No. 25-689

George Sharrod Johns v. Georgia

Lower Court: Georgia
Docketed: 2025-12-12
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Amici (2)Response RequestedResponse Waived Experienced Counsel
Tags: autopsy confrontation-clause criminal-procedure hearsay sixth-amendment testimonial-evidence
Latest Conference: 2026-01-16
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether testimony by a 'peer review' pathologist who did not perform the original autopsy violates the Confrontation Clause when the original pathologist is unavailable

Question Presented (from Petition)

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?

Docket Entries

2026-02-06
Amicus brief of Southern Center for Human Rights submitted.
2026-02-06
Amicus brief of DUI Defense Lawyers Association submitted.
2026-02-06
Brief amicus curiae of Southern Center for Human Rights filed.
2026-02-06
Brief amicus curiae of DUI Defense Lawyers Association filed.
2026-01-14
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including March 9, 2026.
2026-01-12
Motion to extend the time to file a response from February 6, 2026 to March 9, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2026-01-07
Response Requested. (Due February 6, 2026)
2025-12-30
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/16/2026.
2025-12-22
Waiver of right of respondent Georgia to respond filed.
2025-12-10
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 12, 2026)
2025-10-22
Application (25A460) granted by Justice Thomas extending the time to file until December 10, 2025.
2025-10-20
Application (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.

Attorneys

DUI Defense Lawyers Association
Michelle Lynn BehanNesci & St. Louis, P.L.L.C., Amicus
Michelle Lynn BehanThe Behan Law Group, P.L.L.C., Amicus
George Sharrod Johns
Richard A. SimpsonWiley Rein, LLP, Petitioner
Richard A. SimpsonWiley Rein, LLP, Petitioner
Georgia
John Henry Tab ThompsonGeorgia Department of Law, Respondent
John Henry Tab ThompsonGeorgia Department of Law, Respondent
Southern Center for Human Rights
Danielle Desaulniers StempelHogan Lovells US LLP, Amicus
Danielle Desaulniers StempelHogan Lovells US LLP, Amicus