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Self Defense In Georgia: Immunity Hearing in Cobb County

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If you are charged with a crime in Cobb County and believe you acted in self-defense, you are entitled to an immunity hearing. We will need to file an immunity motion and request a hearing in Cobb County Superior Court.

O.C.G.A. 16-3-24.2 gives you this right to an immunity hearing. At this hearing, a judge will determine if you acted in self-defense and the judge can dismiss your case.

Soon after you are arrested, start gathering information that may assist in your defense. Get contact information for any potential witness so we can interview them. Write down everything you remember about the case and why you believed you had to use force.

The Cobb County Superior Court judge has a duty to determine before trial whether a person claiming the use of threats or force in self-defense or defense of property is immune from prosecution.

You have the burden of proof at the immunity hearing in proving that you were justified in using force by a preponderance of the evidence.

If the Cobb County Superior Court judge rules against you in an immunity hearing, you can still have a jury trial and argue self-defense to the jury. It might be easier to win at trial due the burden of proof being beyond a reasonable doubt. At the immunity hearing, the burden is on the defense to prove self-defense. At trial, the burden shifts to the State to show that the defendant was not acting in self-defense.

If you are arrested for any crime in Cobb County where you believe you acted in self-defense, please call our office 24/7 at 404-581-0999. We will sit down with you and fully discuss your case and what to expect in court. There is no charge for the initial consultation.

Self Defense In Georgia: Immunity Hearing in Fulton County

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If you are charged with a crime in Fulton County and believe you acted in self-defense, you are entitled to an immunity hearing. We will need to file an immunity motion and request a hearing in Fulton County Superior Court.

O.C.G.A. 16-3-24.2 gives you this right to an immunity hearing. At this hearing, a judge will determine if you acted in self-defense and the judge can dismiss your case.

Soon after you are arrested, start gathering information that may assist in your defense. Get contact information for any potential witness so we can interview them. Write down everything you remember about the case and why you believed you had to use force.

The Fulton County Superior Court judge has a duty to determine before trial whether a person claiming the use of threats or force in self-defense or defense of property is immune from prosecution.

You have the burden of proof at the immunity hearing in proving that you were justified in using force by a preponderance of the evidence.

If the Fulton County Superior Court judge rules against you in an immunity hearing, you can still have a jury trial and argue self-defense to the jury. It might be easier to win at trial due the burden of proof being beyond a reasonable doubt. At the immunity hearing, the burden is on the defense to prove self-defense. At trial, the burden shifts to the State to show that the defendant was not acting in self-defense.

If you are arrested for any crime in Fulton County where you believe you acted in self-defense, please call our office 24/7 at 404-581-0999. We will sit down with you and fully discuss your case and what to expect in court. There is no charge for the initial consultation.

Self Defense In Georgia: Immunity Hearing

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If you are charged with a crime in Georgia and believe you acted in self-defense, you are entitled to an immunity hearing. Your attorney will need to file a motion and request a hearing.

O.C.G.A. 16-3-24.2 gives you this right to an immunity hearing. At this hearing, a judge will determine if you acted in self-defense and the judge can dismiss your case.

Soon after you are arrested, start gathering information that may assist in your defense. Get contact information for any potential witness so that your attorney can interview. Write down everything you remember about the case and why you believed you had to use force.

The trial court has a duty to determine before trial whether a person claiming the use of threats or force in self-defense or defense of property is immune from prosecution.

The defendant bears the burden of proof at the immunity hearing in proving he was justified in using force by a preponderance of the evidence.

If the judge rules against you in an immunity hearing, you can still have a jury trial and argue self-defense to the jury. It might be easier to win at trial due the burden of proof being beyond a reasonable doubt. At the immunity hearing, the burden is on the defense to prove self-defense. At trial, the burden shifts to the State to show that the defendant was not acting in self-defense.

If you are arrested for any crime in Georgia where you believe you acted in self-defense, please call our office 24/7 at 404-581-0999. We will sit down with you and fully discuss your case and what to expect in court. There is no charge for the initial consultation. You will only retain us if you feel we are the best law firm to represent you. It is your case and your life so you need to hire the lawyer that you feel gives you the best chance to win.

Self Defense in Georgia: Are You Immune from Criminal Prosecution?

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The police put you handcuffs for shooting another person. You are on your way to the county jail. You know you acted in self-defense and want a jury trial. But before your jury trial, you are entitled to a hearing to see if you are immune from criminal prosecution. 

O.C.G.A. 16-3-24.2 authorizes a pre-trial hearing to decide if a defendant is immune from criminal prosecution. You must first file an immunity motion requesting a hearing. To avoid trial, a defendant has the burden of proof that he is entitled to immunity. The standard of proof is by a preponderance of evidence.

If the trial judge finds that you have met the burden of proof regarding self-defense, then your indictment is dismissed, and the State cannot continue to prosecute you.

If the defendant cannot meet its burden regarding self-defense at an immunity hearing, he can still argue self-defense at trial. You get two shots at winning your case. First, argue self-defense at an immunity hearing. If you lose, argue self-defense to a jury at trial.

At the immunity hearing, the defendant would call witnesses, present evidence and persuade the judge that he was acting in self-defense. The judge must employ O.C.G.A. 16-3-21(a) to make the finding. This section requires the judge to make a finding of justification based on evidence of the defendant’s reasonable belief that the use of deadly force against the other person was necessary to prevent the defendant from dying or being seriously injured.

If the judge makes such a finding, then the case is over.

If you believe you are being charged with a crime but that you had to act in self-defense to avoid death or serious injury, then call our office and lets discuss whether an immunity motion is proper in your case.

We can meet you at any time at either our Atlanta or Marietta office. Please call us at 404-581-0999 or email me at mike@peachstatelawyer.com