Nathaniel Porter v. State

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________
June 11, 2026

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A26A2094. NATHANIEL PORTER v. THE STATE.

In August 2024, Nathaniel Porter pled guilty to sexual exploitation of children
and other crimes, and the trial court sentenced him to a total of twenty-two years, with
the first seven years to be served in confinement and the remainder on probation. In
April 2026, Porter filed a motion for leave to file an out-of-time notice of appeal
pursuant to OCGA § 5-6-39.1. The trial court denied the motion, and Porter filed this
direct appeal. We lack jurisdiction.
In Cook v. State, 313 Ga. 471, 506(5) (870 SE2d 758) (2022), the Supreme Court
of Georgia determined that a trial court lacks authority to grant an out-of-time appeal,
and that any remedy involving an out-of-time appeal must be sought in habeas corpus.
There, the Supreme Court vacated the trial court’s order denying the defendant’s
motion for out-of-time appeal and remanded with instructions to dismiss the motion.
Id. In response, the legislature enacted OCGA § 5-6-39.1, which became effective on
May 14, 2025. This statute allows for defendants to seek out-of-time relief if (1) the
defendant moves for leave to file an out-of-time motion for new trial or notice of
appeal within 100 days from the expiration of the time period for the filing of such
motion or notice, or (2) the defendant had an out-of-time motion or appeal dismissed
under Cook. OCGA § 5-6-39.1(b).
OCGA § 5-6-39.1(b) does not apply to Porter, as he neither filed a motion for
out-of-time appeal within 100 days from the expiration of the time period for filing a
notice of appeal nor had a motion for out-of-time appeal dismissed under Cook.
Because Porter is not entitled to pursue out-of-time relief, the propriety of the trial
court’s ruling on his request for an out-of-time appeal is moot. See Carlock v. Kmart
Corp., 227 Ga. App. 356, 361(3)(a) (489 SE2d 99) (1997) (a moot issue is one where
a ruling is sought on a matter that has no practical effect on the alleged controversy or
where the issues have ceased to exist). Accordingly, this appeal is hereby
DISMISSED. See OCGA § 5-6-48(b)(3) (providing for dismissal of an appeal when
the questions presented have become moot).

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
06/11/2026
I certify that the above is a true extract from
the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
Witness my signature and the seal of said court
hereto affixed the day and year last above written.

, Clerk.