Background
In February 2025, an administrative law judge affirmed the suspension of Jimmy Little, Jr.’s driver’s license because of child-support arrears.
Little sought judicial review in superior court, which affirmed the administrative decision. He then filed a direct appeal to the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
The Court’s Holding
The Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. An appeal from a superior court’s review of a state administrative-agency decision must proceed through Georgia’s discretionary-appeal procedure.
The court also explained that child-support matters are domestic-relations cases subject to that same procedure. Because Little did not follow it, the court lacked jurisdiction to consider his direct appeal.
Key Takeaways
- Appeals from superior-court review of state administrative decisions require a discretionary application.
- Child-support appeals are also subject to Georgia’s discretionary-appeal procedure.
- Failure to use that procedure is jurisdictional and requires dismissal.
Why It Matters
The order underscores that the route of appeal is dispositive in administrative and child-support cases. Even after obtaining superior-court review, a party cannot invoke the Court of Appeals’ direct-appeal jurisdiction when a discretionary application is required.