Gregory A. Hicks obtains 2 dismissals in Pickens County Superior Court. Methamphetamine possession charge – dismissed. Forgery and theft charges – dismissed.

Mr. Hicks’s client was facing a Life Sentence Armed Robbery case combined with a drug case. Due to the defendant’s recidivist (repeat offender) status, a life sentence would have been imposed. This case involved multiple similar transactions (or prior crimes the prosecution attempted to inject into this case), a sellout co-defendant, a victim that only spoke Spanish, a very unsympathetic defendant, DNA evidence analyzed in Virginia, and multiple pre-trial motions. After 2 days of trial, the District Attorney dismissed the Armed Robbery charge, thereby literally saving the defendant’s life.

In this case, the victim, a Hispanic man in his 70s was beaten by a shotgun and left for dead. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney, without conducting a full investigation, decided it was done by my client and not [name withheld] and sold out to the real perpetrator for his testimony against my client. My independent investigation shows the victim’s description to be a better fit to the clothes worn by [name withheld] rather than my client.

My cross-examination of the victim had him saying the culprit was everybody under the sun other than my client. All the DA has was [name withheld]. She gave up.

This case shows that fighting for clients requires hard work and time.

The Honorable Carol W. Hunstein, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, appointed Gregory A. Hicks to serve as a Mentor for the State Bar of Georgia’s Transition into Law Practice Program. Mr. Hicks’s appointment is for a one year term beginning January 1, 2010.

The Transition into Law Practice Program fosters young attorneys by pairing them with an experienced attorney as a mentor “to teach the practical skills, seasoned judgment, and sensitivity to ethical and professionalism values necessary to practice law in a highly competent manner.” In order to be appointed as a Mentor by the Supreme Court, an attorney must maintain a professional reputation for competence, ethical and professional conduct.

The Chief Justice’s appointment of Mr. Hicks as a mentor is a testament to Mr. Hicks’s experience and respect in the legal community.

Gregory A. Hicks and Amanda R. Gaddis appeared before the highest court in Georgia on February 9, 2010 to argue that a murder conviction from Cobb County should be overturned.

In Willis v. State, Ms. Gaddis argued that because her client properly invoked his right to have an attorney present during police questioning, statements he later made to police should not have been admitted at his trial. Ms. Gaddis further argued that statements her client made two days later were also improperly admitted because the statements were made to a clergyman for the purpose of seeking spiritual guidance and were thus privileged statements under Georgia law.

Gregory A. Hicks later responded to arguments set forth by attorneys for the State of Georgia. Mr. Hicks urged the court to overturn the conviction based on recent case law from Georgia’s Supreme Court.

On January 20, 2010, after considering arguments made by Gregory A. Hicks at a hearing before an administrative law judge, the Social Security Administration determined that Mr. Hicks’ client was entitled to past due benefits since December 2005. Mr. Hicks successfully argued that his client met all of the requirements under federal law to obtain disability benefits.

Mr. Hicks’ client suffered from numerous problems including back pain, hip problems (including a hip replacement), shoulder pain and diminished eye sight. After the client unsuccessfully tried to obtain the benefits on his own, he sought Mr. Hicks’ help. Because of Mr. Hicks’ vigorous advocacy at the hearing, his client will now recover approximately $40,000 in past due disability benefits from the federal government.

Gregory A. Hicks filed briefs before the Georgia Court of Appeals urging that a child molestation conviction be overturned. In 2008, Mr. Hicks’s client was convicted of Aggravated Child Molestation in Cherokee County. Mr. Hicks argued that the conviction should be overturned because the trial court was wrong to try the client for two separate crimes in the same trial and there was a lack of evidence to uphold the convictions. Mr. Hicks also argued that the client’s sentence was improper under Georgia law.

State v. Willis, Georgia Supreme Court, S10A0393

Gregory A. Hicks and Amanda R. Gaddis filed legal briefs in Georgia’s Supreme Court insisting that an erroneous murder conviction be reversed.

In support of his client,  Mr. Hicks argues that the trial court erred in admitting several pieces of illegal evidence at trial. The defendant was denied his constitutional right to an attorney when he was questioned by police despite invoking his right to have counsel present.

In addition, the trial court allowed Cobb County law enforcement officials to deny the defendant free exercise of his religious freedom when they required him to make statements to law enforcement instead of to a chaplain in confidence. Under Georgia law, statements made to a clergyman for the purpose of seeking spiritual guidance or counseling are absolutely not allowed at trial. The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office disregarded this religious protection when they required such statements be made to “proper authorities” instead of an ordained minister.

By Ashley Fuller
Cherokee Tribune
September 16, 2009

The process for finding a third state court judge for Cherokee County is now under way.

A list of 15 nominees for the bench has been created, and the nominees have until Sept. 28 to submit a completed application package to the state Judicial Nominating Commission. A final applicant list then will be released of the candidates who have accepted the nomination…

Attorneys with private law firms who were nominated are Canton attorneys Benson Chambers Jr., Jonathan A. Kesler, Nancy Pasterz, Jeffrey Rusbridge and Tim White and Woodstock attorneys Gregory A. Hicks, Hugh M. Dorsey III and Thomas Holbird Jr…

Once the final list of nominees has been determined, interviews with the 23-person nominating commission will be scheduled at the state bar office in Atlanta. The 15- minute interviews are scheduled for Oct. 13.

“It is just a way to get to know the person better,” Ms. Watson said about the interviews. “It is to find out what their judicial temperament might be.”

The commission will create a short list of nominees that it will send to the governor’s office.

Governor Sonny Perdue then will schedule interviews with the shortlist nominees and make his appointment.

No timeline has been established for by when a third state court nominee will be named.

Gregory A. Hicks is pleased to announce his re-election to the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia, the governing body of the State Bar of Georgia.

About the State Bar of Georgia

The State Bar of Georgia exists to foster among the members of the Bar of this state the principles of duty and service to the public; to improve the administration of justice; and to advance the science of law.

Gregory A. Hicks is pleased to announce his election to the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia, the governing body of the State Bar of Georgia.

About the State Bar of Georgia

The State Bar of Georgia exists to foster among the members of the Bar of this state the principles of duty and service to the public; to improve the administration of justice; and to advance the science of law.