 1 2

, 20 1 7 req u es t fo r t h e en ti r e

t ran s cri p t

. An d t h e fi l i n g of t h e i n i t i al l y req u e s t e d “ po rt i o n” res u l t ed i n t h e

i n co m pl et e t ran s m is s i o n t o t h i s Co u rt an d o u r s u b s eq u en t rem a n d a t t h e St at e’ s

req u es t

.

t o creat e s u ch an o p p res s i ve ad m i n i s t rat i v e req u i rem en t .”).

1 9 It i s u n d i s p u t ed t h at t h e St at e’ s i n i t i a l n o t i c e of ap p eal req u es ted t h at t h e

cl erk “ o m i t n o th i n g fro m th e reco rd an d s h al l tran s m i t al l t ran s cri p t s t o t he Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s as p art o f th e reco rd .” W e rem i n d t he St at e t h at OCGA § 5 -6 -5 1 s u g g es t s t h at

a n o t ice o f ap p eal i n cl ud e th e fo l l o wi n g lan g u ag e: “ Tran s cri pt of ev i d en ce an d

p ro ceed in g s wi l l/ wi l l n o t be fi l ed fo r i n cl us i o n i n t h e reco rd o n ap p eal .” As we h av e

p rev i o u s l y reco g n i zed

, “ [t ] hi s s t at u t ory l an g u ag e i n fo rm s t h e cl erk of th e t ri al co u rt

wh et h er h e o r s h e m ay t ran s m i t t h e reco rd i m m ed i at el y o r m

u st wai t fo r th e ap p el l an t

t o fi l e a t ran s cri pt .” W

eb b ’s Er ect i o n

, In c. v. Co l o ni a l P a c. Lea s i n g Co r p.

, 3 4 5 Ga.

Ap p . 2 0 2 , 2 0 4 -0 5 (2 ) (8 1 2 SE2 d 6 0 2 ) (2 0 1 8).

11Th e tri al co u rt ’ s fi n d in g s o f fact d o n o t s u p p o rt it s co n cl u s i o n t h at t h e St at e’ s

d el ay was n o t i n ex cu s ab l e, p art i cu l arl y i n l i g ht o f t h e St at e’ s b u rd en t o co m e fo rward

wi t h ev i d en ce t o reb ut t h e p res u m p t i o n t h at t h e d el a y wa s i n ex cu s ab l e wh en i t far

ex ceed ed 3 0 d ay s

. 2 0 In st ead

, t hes e fi n d i ng s sh o w t he S t a t e w a s r es p o n si b l e fo r t h e

d el ay b y fai l i n g t o req ues t an ex t en s i o n

, was n eg l i g en t, an d m ad e n o effo rt s t o ch eck

o n t h e p ro g res s o f t he p or t i on o f t h e t ran s cri pt i t req ues t ed

, wh i ch was n o t ev en t h e

ap p ro p ri at e t ran s cri p t n eces sary fo r t h e St at e’ s ap p eal

, as ev i n ced b y t h e fact t h at t h e

St at e l at er req ues t ed b o t h p rep arat i o n o f t h e e n t i r e t ran s cri p t an d t h at t hi s Co u rt

rem an d t h e i n i t i al ap p eal fo r t h e s am e reas on

.

Fi n al l y

, o n t h e q u es t i o n of p reju d i ce, th e t ri al co u rt su m m ari l y co n cl u d ed t h at

“ n o p reju d i ce e x i s t s f

o r t h e sl i g h t d el ay

. ” 2 1 Th u s

, t h e co u rt decl i ned t o d i s m i s s t h e

2 0 See Mo rr el l v. W

. S er vs

., LLC

, 2 9 1 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 9

, 3 7 2 (1 ) (6 6 2 SE2 d 2 1 5 )

(2 0 0 8) (“ In v i ew o f th e m o r e t h a n 3 0 [-] d ay d el ay i n t h e p ay m en t o f co s t s an d t h e

a b s e n c e o f an y ev i d en ce as t o wh y th e d el ay o ccu rred

, t h e t ri al co u rt was n o t

au t h o riz e d to e xerci s e i t s d i s cret i o n an d d en y t he m o ti o n t o di s m i s s d efen d an t s ’ n o t i ce

o f ap peal

. W e t h erefo re rev ers e t h e ju d g m en t o f t h e t ri al co u rt .” (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed )); Fu n F

i t En t er p r i s es v. Ha l

p er n En t er

p r i s es , 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p . 6 85 , 6 8 6 (6 1 6

SE2 d 4 6 6) (2 0 0 5) (h ol d i n g t h at d en i al o f m o t i o n to d i s m i s s ap p eal was an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n wh en co s t s were n ot pai d u n t i l 5 7 day s aft er n o ti ce fro m co urt an d n o v al id

ex cu se was i n terp o sed b y ap p eal i n g p art y ).

2 1 In t h i s fi n al p ort i on o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er, i t co ncl u d ed t h at “ [g ] i v en t h e

t o t al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e [c] o u rt fi nd s t h at wh i l e t h e d el ay m ay h av e b een

s l ig h t ly u n reas o n a b l e

, t he d el ay i s n o t i n ex cu s ab le as n o preju d ice ex i s t s .” Th i s

12ap p eal

. It b ears rep eat i n g t h at

, as t h e Su prem e Co u rt of Geo rg i a h as i t s el f reco g n i zed

,

a d el ay i n ex ces s o f 3 0 d ay s i s p r i ma f a ci e u n reas o n ab l e an d i n ex cu s ab le. 2 2 Here, t h e

t ri al co u rt co rrect l y ack n o w l ed g ed as m u ch ; b u t th e p art y wi t h t h e b u rd en o f co m i n g

fo rward wi t h ev i d en ce t o reb ut t h e p res u m p t i o n t h at t h e d el ay o f 8 4 d ay s was

u n reas o nab l e an d i n ex cu sab le was t he S t a te

. 2 3 A n d t h e co urt d i d n ot m ak e an y

co n trad i ct s t h e co u rt ’ s earl i er fi n d i n g t h at t h e d el ay w as n o t “ u n reas o nab l e.” Th e

effect o f t h e d el ay i s

, o f co u rs e, rel at ed t o wh et h er o r n ot t h e d el ay was u n reas o n ab l e,

n o t i n e x c u s ab l e. S

ee su p r a n o t e 1 2 ; s ee a l

s o Ca l l awa

y

, 3 4 0 G a. Ap p

. at 1 7 9 (1 )

(“ Th i s C o u rt wi l l al s o co n si d er an y del ay i n t ran sm i t t i n g t he ap pel l at e reco rd

u n reas o nab l e wh en i t m ay affect an ap p eal b y : (a) d i rect ly preju d ici n g t he p o s i t i o n o f

a p art y b y al l o wi n g an i nt erm ed i at e ch an g e o f co nd i t i o ns o r o th erwi se res u l t i n g in

i n eq u i t y ; o r (b ) cau si n g t h e ap p eal t o b e s t al e, s u ch as

, b y d el ay in g j u s t d i s p o s i t i o n o f

t h e cas e, b y p rev en t i ng p l acem en t o f t he cas e o n t h e earl i es t p os s ib l e ap p el l at e co u rt

cal en d ar, o r b y d el ay i ng t h e d ock et i n g o f t h e ap peal an d h eari n g o f t h e cas e b y an

ap p el l at e co urt .”).

2 2 Kel l y

, 2 8 2 Ga. at 1 8 9 ; Go r d

o n v. Den n is

, 3 4 7 G a. Ap p

. 1 1 0

, 1 14 (1 ) (8 1 7

SE2 d 5 6 1) (2 0 1 8); Ca l l awa y , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p. at 1 7 9 (1 ).

2 3 See Kel ly

, 28 2 Ga. at 1 8 9 (“ [T] h i s p r e s u m p t i o n i s s u bject t o reb u t t al i f t h e

p art y co m es fo rward w i th ev i d en ce t o s h o w t h at t h e d el ay was n ei t h er u n reas o n ab l e

n o r i n ex cu s ab l e.”); Go r d

o n

, 34 7 Ga. A p p

. at 1 14 (1 ) (“ Th e p res u m pt i o n t h at t h e d el ay

was in ex cu s ab l e can b e reb u t ted by ev id en ce t h at t h e d el ay was n o t cau s ed b y t h e

ap p el l an t .”); Ca l l awa

y

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 79 (1 ) (“ [T] hi s p res u m p t i on is su b

ject to

reb u t t al i f th e p art y co m es fo rward wi t h ev i d en ce t o sh o w t h at t h e d el ay was n ei t h er

u n reas o nab l e no r i n ex cu s ab l e.” (p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed )); s ee a l s o W eb b ’s E r ect i o n,

In c.

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 20 3 -0 4 (1 ) (“ [T] h e ap p el lan t s b o re t h e b u rd en o f p res en t i n g

ev i d en ce reb ut t i n g t he p res u m p t i o n t h a t t h e i r 7 0-d ay del ay in p ay i n g co s t s was

u n reas o nab l e.”).

13fi nd i ng s of fact t h at t h e St at e p res en t ed an y s u ch ev id en ce. 2 4 Rat her, t he co u rt m ad e

fi nd i ng s o f fact s u

p p o r ti n g t h e p res u m

p t i o n t hat t h e d el ay w as u n re a s o n a b l e an d

i n ex cu s ab l e b ecau s e t h e St at e (1 ) d i d n o t req u es t an ex t en s i o n

, (2 ) w as n eg l i g en t

, an d

(3 ) di d n o t p res en t ev i d en ce o f m o n i t o ri n g t h e p o rt i o n o f t h e t ran s cri p t t h at i t

req u es t ed

, wh i ch

, ag ai n

, was n o t ev en t h e co rrect t ran s c r i p t b ecau s e t h e St at e

ap p aren tl y

n eed ed t h e en t ir e t ran s cri p t fo r i t s ap peal

. 2 5

Ad d it i on al l y

, th e t ri al co u rt s u m m a r i l y co n cl ud ed t h at Bri en za was n ot

p reju d i ced b y t h e d el ay

, an d we m u s t as s u m e t hat t h i s fi n d i n g was co rrect

. 2 6 Th at s ai d,

2 4 See Go r d

o n

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p. at 1 1 4 (1 ) (“ Ap p el la n t s are no t acco u n t ab l e fo r

d el ay s c a u s ed b y cl erk s o f co u rt o r co u rt rep o rt ers aft er t h e t ran s cri p t h as b een

o rd ered p r o p e r l y ; ap p el l an t s are h el d acco u nt ab l e o n l y fo r d el ay s t h at t hey cau s e.

Th u s, fo r ex am

p l e, a d el ay i n t h e fi l i n g of a t ran s cri p t i s ex cu s ab l e wh en t h ere i s

ev i d en ce t h at i t was cau sed b y t h e ‘ b ack l o g ’ o f t h e co urt rep o rt er rat h er t h an b y an act

o r o m i s s i o n o f th e ap pel l an t.” (ci t at i o n s & p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); B ra n den b u r g

, 2 5 2

Ga. Ap p

. at 4 4 (h o l d i n g t h at p res u m p t i o n was reb u tt ed wh en ap p eal i n g p art y

p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h at d el ay was cau s ed n o t b y

i t b u t b y t he i n s u ran ce carri er).

2 5 Cf

. A l la n v. Jef

f er s on La kes i d

e, L.P.

, 33 3 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 2

, 2 2 5 (1 ) (7 7 5 SE2 d

7 6 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (h o ld i n g t h at t ri al co u rt ab u s ed it s d i s cret i o n i n d is m i ss i n g n o t i ce o f

ap p eal w h en ap p eal i n g p art y p res en t ed ev i den ce t h at d el ay was d u e to reas o n ab l e, i f

erro neo u s

, b el i ef t h at i t h ad p ai d en t i ret y o f th e co s t s as s o ci at ed wi th p rep arat i o n o f

t h e req u es t ed t ran s cri p t ; b ecau s e ap p el lan t t i m el y o rd ered t ransc r i pt, m a de r e a s o n ab l e

i n q u i ri es i n t o s tat u s o f it s p rep arat i o n

, an d m ad e t im el y p ay m en t o f b i l l recei v ed fro m

cl erk aft er t ran s cri p t was req u es t ed , d el ay was n o t i n ex cu s ab l e).

2 6 S ee s u p r a no t es 1 4 -1 5 & acco m p an y i n g t ex t

.

14a d el ay i s u n reas o n ab le i f i t aff e c t s a n ap p eal “ ei t h er b y d i rect l y p reju d i ci n g t h e

p o s i t i on o f a p art y b y a l l o wi n g an i n t erm ed i at e ch an ge o f co n d i t i o n s o r o t h erwi s e

r e s u l t i n g i n i neq u i t y

, o r b y cau si n g t h e ap p eal t o beco m e s t al e, fo r i n st an ce b y

d el ay i n g d o ck et i n g an d h eari n g i n t h i s [C] o u rt .” 2 7 In d eed

, as we h av e rep eat ed l y

reco g n ized

, “

j u s t i ce d el ay ed fo r ev en o n e d ay is j u s ti ce d en i ed t o t h e l i t i g an t wh o was

s u cces s fu l i n t he l o wer co u rt an d wh o i s e n t i t l e d t o h is ju dg m en t u n l es s t h e cas e i s

p ro p erl y rev ers ed .” 2 8 An d h ere, t h e i n i t i al d o ck et i n g o f t h i s a p p eal was d i s cern i b l y

d el ay ed wh en th e St at e’ s no t i ce o f ap p eal w a s fi l ed o n A p ri l 1 0, 2 0 17

, bu t t h e cas e

was n o t d o ck et ed wi th t h is Co u rt u n t i l s o m e fi v e m o n t h s lat er on Au g u s t 2 2,

2 0 1 7

— an d was t h en r ema n d ed at t h e St at e’ s req ues t

. 2 9

2 7 Ad a ms v. Heb er t

, 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 8

, 1 5 9 (6 3 0 SE2 d 6 5 2 ) (2 0 0 6 ); a cco r d

Po s tel l v. Al

f a In s. Co r

p

. , 33 2 Ga. A p p

. 2 2

, 2 5 ( 2 ) (a) (i ) (7 7 2 SE2 d 79 3 ) (2 0 1 5 );

As h ley v. JP M

o r g a n Ch a s e Ba n k, N.A. , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . 2 32

, 2 3 5 (1 ) (7 5 8 SE2 d 1 3 5 )

(2 0 1 4); Bu s h v. Reed , 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p . 3 2 8 , 3 3 1-3 2 (a) (7 1 5 SE2 d 7 4 7) (2 01 1 ).

2 8 Ca l l a wa

y

, 3 4 0 G a

. A p p

. a t 1 7 9 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i on om i t ted ); a cco r d Ne. Ga

. Med

. Ct r

., In c. v. Hea l t h s o u t h Reh ab

. Ho s p. o f Fo r s yt h Ct y., LLC

, 3 4 7 G a. Ap p

. 8 5 2,

8 5 9 (1 ) (8 2 1 SE2 d 6 8) (2 01 8 ).

2 9 S ee Po s t el l

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 6 (2 ) (a) (i ) (h o l d i n g t h a t fo ur-an d-a-h al fm o nt h d el ay was u n reas on ab l e an d d el ay ed d o ck et i n g in th i s Co u rt ); As h l ey

, 3 2 7 Ga.

Ap p

. at 23 5-3 7 (1 ) (h o l d i n g t h at ei g h t -m o n t h d el ay cau s ed ap peal t o b e d o ck et ed at

l eas t o n e t erm lat er t h an i t s h ou l d h av e b een d ock et ed ); McAl i s ter v. A ba m-S a ms o n

, 3 1 8 G a. A p p

. 1, 6 -7 (2 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 5 8 ) (2 01 2 ) (co n cl ud i n g t h at del ay res u l t ed in

d o ck et i n g fo r a l at er t erm o f co u rt ); Pi s t acch i o v. Fr as s o

, 31 4 Ga. Ap p. 1 1 9

, 1 2 2 (7 2 3

15Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s of fact d o n o t s u pp o rt it s co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw,

t h e tri al co urt erred i n d en y i n g Bri en za’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e S t a t e’ s ap p eal

. W e

t h erefo re rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d gm en t i n Cas e No . A1 9 A0 6 9 9.

SE2 d 3 2 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ Th e [t h ree-m o n t h ] d el ay h ere d i s cern i b l y

d el ay ed d ock et i n g o f

t h e reco rd i n t h e ap p el l at e co u rt an d p rev en t ed an ap pel l at e d eci si on o n th e m eri t s at

t h e earl i es t p os s i b l e d at e.”); Bu s h

, 3 1 1 G a. Ap p. at 3 3 2 (a) (h ol d in g t h at ten -m o n th

d el ay “ p rev en t ed t h e cas e fro m b ei n g d o ck et ed an d h eard i n t h e earl i es t p o s s i b l e

ap p el l at e t erm of co u rt ”); Mo rr el l

, 2 9 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 37 4 (2 ) (h o ld i n g th at 51 -d ay d el ay

c a u s e d d el ay o f ap p eal fro m on e t erm t o an o t h er); Ad a ms

, 27 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 5 9

(co n cl u d i n g t h at 1 5 0 -d ay d el ay res u l t ed i n del ay ed do ck et in g fro m on e t erm to

an o th er); Ga ll et t a v. Hi ll cr es t Ab b ey W

., In c.

, 18 5 G a

. Ap p

. 2 0

, 2 2 (1 ) (3 63 SE2 d

2 6 5 ) (1 98 7 ) (ex p l ai n i n g t h at

, i n a p ri o r cas e, a fo u r-m o n th del ay i n fi l in g a tran s cri pt

“ o b v i o u s l y ” an d “ d i s cern i b ly ” d el ay ed do ck et in g o f t h e reco rd i n Co u rt o f Ap p eal s );

s ee a l so C T

. O F A P P E A LS R. 1 2 (“ Th e Co u rt h as t h ree t erm s o f co u rt p er y ear. Cas es

are do ck et ed t o a t erm as req u i red b y t h e Co n st i tu t i o n o f t h e St at e o f Geo rg ia an d as

o t h erwi s e req u i red by l aw. Th e d o ck et wi l l s p eci fy th e s p eci fi c t erm to wh i ch a cas e

i s d o ck et ed

. Cas es d o ck et ed t o a s peci fi c t erm m u s t b e d eci d ed befo re th e ex p i rat i o n

o f t h e fo l l o wi n g term

. Th e Co u rt ’ s t erm s

. . . are as fo l lo ws : (1 ) t h e Decem b er t erm

b eg in s t he fi rs t M o nd ay i n D ecem b er an d en d s M arch 3 1 t h e fo l l o wi n g y ear; (2 ) t h e

A p r i l t erm b eg i n s t h e fi rs t M o n d ay i n Ap ri l an d en ds J u l y 1 7 ; (3 ) t h e Au gu s t term

b eg in s t h e fi rs t M on d ay i n Au g u s t an d en d s No v em b er 1 8 .”); Fu lt o n Cn t

y. Bd

. o f Ta x

As s es s o rs v. Lo ve

, 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p

. 2 5 2

, 2 5 4 (6 5 6 SE2 d 5 7 6 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ [W h en ] t h e d el ay

i n fi li n g t h e t ran s cri p t d o es n o t d i s cern ib l y d el ay th e d o ck et i n g o f t h e reco rd i n t h e

ap p el l at e co u rt

, an d d o es n o t p rev en t an ap p el l at e d eci s i o n o n t h e m eri t s at t h e earl ies t

p o s s i b l e d at e, t h e del ay is n o t u n reas o n ab le.”). See g en er a l l y OCGA § 2 4 -2 -2 2 0

(p ro v i d i n g fo r m at t ers to b e ju d i ci al ly reco g ni zed ); Th omp so n v. Ch ea t h a m

, 2 4 4 Ga.

1 1 7 , 1 1 8 (1 ) (2 5 9 SE2 d 6 2 ) (1 97 9 ) (“ Ou r co u rt s wi ll t ak e ju d i ci al n o t i ce o f al l Act s

o f t he Gen eral As s em

b l y an d t h e o rg an izat i o n an d t erm s o f co u rt .” (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed )).

162

. Ca s e Nu mb er A1 9 A0 6 9 8

. In l i g h t o f o ur h ol d i n g i n Cas e No

. A 1 9 A0 6 9 9

, we

d i s m i s s t he St at e’ s ap p eal

.

Ju d g men t r ever

s ed i n Ca s e No

. A1 9

A0 6 9 9

. Ap

p ea l di s m i s s e d i n Ca s e No

.

A1 9 A 0 6 9 8

. Go b ei l

a n d Ho dg es , JJ., co n cu r

.

17