General Blog
On May 12, 2026, Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 220, officially known as the “Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act” which went into effect on July 1st, 2026. This bipartisan legislation significantly expands and modernizes Georgia’s medical cannabis program, moving away from one of the most restrictive frameworks in the country. As a Georgia attorney helping clients navigate medical cannabis…Read More
In June 2026, former Colorado Bureau of Investigation forensic scientist Yvonne “Missy” Woods accepted a plea deal after facing 102 felony charges. She pleaded guilty to cybercrime, perjury, forgery, and attempting to influence a public servant. While she avoided a lengthy trial, the damage she caused may never be fully known. Woods, a veteran analyst with nearly 30 years at…Read More
A major change to Georgia’s First Offender Act is coming on July 1, 2026. Under HB 162, most First Offender records will now be restricted and sealed from public view — giving people who successfully complete (or are completing) a First Offender sentence a much better chance at a true second opportunity. This new law addresses a long-standing problem: even…Read More
If you’ve been charged with Boating Under the Influence (BUI) in Georgia, you may be wondering how the penalties compare to a standard DUI. While the two offenses share many similarities, there are important differences in how they affect your privileges, the administrative consequences, and the potential punishments. Here’s a clear breakdown of DUI vs. BUI penalties in Georgia. What…Read More
In Georgia premises liability cases, store owners and their insurance companies frequently argue that they had a reasonable inspection program in place, which should defeat a customer’s claim. One common “best practice” cited by retailers is the “figure eight” inspection — employees walking the sales floor in a continuous figure-eight pattern to scan for hazards. A recent federal court decision…Read More
If you’ve been injured at work in Georgia, you’re likely focused on getting the medical treatment and wage replacement benefits you’re entitled to under the state’s workers’ compensation system. But many injured workers are shocked to learn that Georgia workers’ compensation law does not protect your job. This is where the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) can become…Read More
Revenge porn — also known as nonconsensual pornography or intimate image abuse — is a devastating invasion of privacy that can cause lasting emotional harm, financial damage, and reputational destruction. In Georgia, lawmakers took strong action to protect victims by enacting OCGA § 16-11-90, which makes it a serious crime to electronically transmit or post nude or sexually explicit images…Read More
Many Georgians who contact my office about marijuana charges or medical cannabis questions also ask a deeper one: What does the Bible say about marijuana? Specifically, they point to Genesis 1:29 and wonder whether this ancient verse offers any moral or philosophical support for legalization. As a Georgia criminal defense and marijuana lawyer with over 30 years of experience handling…Read More
If you’ve been injured on the job in Georgia and your authorized treating physician (ATP) has referred you to a specialist or surgeon, you may wonder: Can that surgeon decide I’m out of work? Or can they release me back to full duty and stop my income benefits? The short answer is no. Under Georgia workers’ compensation law, only your…Read More
What the Reid Interrogation Technique Really Does — And Why It Should Concern Every Georgian A startling new experiment reported by our hero, Radley Balko, a notable criminal justice journalist, in The Intercept (April 23, 2026) should make every Georgia citizen stop and think about how police obtain confessions. Criminologist Paul Heaton took the famous Reid interrogation technique — the…Read More