FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, D OYLE, P. J.

, and M ERCI ER, J.

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

M ar ch 5, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A2 09 0 . LEDBETTER v . THE STATE.

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

Dem et ri u s Deway n e Led b et t er, p ro ceed i n g p r o s e

, ap p eal s an o rd er fro m t h e

St at e Co u rt o f Cl ay t o n Co u nt y d en y i n g hi s m o t i o n t o res t ri ct a cri m i nal reco rd u n d er

OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7

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

, we affi rm i n p art

, v acat e i n p art

, an d

rem an d t h e cas e fo r fu rt her p ro ceed i n g s co n s i s ten t wi th t hi s o p i n i o n

.

In M arch 2 01 6

, Led b et t er was ch arg ed by accu s at i o n w i t h o ne co u nt o f fam i l y

v i o l en ce b at tery an d o n e co u n t o f s i m p l e b at t ery

, w i t h t h e al l eg ed i n ci d en t h av i n g

o ccu rred o n M arch 8

, 2 0 16

. 1 Led b et t er’ s cas e w a s b o u n d o v er fro m t he M ag i s t rat e

1 S ee OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 3.1 (a) (“ A p ers o n co m m it s t he o ffen s e o f b at t ery wh en

h e or s h e i n t e n t i o n a l l y cau s es s u b s t an ti al p h y s i cal h arm o r v i s i b l e b od i ly h arm to

an o th er.”); OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 3.1 (“ If t h e o ffen s e o f b at t ery i s co m m it t ed b et ween

h o u s eh o l d m em

bers

, it s hal l co n s t i t u t e t h e o ffen s e o f fam il y v i o l en ce b at t ery [.] ”); s ee

a l s o O CGA § 1 6 -5 -2 3.1 (c) (“ E x cep t as p ro v i d ed in s u b s ect i o n s (d ) t h ro u g h (l ) o f t h i sCo u rt o f Cl ay t on Co u n t y t o th e St at e Co urt o f Cl ay t o n Co u n t y aft er t h e m ag i s t rat e

co u rt den i ed b on d an d Led b et t er wai v ed h is ri g h t t o a p rel i m i n ary h eari n g

. Led b et t er

t h en req u es t ed a t ri al by j u ry i n t h e s t at e co urt

. Bu t i n J u n e 2 0 1 6

, t h e t wo ch arg es

ag ai n s t Led b et ter were n o l l e p r o s s ed o n t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n, wi t h t h e co n d i t i o n t h at

Led bet ter h av e n o fu rt h er co n t act wi t h t h e v i ct i m

.

Th ereaft er, i n M arch 2 01 8

, Led b et t er fi l ed a m o t i o n t o res t ri ct reco rd s fro m t h e

2 0 1 6 cas e, ci t i n g OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7

, an d as k i n g t h e co u rt t o d i rect t h e Cl ay t o n Co u n t y

Po l i ce Dep art m en t an d Geo rg i a Bu reau o f In v es t i g at i o n t o res t ri ct o r s eal t h e reco rd s

.

Th e m ot i o n was fi rs t fi l ed i n t h e Cl ay t o n Co un t y Su p eri o r Co u rt

, bu t t h en l at er fi l ed

i n t h e Cl ay t o n Co u n t y St at e Co u rt

. 2 Th e s t at e c o u rt i s s u ed a ru l e ni s i

, o rd eri n g t h e

p art i es t o ap p ear fo r a h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n s et fo r M ay 1 1, 2 0 18

.

On e m o n t h aft er fi l i n g t h e m o t i o n

, i n Ap ri l 2 0 1 8

, Led b et t er fi l ed an a men d ed

m o ti o n t o res t ri ct reco rd s

, as ki n g t h at t h e co u rt ’ s o rd er b e d i rect ed t o t h e cu s t o d i an

Co d e s ect i o n

, a p e r s o n wh o co m m i ts t h e offen s e o f b at t ery i s g u il t y o f a

m i s d em e an o r.”); OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 3 .1 (f) (2 ) (A) (“ Up on a fi rs t co n v i ct io n o f fam i l y

v i o l en ce b at t ery

, t he defen d an t s h al l b e g ui l t y o f an d p u ni sh ed fo r a

m i s d em ean o r[.] ”).

2 T h e h e a d e r o n th e m o t i o n is d i rect ed t o t h e M ag i s t rat e Co u rt o f Cl ay t o n

Co u n t y

, an d t h e St at e as s ert s t h at t h e m ot i o n was al s o fi led in t h at co u rt

. Bu t i n t h e

reco rd b efo re u s , t h e m o t i on d oes n o t refl ect a fi l e s t am p fro m t h at co u rt

.

2o f reco rd s at t h e Cl ay t o n Co u n t y St at e Co urt

, Cl ayt o n Co u n t y M ag i st rat e Co u rt

,

Cl ay t o n Co u nt y Sh eri f

f ’ s O f f i c e

, C la y t o n Co u n t y Po l i ce Dep art m en t

, G eo rg i a Bu reau

o f In v es t i g at i o n

, an d “ [a] ny o t h er ‘ En ti t y ’ as d efi ned b y [OCGA] § 3 5-3 -3 7 (a) (2 ),

h av in g cu s to d y o r co n t ro l o f an y i n fo rm at i o n pert i n en t ” to t h e 2 0 1 6 cas e. Th at s am e

d ay

, L ed b et t er al s o fi l ed a “ m o t i o n fo r o rd er to pro d uce th e defen d an t

, ” i n fo rm i n g t h e

co u rt t h at h e h ad b een arres t ed b y t h e DeKal b Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Dep art m en t o n M ay

2

, 2 01 7

, an d t h at h e was cu rren t l y b ei n g h o u s ed at t h e DeKal b Co u n ty J ai l

. Th e

p u rp os e of t h i s m o t i o n was t o al l o w h i m t o ap p ear at th e M ay 1 1

, 2 0 1 8 h e a r i n g

s ch ed u l ed o n h i s m ot i o n t o res tri ct reco rd s.

On Ap ri l 1 9

, 2 01 8

, t h e t ri al co u rt is s u ed an o rd er d en y i n g b ot h of Led b et t er’ s

m o ti o n s, n ot i n g t h at hi s 2 0 1 6 ch arg es were “ n o l l e p ro s sed fo r u nres t ri ct ab le reas o n s .”

Th e co u rt t h en wen t o n t o ex pl ai n t h at Led b et ter h ad b een “ co n v i ct ed o f a fel o n y in

t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt of Cl ay t o n Co u n ty

, fo r w h i ch h e [was ] wan ted o n a V i o l at i o n o f

Pro b at i o n warran t ,” an d t h at h e was “ an act i v e i nm at e i n th e D eKal b Co u nt y jai l at

t h i s t i m e fo r o t her r e a s o n s as wel l .” Acco rd i n gl y

, t h e co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n to

res t ri ct reco rd s

, ca n c e l l ed th e s ch ed u l ed h eari n g on t h at m ot i o n

, an d d en i ed

Led bet ter’ s m ot io n fo r an o rd er t o p ro d u ce h i m t o at t en d t h e h eari n g

.

3Th i s ap p eal b y Led b et t er fo l lo ws

, i n wh i ch h e arg ues t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred

i n (1 ) no t p ro v i d i n g an ap p ro p ri at e reas o n fo r den y i n g h i s m o t i o n

, (2 ) s t at i n g i n i t s

o rd er t h at h e was a co nv i ct ed fel o n wh o was wan ted f o r a p ro b at i on v io l at i o n

, (3 )

t reat i n g h i m

ad v ers el y d u e t o hi s h av i n g m ad e a fi rs t o ffen d er p l ea, (4 ) co n s i d eri n g

t h at h e was i n carcerat ed i n an ot h er j ai l a t t h e t i m e t h at h e fi l ed h i s m o ti o n

, an d (5 )

u l t i m at el y d en y i n g h is m o t i o n

. W e w i l l ad d res s h i s en u m e rat i o ns o f erro r by

d i s cu s s i n g t h e ap pro pri at en es s o f t h e tri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g as i t ap p l i ed t o t h e v ari ou s

cu s t o d i an s o f reco rd t o w h om Led b et t er as k ed t h e co u rt t o d irect an o rd er. To t h e

ex t en t t h e co u rt d en i ed L ed b e t t e r’ s m o t i o n as t o t h e s h eri ff’ s o ffi ce, p o l i ce

d ep art m en t

, GBI, an d o t h er “ en t i t i es ” u n d er OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (a) (2 ), we affi rm

. Bu t

b eca u s e t h e co u rt erred i n d en y i n g th e m o t io n as t o i t s o wn cl erk o f co u rt an d t h e

cl erk o f t h e m ag i s t rat e co u rt

, we v acat e an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed in gs co n s i s t en t

wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n

.

1

. Th e o r der a s i t

r el a tes t o t h e Geo r

gi a Bu r ea u o

f In ves t i g a t i o n

.

As p ar t o f h i s p et i t i o n t o t h e t ri al co urt

, L ed b et t er req u es t ed t hat an o rd er o f

res t ri ct i o n b e d i rect ed t o t h e G eo rg i a Bu reau o f In ves t i g at i o n

. Bu t as t o t h is p o rt i o n

o f h i s req u es t, t h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t err i n d en y i ng t h e m ot i o n

.

4Fi rs t

, we t u rn to t h e s t at u t o ry sch em e th at co n t ro l s i n t h i s cas e— i .e.

, t h e

s t at u tes t h at es t ab l i sh an d g o v ern t h e Geo rg ia Cri m e In fo rm at i o n Cen t er, 3 wh i ch i s

a d iv i s i o n o f t h e G eo rg i a B u r e au o f In v es t i gat i o n

. 4 A s al way s

, i n i nt erp ret i n g an y

s t at u te, “ we n eces s ari l y b eg 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 st ru ct i o n .” 5 An d i n co n s id eri n g t h e m ean in g o f a s t at u t e, o u r ch arg e i s to “ p res u m e

t h at t h e Gen eral As s em

b l y m ean t wh at i t s ai d an d s ai d wh at i t m ean t .” 6 To t h at en d,

we m us t affo rd th e s t at u t o ry tex t i t s pl ai n an d o rd i nary m ean i n g

, 7 co ns i d er t h e t ex t

3 S ee OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 0 et

s eq

.

4 OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 (“ Th e Geo rg i a Bu reau o f In v es t i g at i on sh al l b e co m p o s ed o f

t h e In v es t i g at i o n s Di v i s i o n

, t h e Fo ren s i c Sci en ces Di v is i o n

, t h e Geo rg i a Cri m e

In fo rm at i o n Cen t er Di v i s i o n

, an d s u ch ot h er d i v i s io n s as m ay b e creat ed b y t h e

b o ard .”); OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 1 (a) (“ Th ere i s es t ab li s hed fo r t h e s t at e, wi th i n t h e Geo rg i a

Bu reau o f In v es t i gat i o n

, a s y s t em fo r t he i n t ras t at e co m m u n i cat i o n o f v i t al

i n f o rm at io n rel at i n g t o cri m es

, cri m i n al s

, an d cri m i n al act iv i t y

, t o b e k n o wn a s t h e

Geo rg i a Cri m e In fo rm at i o n Cen t er.”).

5 Ho l co mb v. Lo n g , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p . 5 15 , 5 1 7 (1 ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 6 8 7 ) (2 0 1 4).

6 Dea l v. Co l ema n

, 2 9 4 Ga. 1 7 0

, 1 7 2 (1 ) (a) (7 5 1 SE2 d 3 37 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(p u n ct u at i o n an d ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Ar b y’s Res t a u ra n t Gr o up

, In c. v. McRa e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 2 4 3, 2 4 5 (1 ) (7 3 4 SE2 d 5 5 ) (2 01 2 ); Ma r ti n ez v. S t a t e

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 7

, 2 7 3

(7 5 0 SE2 d 5 0 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

7 Dea l

, 29 4 Ga. at 1 7 2 (1 ) (a); s ee S t a t e v. A bl e

, 3 2 1 G a

. A p p

. 6 3 2

, 6 3 6 (7 4 2

SE2 d 1 49 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ A ju d g e is ch arg ed wi t h i n t erp ret in g t h e l aw i n acco rd an ce wi th

t h e o ri g i n al a n d / o r p l ai n m ean i n g o f th e t ex t at i s s u e (an d al l t h at t h e tex t fai rl y

i m p l i es )[.] ”); S i n g l et a r

y v. St at e

, 3 1 0 G a. Ap p

. 5 7 0

, 57 2 (7 1 3 SE2 d 6 9 8 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ In

co n st ru i n g t h es e s t at u t es

, we ap p l y t h e fu n d am en t al ru l es o f s t at u t o ry co ns t ru ct i o n

5co n tex t u al l y

, 8 r e a d t h e t ex t “ in i t s m o s t nat u ral an d reas on ab l e way

, as an o rd i n ary

s p eak er of t h e E n g l i s h l an g uag e wo u l d ,” 9 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 gu ag e m ere s u rp l u s ag e.” 1 0 T hu s

, w h en t h e l an g u ag e o f a s t at u t e i s

p l ai n an d s u s cep t ib le o f o nl y o n e n at u ral an d reas o n 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 ly .” 1 1

t h at req u i re u s t o co n s tru e t h e s t at u t es acco rd i n g t o t h ei r t erm s, [an d ] t o g i v e wo rd s

t h ei r p lai n an d o rd i n ary

m ean i n g [.] ” (p u n ct u at i o n & ci tat i on o m i t ted )).

8 S ee Ar i z o n a v. In t er Tr i b a l Co un ci l o f A ri zo n a

, In c. , 5 7 0 U.S. 1

, 1 0 (II) (B)

(1 3 3 SCt 2 2 4 7

, 1 8 6 LE2 d 2 3 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (Scal i a, J .) (“ W o rd s t hat can h av e m o re t h an

o n e m ean i n g are gi v en co n t en t

, h o w ev er, b y t h e i r s u rro u nd i n g s .” (p u n ct u at i o n &

ci t at i o n o m i t t ed )); Dea l

, 2 94 Ga. at 17 2 (1 ) (a) (“ [W ] e m u st v i ew t h e s t at u t o ry t ex t in

t h e co n tex t i n w h ich i t ap p ears [.] ”); Hen d r y v. Hen d r y

, 2 9 2 Ga. 1

, 3 (1 ) (7 3 4 SE2 d

4 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (s am e); In t h e In t er es t o f L

. T

. , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 0

, 59 2 (7 5 4 SE2 d 3 8 0 )

(2 0 1 4) (s am e); Ma r t i n ez

, 3 2 5 G a

. Ap p

. at 2 7 3 (s am e); s ee a l s o OCGA § 1 -3 -1 (b )

(“ In al l in t erp ret at i o n s o f s t at u t es

, t h e o rd i n ary s i g n ifi cat i o n s h al l b e ap p li e d t o al l

wo rd s

. . . .”); S

ch er r v. M

a r r i o t t In t er n

., In c.

, 7 0 3 F.3 d 1 0 6 9

, 1 0 7 7 (7 t h Ci r

. 2 0 1 3 )

(M an i o n

, J .) (“ In s t at u t o ry co n s t ru ct i o n cas es

, w e b e g i n wi t h t he lan g u ag e o f t h e

s t at u te it s el f an d th e s p eci fi c co n t ex t i n wh i ch t h at l an g uag e is u s ed .” (p u n ct u at i o n

& ci t at i o n o m i t t ed )).

9 Dea l

, 2 9 4 Ga. at 1 7 2-7 3 (1 ) (a); a cco r d Lu a n gkh o t v. St a t e

, 2 9 2 G a. 4 2 3

, 4 2 4

(1 ) (7 36 SE2 d 3 97 ) (2 0 1 3 ); M a r t i n ez , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p. at 2 73

.

1 0 In t h e In t er es t o

f L. T.

, 32 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 9 2 (p u n ct u at i o n & ci tat i o n o m i t t ed );

a cco rd Ga

. Tr a ns mi s s io n Co rp

. v. W o r ley

, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. 85 5

, 8 56 (7 2 0 SE2 d 3 0 5 )

(2 0 1 1); S i n g l et a r

y , 3 10 Ga. Ap p . at 5 7 2

.

1 1 Lu a n g kh o t

, 2 9 2 Ga. at 4 2 4 (1 ) (p un ct u at i o n om i t t ed ); s ee Dea l

, 2 94 G a

. a t

1 7 3 (1 ) (a) (“ [I] f t h e s t at ut o ry t ex t i s cl ear an d u n am bi g u o u s

, we at t ri bu t e t o t h e

s t at u te i ts p l ai n m e a n i ng

, an d o u r s earch fo r s t at u t o ry m ean i n g i s at an en d.”

6Lo o k i n g t o th e s t at u t e i n qu es t i o n

, O CGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 al l o ws fo r t h e “ res t ri ct i o n ”

o f cri m i n al h i s t o ry reco rd in fo rm at i on u n d er cert ai n ex p lic it c ir c u m sta nc e s, 1 2 d efi n i n g

“ res t ri ct ,” “ res t ri ct ed ,” an d “ res t ri ct i o n ” as fo l l o ws :

[T] h e cri m i nal h i s t o ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n o f an i nd i v i d u al rel at i n g to a

p art i cu l ar ch arg e s h al l b e av ai l ab l e o n ly t o ju d i ci al o ffi ci al s an d cri m i nal

ju s t i ce ag en ci es fo r l aw en fo rcem en t o r cri m in al in v es ti g at i v e p u rp o ses

o r t o cri m i n al ju st i ce ag en ci es f o r p u rp o s es of em

pl o y m en t i n

acco rd an ce wi t h p r o ced u res es t ab l i s h ed b y th e cen ter[ 1 3 ] an d s hal l n o t

b e d i s cl o s ed o r o t h erwi s e m ad e av ai lab l e to an y p ri v at e p e r s o n s o r

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); Ma r t in ez , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . at 2 73 (s am e).

1 2 S ee Na si r v. Gwi n n et t Ct

y. S t a t e Co u r t

, 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3

, 67 (7 98 SE2 d 6 9 5 )

(2 0 1 7) (M cM il l i an

, J

., s p eci al l y co n cu rri n g ) (“ Wh i l e acces s t o cri m i n al h i s t o ry

i n fo rm at i o n is b ro ad l y g ran ted

, t h e p ri m ary s tat u t e res t ri ct i n g acces s i s v ery s p eci fi c,

an d i n ord er t o d et erm i n e i f acces s s h o u ld o r m ay b e res t ri ct ed

, we m u st l o o k t o t h e

s pe c if ic p ro v i s io n s o f [OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 ] t h at p ro v i d e fo r res t ri ct ed acces s .” (fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed )), cer t. den i ed (Sep t

. 1 3

, 2 0 1 7 ). S ee g en er a l l

y Mo s ley v. Lo we

, 2 9 8 Ga. 3 6 3,

3 6 4 (1 ) (7 8 2 SE2 d 4 3 ) (2 0 16 ) (“ Th e cu rren t v ers i on o f OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 was en act ed

as p art o f a co m

p reh en s i ve cri m i n al ju s t i ce r efo rm effo rt s p earh ead ed in 2 0 1 1 by

Go v ern o r Nat han Deal

. Si g ned i n t o l aw in May 2 0 1 2

, Ho us e Bi l l 1 1 7 6 co n s ti t u t ed an

o m ni b u s p ack ag e o f refo rm s t o t h e St at e’ s cri m i n al ju s ti ce laws a n d p ro ced u res

, wh i ch

, i n t er al i a, rep laced t he p rev i ou s v ers i o n of O CGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 wi t h t h e cu rren t

v ers i on

, effect iv e J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 3

. U n d er t h e cu rren t l aw, t h e co n cep t o f ‘ res t ri ct i o n ,’

wh ereb y arres t reco rd s are gen eral l y s h i el d ed fro m p u b li c v i ew, rep l aces th e co n cep t

o f ‘ ex p u n g em en t

, ’ u nd er wh i ch s u ch reco rd s were d es t ro y ed o u t ri g h t.” (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed )).

1 3 Th e wo rd “ cen t er” i s d efi n ed t o m ean t h e Geo rg i a Cri m e In fo rm at i o n Cen t er.

OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 0 (1 .1 ).

7b u s i n es s es p u rs u an t t o Co d e Sect i o n 3 5 -3 -3 4 o r t o g o v e r n m en t al

ag en ci es o r l icen s in g an d reg u l at i n g ag en ci es p u rs uan t t o Co d e Sect i o n

3 5 -3 -3 5

. 1 4

Th u s, t he Co d e p ro v i d es t hat “ [a] cces s t o an i n di v i d u a l ’ s cri m i n al h is t ory reco rd

i n fo r m a t io n

, i n cl u d i n g an y fi n g erp ri n t s o r p h ot o g rap h s o f t h e i n d i v i d ual t ak en in

co n j u n ct i o n wi t h t h e arres t, s h a l l b e r es t r ict ed b y th e cen t er ” wh en

, i n t er a l ia

, “ [a] ft er

i n d i ct m en t o r accu s at io n [,] ” an d “ [e] x cep t as p ro v i d ed i n s u b s ect i o n (i ),” t h e ch arg es

ag ai n s t t he i n d i v i du al “ were d is m i s s ed o r no l l e p ro ss ed [.] ” 1 5 Th e ex cep t io n t o t h i s

1 4 OCGA § 3 5-3 -3 7 (a) (6 ); s ee al s o Na s i r

, 3 41 Ga. Ap p. at 64 -6 5 (1 ) (m ajo ri t y )

(“ Pro v i d i n g fo r ‘ res t ri ct i o n’ rat h er t h an ‘e x p u n g em en t ,’ OCGA § 35 -3 -3 7 p ro v i d es

t h at

, un d er cert ai n ci rcu m s t an ces

, ‘ t h e cri m i n al h is to ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n o f an

i n d i v i d u al rel at i n g t o a p art i cu l ar ch arg e

. . . s h al l n ot b e d i s cl o s ed o r o t h erwi s e m ad e

av ai l ab l e t o an y p ri v at e p ers o n s o r b u si n es s es p u rs u an t t o Co d e Sect i o n 3 5 -3 -3 4 o r

t o g o v ern m e n t al ag en ci es or l i cen s i n g an d reg u l at i n g ag en ci es p u rs u an t t o Co d e

Sect i o n 3 5 -3 -3 5 .’ ”).

1 5 O CGA § 3 5-3 -3 7 (h ) (2 ) (A) (em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ); see a l

s o Mo s l ey

, 2 9 8 Ga.

at 3 64 (1 ) (“ Un d er t h e cu rren t vers i on o f OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7

, in d i v i d u al s are affo rd ed

t h e ri g h t t o au to m at i c res t ri ct i o n o f th ei r cri m i n a l h i s t o ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n

p ert a i n i n g t o m o s t arres t s u l t i m at el y en d i n g i n no n -co nv i ct i o n .” (fo o t n o t es &

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); Do e v. S t a t e

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 2 4 6

, 2 4 6 (8 1 9 SE2 d 5 8) (2 0 1 8 )

(“ As am en d ed t h e Co d e s ect i o n p ro v i d es th at

, fo r m o s t arres ts t h at u l t i m at el y en d in

n o n -co n v i ct i o n

, acces s t o t h e arres t ee’ s cri m i n al h i s t o ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n t h at i s

k ep t on a s t at ewi d e b as i s b y th e Geo rg i a Cri m e In fo rm at i o n Cen t er

. . . an d co m m o n l y

r e f e r r e d t o as a ‘ G CIC rep o rt ,’ s h al l b e au to m at i cal ly res t ri ct ed b y GCIC u n d er

s p e ci fi ed ci rcu m s tan ces .” (fo o t n o t es & p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed )); Na s i r

, 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p.

at 65 (1 ) (“ Th e s t at u t e d irect s t h at acces s t o ‘ an i n d iv id u al ’ s cri m i n al h is t o ry reco rd

i n fo rm at i o n ’ s h al l b e ‘ res t r i c t e d ’ f o r cert ai n s p eci fi ed ‘ t y

p es of d i s p o s i t i o n s .’ A

8au t o m at i c an d m an dat o ry d i rect i v e a r i s e s wh en ch arg es were no l l e pr o s s ed o r

d i s m i s s ed b ecau s e

(A) [o ] f a p lea ag reem en t res u l t i n g i n a co n v ict i o n of t h e i n d i vi d u al fo r

an o ffen s e ari s i n g o u t o f t h e s am e u n d erl y i n g t ran sact i o n o r o ccu rren ce

as t h e co n v i ct i o n;

(B) [t ] h e pro s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey was barred fro m in t ro d u ci n g m at eri al

ev i d en ce ag ai n s t t h e i nd i v id u al o n l eg al g ro u n d s

, i n cl u d i n g

, wi t h o u t

l i m i t at i o n , t h e g ran t i n g o f a m o t i o n t o s u pp res s o r m o t i o n i n l i m i n e;

(C) [t ] h e co nd u ct w h ich res u l t ed i n t h e arres t o f t h e i n d iv i d ual was p art

o f a p at t ern o f cri m i n al act i v i t y wh i ch was p ro s ecu t ed i n an o t her co u rt

o f t h e s t at e o r a fo rei g n n at i o n ; o r

(D) [t ] h e i nd iv i d u al had d i p l om at i c, co n s u l ar, o r s i m i lar i m m u n i t y o r

i n v i ol ab i l it y

fro m arres t o r p ro s ecu t i o n[.] 1 6

In s u ch cas es , t h e i nd i v i d u al ’ s cri m i n al h i s t o ry reco rd “ s h al l n o t

b e res tri ct ed [.] ” 1 7

d i s p o s i t i on w h ere ‘ al l ch arg es were d is m i s s ed o r n o l l e p ro s s ed ’ i s o n e o f t h o s e.”

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed )).

1 6 OCGA § 3 5-3 -3 7 (i ) (1 ) (A)-(D); s ee Na s i r

, 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p. at 6 5 (1 ) (“ Becau s e

[t he ap p el l an t ] i s no t en t i t led t o res t ri ct i o n o f h i s reco rd u n der O CGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (h )

(2 ) (A) in t h e f

i r s t i n s t an ce, we need no t co n si d er t h e ap p li cab il i ty o f an y o f t h e

ex cep t i o n s t o res t ri ct i o n s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (i ).”).

1 7 OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (i ) (em ph as i s s up p l i ed ).

9Here, al t h o ug h t h e tri al co u rt ’ s o rd er s ay s t h at Led b et t er’ s 2 0 1 6 cas e was n o l l e

p r o s s ed by t h e St at e “ fo r u n res t ri ct ab l e reas o n s ,” t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n t o n o l le p r o s s e

d o e s n o t s up p o rt t hi s co n cl u s i o n

. In d eed

, t h e St at e’ s m o t i on g i v es n o g ro u n d s t o

s u p p ort i t s req u es t t o no l l e pr o s s e

, o n ly ch eck i ng t h e “ o t h er” b o x to s peci fy t h at

Led bet ter was t o h av e n o co n t act wi t h t h e v i ct i m

. In s tead

, it ap pears t h at Led b et t er’ s

2 0 1 6 cas e was s ub

ject t o a u to ma t i c reco rd res t ri ct i on

, 1 8 th e i m p li cat i o n s o f w h i ch we

wi l l fu rt h er d i s cu s s b el o w.

Th u s

, t o t h e ex t en t th e t ri al co urt d en i ed Led b et t er’ s m o t io n as t o t h e Geo rg i a

Bu reau of I n v es t i g at io n

, w e affi rm b ecau s e t h e Geo rg ia Cri m e In fo rm at i o n Cen t er

was req u i red to a u t o ma t i ca l l y res t ri ct Led b et t er’ s reco rd

. 1 9 An d ev en i f t h e reco rd was

n o t s ub ject t o au t om at i c res t ri ct i o n

, n o t h i n g i n t h e s t at ut e perm i ts t h e s t at e co u rt t o

1 8 S ee s u p r a n o t es 1 5 -1 6 & acco m p an y i n g t ex t

.

1 9 S ee s u p r a n o tes 1 5-1 6 & acco m p an y i n g t ex t

. See g en er al l y B o n i t a An n

Hu g g i n s

, Gi ve It t o Me, I’m W o r t h It : T

h e Need t o Amen d Geo r g i a ’s Reco r d

Res t r i ct io n s S t a t u t e t o Pr o vi d e Ex- O f f en d er s W i t h a S eco n d Ch an ce i n t h e

Emp l o ymen t S ect o r

, No t e, 5 2 G a

. L

. Rev

. 2 6 7, 2 9 6-9 7 (V) (B) (2 0 1 7) (“ W h i l e t h e

ren am in g o f t h e p ro ces s was t he m o s t o b v i ou s ch an g e, t h e m o s t s i g n i fi can t ch an g e

was a b u rd en s h ift

. Un d er t h e p rev i o u s ex p u n g em en t l aw, t h e o n u s w as o n t h e

i n d i v i d u al t o req u es t ex p u ng em en t of el i g i b l e o ffen s es

, bu t t h e n ew l aw req u i res t h e

GCIC t o res t ri ct cert ai n reco rd s wi t h ou t a req ues t fro m t h e i n d iv i d u al

. ”).

10o rd er t he Geo rg i a Cri m e In fo rm at i o n Cen t er/ Geo rg i a Bu reau o f In v es t i g a t i o n to

res t ri ct a reco rd t h at i s n o t s u bject t o au t o m at i c res t ri ct i o n

.

2

. Th e o r der a s i t

r el a tes t o l a w-en

f or cemen t o ff i ces

.

Led b et t er al s o req u es t ed t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i rect an o rd er o f res t ri ct i o n t o t h e

cu s t o d i an s o f reco rd fo r t h e Cl ay t o n Co u nt y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce, th e C l ay to n Co u n t y

Po l i ce Dep art m en t, an d “ [a] ny o t h er ‘ En t it y ’ as defi n ed b y [OCGA] § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (a) (2 ),

h av in g cu s t o d y o r co n t ro l o f an y i n fo rm at io n p ert i n en t ” to th e 20 1 6 cas e. On ce ag ai n,

w e d i s a g r ee t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h is req u es t as i t rel at es t o t h es e

s p eci fi c g ro u p s

.

To b eg i n wi t h

, “ En t i t y ” i s d efi ned as “ t h e arres t i n g l aw en fo rcem en t ag en cy

,

i n cl u d i n g co u n ty an d m u n ici p al jai l s an d d et en t i o n cen t ers .” 2 0 An d wh en an

i n d i v i d u al ’ s cri m in al h i s t o ry reco rd i s s u bject t o res t ri ct i o n u n d er OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7,

t h e Geo rg i a Cri m e In fo rm at i o n Cen t er is req u i re d t o “ n o t i fy th e arres ti n g l aw

en fo rcem en t ag en cy

. . . wi t h in 3 0 d ay s o f t h e d at e acces s t o [cri m i n al h i st o ry reco rd ]

i n fo rm at i o n i s res t ri ct ed .” 2 1 Ad d i t i on al l y

, t h i s s t at u t e al l o ws an i n d i vi d u al “ wh o h as

h ad cri m i n al h i s t ory reco rd i n fo rm at i o n res t ri ct ed ” u n d er i t t o “ s u bm i t a wri t t en

2 0 OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (a) (2 ).

2 1 OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (k ) (1 ).

11req u es t t o t h e ap p ro p ri at e co u n t y o r m u n ici p al j ai l o r d et en t i o n cen ter t o h av e al l

reco rd s fo r su ch i n d iv id u al ’ s ch arg e m ai n t ai n ed b y t h e ap p ro p ri at e co u n t y o r

m u ni ci p al jai l o r det en t i o n cen t er res t ri ct ed

, ” an d t h e “ ap p ro pri at e co u n t y o r

m u ni ci p al j ai l o r d et en t i on cen t er” m u s t t h en res tri ct acces s t o t h e i n fo rm at i o n wi t h in

3 0 d ay s o f t h e req ues t

. 2 2

Becau s e i t ap pears fro m t h e reco rd t h at t h e cri m i n al h is to ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n

rel at ed t o Led b et t er’ s 2 0 1 6 b at t ery ch arg es was s u b ject t o au t o m at i c res t ri ct i o n

, n ot

o n l y was t h e Geo rg i a Cri m e In fo rm at i o n Cen t er r e q u i r ed to pro v i d e n o t i fi cat i o n o f

s am e to th e ap pro p ri at e “ en t i t y

, ” b u t i f h e wi s hed t o d o s o

, Led b et t er was req u i red to

d i rect h i s o wn req u es t fo r res t ri ct i o n “ t o t he ap p ro p ri at e co u n t y o r m u n i ci p al jai l o r

d et en t i o n cen t er.” 2 3 Th en

, o nl y i f t h e “ en t it y d ecl in e[d ] t o res t r i c t acces s t o s u ch

i n fo rm at i o n ,” co u l d Led b et t er “ f i l e a c i v i l act i o n in t h e s u p er i o r co u rt wh ere t h e

en t i t y i s l o cat ed .” 2 4 Th ereaft er, t h e en t i t y ’ s deci s i o n m ay on l y b e u p hel d i f t h e co u rt

d et erm i n es “ b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce t h at t h e in di v id u al d i d n o t m eet t h e

2 2 OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (k ) (2 ).

2 3 S ee i d

.

2 4 OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (l ) (em ph as i s s up p l i ed ).

12cri t eri a” fo r au t o m at i c reco rd res t ri ct i o n u n der s u bs ect i o n s (h ) an d (j) o f OCGA § 3 5

-

3 -3 7

. 2 5

Acco rd i ng l y

, i n l i g ht o f t h i s p ro v i s i o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f Led b et t er’ s

m o t i o n a s i t p ert ai n ed t o t h e Cl ay t o n Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce, t he Cl ay t o n Co u n t y

Po l i ce Dep art m en t, an d “ [a] n y o t h er ‘ En t i t y ’ as d efi n ed b y [OCGA] § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (a) (2 ),

h av in g cu s t o d y o r co nt ro l of an y i n fo rm at io n pert i n en t ” was ap pro p ri at e b ecau s e

n o t h i n g i n t h e r e c o rd sh o ws t hat Led b et t er fo l l o wed t h e p ro per p ro ced u re b y fi rs t

m ak i n g a req u es t of t he ap pro p ri at e en t i t y

. 2 6 A d d it i on al l y

, ev en i f L ed b et t er h ad fi rs t

2 5 Id

.

2 6 Cf

. Mo s l ey

, 29 8 Ga. at 3 6 3

, 3 6 6 (3 ) ( a f f i r m i n g s u peri or co u rt ’ s rev ers al o f

d eci s i o n t o d en y ap p el l an t ’ s req u es t t o co u n ty s heri ff’ s o ffi ce fo r res t ri ct i on o f arres t

reco rd ). T h e St at e arg u es t h at Led b et t er’ s m o t i o n w a s ap p ro p ri at el y d en i ed i n i t s

en t i ret y b ecau se h e fai l ed t o fo l l o w t h e p ro ced u res o u tl i n ed i n OCGA § 35 -3 -3 7 (n )

an d

, ad d i t i o n al l y

, th at t h i s Co u rt l ack s ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er t hi s ap p eal d u e t o s am e. Bu t

t h i s arg u m en t i s wi t h o u t m eri t b ecau s e OCGA § 3 5-3 -3 7 (n ) i s o n l y ap p l i cab l e to

“ arres t s o ccu rri ng b ef

o re Ju l y 1

, 2 0 1 3[.] ” OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (n ) (1 ) ( e m p h a s i s

s u p p li ed ); s ee a ls o Mo s l ey , 2 9 8 Ga. at 3 65 (1 ) (“ As a m ean s o f ad d res s in g cri m i n al

h i s t o ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n p red at i n g th e effect i ve d at e o f t h es e am en d m en t s

, t h e

s t at u te ex p res s l y p r o v i d e s t h at ‘ as t o arres ts o ccu rri n g b efo re J u ly 1

, 2 0 1 3

, an

i n d i v i d u al m ay

, i n wri ti n g

, req u es t t h e arres t in g l aw e n fo rcem en t ag en cy t o res t ri ct

t h e cri m i n al h is t o ry re c o r d i nfo rm at i on of an arres t .’ ” (ci t i n g OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (n )

(1 ))); W oo d h o u se v. S t a t e

, 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p. 8 8 0, 8 81 (7 85 SE2 d 4 2 9 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (“ OCGA

§ 3 5 -3 -3 7 (n ) (1 )

. . . o n l y m a k e s a n e x c ep ti o n fo r p arag rap h (j) wi th reg ard s to

p re-J u l y 1

, 2 01 3 [ ] arres t s .”). An d as ex p l ai n ed s u p r a

, Led b et t e r was ch arg ed in

M arch 2 01 6 fo r an i n ci d en t t hat was al l eg ed t o h av e o ccu rred t h at s am e m o n t h an d

y ear (wel l aft er J u l y 1

, 20 1 3 ), l eav i n g o n l y t h e o t h er p ro ced u ral p ro vi s i o n s o f OCGA

13m ad e s u ch a re q u es t

, O CGA § 3 5-3 -3 7 (l ) req u i res a ci v i l act i o n t h at fo l l o ws t h e

en t i t y ’ s den i al o f th e req u es t t o b e fi l ed i n s u per i o r co u rt

, 2 7 n o t s t at e co u rt

, an d h ere

we are faced wi t h an o rd er i s s u ed b y t h e St at e Co u rt o f Cl ay t o n Co un t y

. 2 8

3

. Th e o rd

er a s i t rel a t es t o t h e cl er ks of co u rt f

or t h e Cl a

yt o n Co u n t

y

Ma g i s t r at e Co ur t a n d Cl a yt o n Co u n t

y S t a t e Co u r t

.

Fi n al l y

, in Led bet t er’ s p et i t i o n

, h e req u es ts t h at t h e Cl ay t o n C o un t y St at e Co u rt

d i rect an o rd er o f res tri ct i on t o t h e cl erk o f co u rt o f b o th t h at co u rt an d t h e Cl ay t o n

Co u n t y M ag i s trat e Co u rt

. An d as t h e ord er rel at es t o th e co u rt s o f Cl ay t o n Co u n t y

,

we v acat e an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n si s ten t wi t h t h is o p i n i on

.

Ret u rn i n g t o t h e s t at u t e, fo r cri m i n al h i s t o ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n m ai n t ai n ed by

cl erk s o f co u rt

, wh en a reco rd i s au t o m at ical l y res t ri ct ed u nd er OCGA § 3 5-3 -3 7

, t h e

i n d i v i d u al “ m ay p et i ti o n t h e co u rt w i t h o ri g i n al ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er t he ch arg es i n t h e

§ 3 5-3 -3 7 ap pl i cab le t o h i s p et i t i o n

.

2 7 S ee OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (l ) (“ If cri m i n al h i s t o ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n is res t ri ct ed

p u rs u an t t o t h i s Co d e s ect io n an d if t h e en t i t y d ecl i n es t o res t ri ct acce s s t o s u ch

i n fo rm at i o n

, t h e i n d i v id u al m ay fi l e a ci v i l act i o n in t he s u p eri or co u rt wh ere t h e

en t i t y i s l o cat ed . . . .”).

2 8 As m en t i o n ed s u

p r a

, Led b et t er i n i t ial l y fi l ed h i s pet i t i o n i n th e s u p eri o r

co u rt

. Th e reco rd d o es n o t refl ect h o w o r wh y t h e p et i t i o n was t h en m o v ed t o an d

fi led in t h e s t at e co u rt

.

14co u nt y wh ere t h e c l e r k o f co u rt i s lo cat ed fo r an o rd er t o s eal al l cri m i n al h i s t o ry

reco rd i n fo rm at io n m ai n t ai n ed b y t h e cl erk o f co u rt fo r s u ch i n d i vi d ual ’ s ch arg e.” 2 9

An d aft er s u ch a p et i t i o n i s recei v ed

, t h e co u rt m us t o rd er th at t h e i n fo rm at i o n i n t h e

cl erk o f co urt ’ s cu s t o d y b e “ res t ri ct ed an d un av ai l ab l e t o t h e p u b l ic” o n l y i f t h e co u rt

fi nd s

, b y a prep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce, t h at “ [t ] h e c r i m i n al h i s t o ry reco rd

i n fo rm at i o n h as b een res t ri ct ed p urs u an t t o t h i s Co d e s ect i o n ; an d

. . . [t ]h e h a r m

o t h erwi s e res u l t i n g t o t h e p ri v acy o f t h e i nd i v i d u al cl earl y o u t wei g h s th e p u b l i c

i n t eres t i n t h e cri m i n al h i s t o ry reco rd i nfo rm at i o n b ei n g p ub l i cl y av ai l ab l e.” 3 0

Here, t h e St at e Co urt o f Cl ay t o n Co un t y h ad o ri g i n al ju ri s d ict i o n o v er t h e 2 0 1 6

m i s d em ean o r ch arg es

, w h ich were n o l l e p r o ss ed aft er t he cas e was b o u n d o v er fro m

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

. 3 1 Bu t o n c e ag ai n

, al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g

Led bet ter’ s pet i t i on t o res tri ct s ay s t h at h i s 2 0 1 6 cas e was no l l e p r o s s ed b y t h e St at e

“ fo r u nres t ri ct ab l e reas on s ,” t h e St at e’ s m ot i o n t o n o l l e p r o s se in no way s u p p o rt s t h i s

2 9 OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (m ) (1 ).

3 0 OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (m ) (2 ) (A)-(B).

3 1 S ee OCGA § 1 5 -7 -4 (a) (1 ) (“ E ach s t at e co u rt s h al l h av e ju ri s d ict i o n

, wi t h in

t h e t erri t ori al l i m i ts o f t h e co u n t y o r co u nt i es fo r wh i ch it was creat ed an d co n cu rren t

wi t h t h e s u p eri o r co urt s

, ov er

. . . [t ] h e t ri al of cri m i n al cas es b el o w t h e g r a d e o f

fel o n y [.] ”).

15co n cl u s i o n . Th e m o t i o n p ro v i d es n o g ro u nd s t o s u p po rt t he req u es t t o n o l l e p r o s s e

,

an d t h e St at e on l y ch eck ed a b o x m ark ed “ o t h er” t o s p eci fy t h at L ed b et t er was to

h av e n o co n t act wi t h t h e v i ct i m

. B u t n e i t h er t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n n o r th e t ri al co urt ’ s

o rd er g ran t i n g t he n o ll e p ro s s e i n d i cat es t hat i t was fo r “ u n res t ri ct ab l e reas o n s .”

Nev ert h el es s

, in h is rem ai n in g en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, Led b et t er t ak es i s s u e

wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s m en t i o n t h at h e was a co n v ict ed fe l o n wh o was wan t ed fo r

v i o l at i o n o f p ro bat i o n a n d t h at h e was t h en i n carcerat ed i n a n o t h e r co u n t y ’ s jai l

.

Led bet ter al so arg u es t h at t h e co u rt t reat ed h i m ad v ers el y d u e t o h i s h av i n g m ad e a

fi rs t o ffen d er pl ea, al t h o u g h t h e r e i s n o d i rect m en t i on an y w h ere in t h e reco rd o f

Led bet ter h av i n g p l ead ed g ui l t y as a fi rs t o ffen d er.

W i t h reg ard to t hes e arg um en t s

, Led b et t er’ s i ncarcerat i o n o n ot h er ch arg es in

a d i fferen t co u nt y ’ s jai l w o ul d h av e at l eas t b een rel ev an t to h i s m ot i o n fo r an o rd er

t o p ro d u ce s o th at he co u l d a t t en d t h e h eari n g s ch ed ul ed o n hi s p et i t i o n t o res t ri ct

reco rd s

. 3 2 Bu t i t i s u n cl ear fro m t h e t ri al co urt ’ s cu rs o ry (an d s o m ewh at v ag ue) o rd er

wh at rel ev an ce, i f an y

, Led b et t er’ s fel o n y co n v i ct i o n i n t h e Su p eri o r Co urt o f Cl ay t o n

Co u n t y an d h i s res u l t i n g p ro bat i o n -v i o l at i o n warran t h ad o n i t s d eci s i o n to d en y h i s

3 2 Al t h ou g h Led bet t er m en t io n s t h e den i al of h i s m o t io n to p ro d u ce o n ap p eal

,

t h i s m o t i o n was ap p ro p ri at el y d en i ed as m o o t aft er th e t ri al co u rt can cel l ed t h e

h eari n g o n h i s p et it i o n t o res tri ct reco rd s.

16p et i t i o n fo r res t ri ct io n

. Nev ert h el es s

, al t h o u gh th e reco rd s u g g es ts t h at L ed b et t e r’ s

2 0 1 6 m i s d em ean o r ch arg es were n o t n o ll e p r o s s ed fo r u n res tr ic ta ble r eas o n s

, we o nce

a g a i n reco gn i ze t h at th e ex cep t i o n t o au t o m at i c an d m an d at o ry reco rd res t ri ct i o n

ari s es wh en ch arg es were n o l l e p r o s s ed b ecau se, i n t er a l i a

, “ [o ] f a p l ea ag reem en t

r e s u l t in g i n a co n v i ct i o n o f t h e i n d i v i d ual fo r an o ffen s e ari s i n g o ut o f t h e s am e

u n d erl y i n g t ran s act io n o r occu rren ce as t h e co n v ict i o n ” 3 3 o r b ecau s e “ [t ] h e co n d u ct

wh i ch res u l t ed i n t h e arres t of th e i n d i v i d u al was p art o f a p at t ern of cri m i n al act iv i t y

wh i ch was p ro s ecu t ed i n an o t her co u rt o f t h e s t at e o r a fo rei g n n at i o n [.] ” 3 4

Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er as wri t t en l eav es o p en t h e p o s s i b il i ty t h at an

ex cep t i o n u n d er OCGA § 3 5-3 -3 7 (i ) (l ) ap p l i es

, we v acat e t h e tri al co u rt ’ s o rd er as

i t r e l a t e s t o t h e co un t y cl erk s o f co urt an d rem an d fo r ad d i t i o nal p ro ceed i n g s

, i f

n eces s ary

, as wel l as t h e en t ry o f a n ew o rd er t h at (1 ) p ro v i d es a m o re t h o ro u g h

ex p lan at i o n o f t h e reas o n s fo r t h e d en i al o f Led b et t er’ s p et i t i o n, an d (2 ) i s m ad e u n d er

t h e s t an d ard s s et fo rt h in OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7. In t h i s reg ard

, i f Led b et t er’ s 2 0 16 ch arg es

wer e s u b j ect to au t o m at i c res t ri ct i o n, t h e t ri al co urt m u s t o n l y o rd er t h e cl erk o f co u rt

t o res t ri ct t ho s e reco rd s if t h e co u rt al s o fi n d s t h at “ [t ] h e h arm o t h erwi s e res u l t i n g to

3 3 OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (i ) (1 ) (A).

3 4 OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (i ) (1 ) (C).

17t h e p ri v acy o f t h e i n d iv i d u al cl e a rl y o ut wei g h s th e p u b l i c i n t eres t i n t h e cri m i n al

h i s t o ry reco rd i n fo rm at i o n b ei n g p u b l icl y av ai l ab l e.” 3 5

Fo r al l t hes e reas o ns

, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er as i t rel at es t o an y req u es t

d i rect ed t o t h e Geo rg i a Bu reau of In v es t i g at io n

, th e Cl ay to n Co u n ty Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce,

t h e Cl ay t o n Co u n ty

Po l i ce Dep art m en t , an d o th er “ en t i ti es ” as d efi n ed b y OCGA §

3 5 -3 -3 7 (a) (2 ), bu t we v acat e an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s as t o t h at p o rt i o n

o f t h e o rd er pert ai n i n g t o t h e cl erk s o f co u rt fo r t h e Cl ay t o n Co u n t y St at e Co u rt an d

Cl ay t o n Co u n t y

M ag i s t rat e Co u rt

.

Ju d g men t a f f ir med i n p a r t

, va ca t ed i n p a r t

, a n d ca s e rema n ded wi t h d i r ect i o n.

Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Mer ci er , J., co n cu r

.

3 5 OCGA § 35 -3 -3 7 (m ) (2 ) (A)-(B); s ee D o e

, 34 7 Ga. A p p

. at 2 5 3 (4 )

(an al y zi n g p reced en t fro m th e Su p rem e Co u rt of Geo rg i a t o ex p l ai n t h at “ [OCGA §

3 5 -3 -3 7 (m )] req u i r e s t h e t ri al co u rt t o ap p l y a bal an ci n g t es t an d t o wei g h t h e

co m p et i n g i n t eres ts o f t h e h arm t o t h e p et i t i o n er’ s p ri v acy ag ai n s t t he p u b l ic’ s i n t eres t

i n acces s to t h e p et i t i o ner’ s cri m i n al reco rd

. . . . T h e c o m p et i n g i n t eres t s t o b e

co n si d ered i n th e co n t ex t o f seal i ng reco rd s u n d er cu rren t O CGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (m ) are

t h e s am e as t h e i n t eres t s t h at were t o b e co ns i d ere d i n t h e c o n t ex t o f ex p u n g i n g

cri m i n al reco rd s u n d er fo rm er OCGA § 3 5 -3 -3 7 (d ), b u t t h e n ew p ro vi s i o n s are ev en

m o re p ro t ect i v e o f arres t ees ’ p ri v acy i n t eres t s ”); s ee a l

so Do e , 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 5 7

( B e t h el

, J

., co ncu rri ng sp eci al l y ) (wri t i n g s ep arat el y t o “ em p has i ze t h at OC G A §

3 5 -3 -3 7 (m ) (2 ) ch arg es t h e t ri al co u rt wi t h m ak i n g a fact u al fi n d i ng

, n o t a p o l i cy

ju d g m en t ”).

18