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Georgia's New Evidence Code: After The Celebration, A Serious Review Of Anticipated Subjects Of Litigation To Be Brought On By The New Legislation, Matthew E. Cook, K. Todd Butler

Mercer Law Review

As January 1, 2013 approaches, the Georgia Bar is anticipating the new Georgia Evidence Code (GEC), House Bill 24, due to take effect on that day. Several authors have canvassed the particular changes the GEC brings to the existing Georgia Rules, of Evidence, as well as the differences between the new GEC and the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE). Those articles are commended for your reading, as they drive not only lawyers' courtroom presentation but also their trial preparation. Rather than rehashing the changes the GEC brings, this Article will address the abbreviated history preceding the passage of House Bill …

Evidence, John E. Hall Jr., W. Scott Henwood, Alex Battey

Mercer Law Review

This year represents the last survey period in which the "old" Georgia Evidence Code, Official Code of Georgia Annotated title 24, reigns. The "new" Georgia Evidence Code, which amends the O.C.G.A. and conforms in large part to the Federal Rules of Evidence, takes effect January 1, 2013. Therefore, next year's survey will undoubtedly report the ways in which Georgia courts have coped with the extensive changes. For now, courts continue to apply the existing Georgia Rules of Evidence. Cases covered in this Article were published between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012, and speak to a variety of topics …

United States V. Diaz: The Gap Between Medication And Restoration, Bryson Mccollum

Mercer Law Review

In United States v. Diaz, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, in a case of first impression, determined whether the state met its burden in applying the United States Supreme Court's test articulated in Sell v. United States, to involuntarily medicate an incompetent, schizophrenic defendant. Based on the Sell test that was established in 2003, the court of appeals had to determine which evidentiary findings were sufficient to meet the clear and convincing evidence standard allowing the State of Georgia to forcibly medicate the appellant, Michael Diaz. The court of appeals found no clear …

Evidence, W. Randall Bassett, Geoffrey M. Drake, Madison H. Kitchens

Mercer Law Review

The 2011 term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit did not signal any new trends in the interpretation and application of the Federal Rules of Evidence, which comes as no surprise given that the Rules have been in effect since 1975. The 2011 term, however, did include a case of first impression for the court and several cases applying well-established law to new and unique factual scenarios. Several of these cases resulted in unpublished opinions bearing no precedential weight but, nevertheless, offering guidance to the practitioner in future cases.

While the admissibility of hearsay testimony …