Opinion ID: 1387806
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the limitation expresses the consensus of the people

Text: Faced with the express limitation in OCGA § 17-7-131 (j), the majority looked to Senate Resolution 388 (and by footnote to a survey) to find that there is a consensus against execution of the mentally retarded in Georgia. If there really is a consensus, then the General Assembly would have sought to amend the constitution to protect all mentally retarded criminal defendants. At the very least, it would have expressly stated that the statute was intended to apply to all mentally retarded criminal defendants, not only those tried after July 1, 1988. The decision to limit the statute to those tried after July 1, 1988 expresses the consensus of the people. The people's will has been nullified and overruled by the majority's reliance on Senate Resolution 388 and the survey.