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High court: Trial held in jail illegal

By
March 18, 2011

The Georgia Supreme Court on Friday ordered a new trial for a man because his judge held the trial in the county jail, violating the defendant's right to a public trial.

Bobby Carroll Purvis, who was found guilty of molesting a 9-year-old girl, was tried in a courtroom at the Berrien County jail. The Supreme Court frowned on evidence showing that when Purvis' brother pressed the buzzer to enter the room to observe the trial, a jailer refused to unlock the door. Further, the judge failed to get Purvis' consent to hold his trial in the jail, the court said.

About the Author

Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.

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