Eric Maxwell v. State

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________
April 28, 2026

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A26A1778. ERIC MAXWELL v. THE STATE.

Eric Maxwell was convicted of multiple offenses, including malice murder, and
his convictions were affirmed on appeal. Maxwell v. State, 290 Ga. 574 (722 SE2d 763)
(2012). In January 2026, Maxwell filed a motion for out-of-time appeal, which the trial
court denied. Maxwell then filed this direct appeal. We, however, lack jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court of Georgia has appellate jurisdiction over “[a]ll cases in
which a sentence of death was imposed or could be imposed.” Ga. Const. of 1983, Art.
VI, Sec. VI, Par. III (8). Because a penalty of death may be imposed for the crime of
malice murder, jurisdiction over this appeal lies in the Supreme Court. See OCGA §
16-5-1(a), (e)(1); see also Hart v. State, 322 Ga. 1, 10(1) (917 SE2d 631) (2025) (even
in murder cases in which the death penalty was not sought, the Supreme Court has
opted to exercise its jurisdiction to review all such cases). Accordingly, this appeal is
hereby TRANSFERRED to the Supreme Court for disposition.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
04/28/2026
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.