James E. Lott Jr. v. State ( 2015 )

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia
ATLANTA,____________________
September 30, 2015
The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
A16D0043. JAMES E. LOTT, JR. v. THE STATE.
James Lott, Jr. pled guilty to murder on March 27, 2009. On June 3, 2015, the
trial court denied Lott’s pro se motion for an out-of-time appeal, for new trial, and for
deposition of a person confined in prison. On September 9, 2015, Lott filed an
application for discretionary appeal, challenging the trial court’s order. We lack
jurisdiction.
Under our Constitution, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over
“[a]ll cases in which a sentence of death was imposed or could be imposed.” See Ga.
Const. of 1983, Art. VI, Sec. VI, Par. III (8). Because a penalty of death can be
imposed for the crime of murder, jurisdiction is proper in the Supreme Court. See
OCGA § 17-10-30 (b); Neal v. State, 290 Ga. 563, 572 (722 SE2d 765) (2012)
(Hunstein, C. J., concurring); see also State v. Thornton, 253 Ga. 524 (1) (322 SE2d
711) (1984) (directing this Court to transfer “all cases in which either a sentence of
death or of life imprisonment has been imposed upon conviction of murder”). The
Supreme Court’s jurisdiction over murder cases includes appeals from orders
resolving post-judgment motions in such cases. See Simpson v. State, 292 Ga. 764(740 SE2d 124) (2013). For these reasons, Lott’s case is hereby TRANSFERRED
to the Supreme Court for disposition.
Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
09/30/2015
Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
I certify that the above is a true extract from
the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
Witness my signature and the seal of said court
hereto affixed the day and year last above written.
, Clerk.