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The Georgia Plea Absentia form serves as a vital tool for individuals facing criminal or traffic charges who wish to enter a plea without appearing in court. This form is particularly useful for those who may have scheduling conflicts or other reasons that prevent them from attending a court hearing in person. When completing the form, defendants must provide their personal information, including their name, date of birth, and contact details. They also need to acknowledge the specific charges against them, which can be listed directly on the form or attached separately if there are multiple charges. Importantly, the form allows individuals to enter a plea of either guilty or no contest. A no contest plea means that the defendant does not dispute the charges but also does not admit guilt, which can have implications for any related civil litigation. Once submitted, most requests for a plea in absentia are accepted, although there are instances where a plea may be rejected. Defendants will be notified by mail regarding the status of their plea and any subsequent court dates. If the plea is accepted, the court will impose fines and costs, and it is crucial for defendants to follow any instructions provided in the documents they receive from the City of Atlanta’s Solicitor’s Office. Missing a required court appearance can lead to penalties, including the suspension of driving privileges, making it essential to stay informed throughout the process.
Georgia Plea Absentia Example
KASIM REED |
CITY OF ATLANTA |
RAINES F. CARTER |
MAYOR |
CITY SOLICITOR |
OFFICE OF THE CITY SOLICITOR
3RD FLOOR
150 GARNETT STREET S.W.,
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
TEL (404)
DEFENDANT NAME: _________________________________________________________________
DATE OF BIRTH: _________________________________________________________________
CURRENT ADDRESS: _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Daytime phone: (_______)
INITIAL REQUEST TO ENTER A PLEA IN ABSENTIA
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I AM ACCUSED OF THE CRIMINAL / TRAFFIC CHARGE(S), LISTED BELOW.
CHARGE: ______________________________________________CITATION NO: __________________________
CHARGE: ______________________________________________CITATION NO: __________________________
CHARGE: ______________________________________________CITATION NO: __________________________
If you have more than three charges, write them on a separate sheet of paper and attach it to this document.
READ CAREFULLY AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
I WISH TO ENTER A PLEA OF_______________________ (GUILTY OR NO CONTEST) AND WISH TO DO SO IN
ABSENTIA. THAT IS, I WISH TO ENTER MY PLEA WITHOUT APPEARING PERSONALLY BEFORE A JUDGE. PLEASE NOTE THAT A PLEA OF NO CONTEST MEANS THAT YOU ARE NOT CONTESTING THE CHARGE AND THAT THE PLEA MAY NOT BE USED IN ANY CIVIL LITIGATION ARISING OUT OF THE INCIDENT THAT IS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS PLEADING. A PLEA OF NO CONTEST MAY OR MAY NOT BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DRIVER SERVICES TO ADD POINTS OR SUSPEND YOUR LICENSE. IF MY PLEA IS ACCEPTED BY THE COURT, I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE JUDGE WILL IMPOSE A FINE AND COURT COSTS AS SET FORTH IN SUBSEQUENT DOCUMENTS TO BE RECEIVED BY ME FROM THE CITY OF ATLANTA SOLICITOR’S OFFICE (PROSECUTOR).
The majority of requests to enter a plea in absentia are accepted. However, there are pleas that are rejected for various
reasons. You will be notified through the mail, if your plea in absentia is rejected at any point during the process. Please note that once you receive documents from the City of Atlanta’s Solicitor’s office, you must follow the instructions set out
in said documents. All plea in absentia cases are given a 90 day reset court date. You will be notified by mail of the new date. This is the date by which we want to have your case completed through the mail. If your case cannot be completed through the mail in the 90 days, then the reset date becomes an actual court appearance date. Failure to appear at a court appearance date may result in the suspension of your driving privilege and a $100.00 penalty being added to your case.
You may email this request to municourt@atlantaga.gov, you may fax this request to (404)
ATLANTA MUNICIPAL COURT ATTN: OMBUDSMAN UNIT/PIA 150 GARNETT STREET, SW ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303
Document Breakdown
| Fact Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | The Georgia Plea Absentia form is governed by the Georgia Code, specifically O.C.G.A. § 17-7-95, which outlines the procedures for entering pleas without personal appearance. |
| Defendant's Information | To complete the form, defendants must provide their name, date of birth, current address, daytime phone number, and email address. This information is crucial for the court to process the plea. |
| Plea Options | Defendants can enter a plea of either "Guilty" or "No Contest." A "No Contest" plea means the defendant does not contest the charges but may have implications for civil litigation and driver's license points. |
| Notification Process | If a plea in absentia is rejected, the defendant will be notified by mail. Accepted pleas will lead to a court-imposed fine and costs, with a 90-day reset court date established for completion of the case. |
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