Court Opinion

ID: 9570203
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:21:01.874339+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:04:34.935057
License: Public Domain

Weltner, Justice,
concurring specially.
I concur in the judgment of remand, but would not rely upon the imprecise “guidelines” of Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778 (93 SC 1756, 36 LE2d 656) (1973) for the reasons stated in my special concurring opinion in Kemp v. Spradlin, 250 Ga. 829 (301 SE2d 874) (1983).
The opportunity to be heard “in person or by counsel,” OCGA § 42-8-38(b) (Code Ann. § 27-2713), should be interpreted to give to an indigent probationer the same protection which the law gives to a probationer with enough money to hire a lawyer. “Protection to person and property is the paramount duty of government and shall be impartial and complete. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws.” Constitution of Georgia of 1983, Art. I, Sec. I, *519Par. II (Code Ann. § 2-102).