The State of Georgia's Unconstitutional Laws: It Affects the Media and Citizens

Sherri Jefferson

This episode will discuss how the State of Georgia General Assembly has knowingly passed several unconstitutional criminal statutes that have resulted in charges against its citizens and how they refuse to amend, repeal or abolish the laws. The State Attorney General Sam Olens and Governor Nathan Deal have notice of five Georgia criminal statutes (O.C.G.A. 17-4-40, O.C.G.A. 16-11-40, O.C.G.A. 16-5-90, O.C.G.A. 16-11-39.1), that are unconstitutional both facially and as-applied to Georgia citizens, as void for vagueness and under the over breadth doctrine, For example, O.C.G.A. 16-11-40 punishes Georgia citizens for "Criminal Defamation of Character." This legislation infringes upon free speech violates the overbreadh doctrine and is also void for vagueness. The State of Georgia Council for Criminal Justice Reform and the Governor promotes reform, however, how can we reform the justice system when we have unconstitutional laws that keep people subject to detention and bondage?