Court Opinion

ID: 9615373
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 04:35:46.810823+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:56:36.206821
License: Public Domain

Benham, Justice,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I agree with the majority’s conclusion that the habeas court did not err when it granted habeas relief to Ms. Durham. However, I must respectfully dissent from the majority’s determination that the habeas court did not have authority to grant Ms. Durham a bond after granting the petition for a writ of habeas corpus. A successful petitioner for habeas corpus who was not convicted of a capital crime may be released on bail during the pendency of the Warden’s appeal of the grant of habeas corpus relief. OCGA § 9-14-52 (c). The judge of the habeas court was a sitting superior court judge, and judges of the superior courts have authority to hear and determine questions arising upon writs of habeas corpus or bail, when properly brought before them. OCGA § 15-6-9. A superior court also has full power to enforce its decrees when rendered. OCGA § 23-4-31. Accordingly, I believe the superior court judge sitting as a habeas court judge was authorized to enforce its decree granting habeas relief by granting bond pending appeal to the successful habeas petitioner. Because the majority does not give full force to the habeas court’s authority, I dissent.