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George Sharrod Johns v. Georgia
Paid petition · Supreme Court of Georgia, No. S25A0875 · judgment August 12, 2025
Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.
Question presented
A forensic pathologist who performed an autopsy on a homicide victim was unavailable for trial. In her place, the State of Georgia offered testimony by a “peer review” pathologist who did not participate in the autopsy but testified as to the results based on her review of the autopsy report. Does the surrogate’s oral recitation of testimonial hearsay from an unadmitted autopsy report violate the Confrontation Clause?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Richard A. Simpson
Wiley Rein, LLP
For respondent
John Henry Tab Thompson
Georgia Department of Law
Proceedings
- Apr 20 2026Petition DENIED.
- Mar 25 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/17/2026.
- Mar 20 2026Reply of petitioner George Sharrod Johns filed.
- Mar 09 2026Brief of respondent Georgia in opposition filed.
- Feb 06 2026Brief amicus curiae of Southern Center for Human Rights filed.
- Feb 06 2026Brief amicus curiae of DUI Defense Lawyers Association filed.
- Jan 14 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including March 9, 2026.
- Jan 12 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response from February 6, 2026 to March 9, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
- Jan 07 2026Response Requested. (Due February 6, 2026)
- Dec 30 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/16/2026.
- Dec 22 2025Waiver of right of respondent Georgia to respond filed.
- Dec 10 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 12, 2026)
- Oct 22 2025Application (25A460) granted by Justice Thomas extending the time to file until December 10, 2025.
- Oct 20 2025Application (25A460) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from November 10, 2025 to January 9, 2026, submitted to Justice Thomas.