Background
Justice Queen Al-Ameen filed an appeal against Alphonso Scarborough and others. The Court of Appeals of Georgia docketed the appeal on September 23, 2026.
Al-Ameen’s appellate brief was due 20 days later, on October 13, 2026. She did not file a brief by that deadline and did not request an extension of time.
The Court’s Holding
The Court of Appeals dismissed Al-Ameen’s appeal for failure to file a brief. It relied on Court of Appeals Rule 23 (a).
The order resolved the appeal on this procedural ground and did not address the merits of Al-Ameen’s claims. The order did not identify a judicial panel or individual deciding judge.
Key Takeaways
- An appellant must file an appellate brief by the court’s deadline.
- An appellant who needs additional time should request an extension rather than allow the deadline to pass.
- Failure to file a brief may result in dismissal under Court of Appeals Rule 23 (a), without review of the merits.
Why It Matters
The order underscores that compliance with appellate briefing deadlines is essential. Even when an appeal has been docketed, failure to submit the required brief can end the proceeding before the appellate court considers the underlying dispute.