If you’ve lived in Georgia for more than five minutes, you know that politics and the law are basically our state sports. But while everyone is busy arguing about what’s happening at the Gold Dome or on the campaign trail, the real power is often quietly shifting over at the Nathan Deal Judicial Center. Honestly, the Georgia Supreme Court rulings we’ve seen lately are doing way more than just interpreting old dusty books. They are fundamentally changing how you vote, how you sue for medical mistakes, and even how long a company can be held responsible for the products in your bathroom cabinet.
It’s easy to tune out legal jargon. I get it. Terms like "statute of repose" or "interlocutory injunction" sound like they’re designed to make your eyes glaze over. But here's the thing: these decisions are hitting close to home. We’re talking about the six-week abortion ban, the rules for how your November ballots are counted, and whether a business can get sued for a crime that happened in their parking lot.
2026 is already looking like a massive year for the court. With an election cycle heating up, the justices are being forced into the middle of the most heated debates in the Peach State.
The Election Chaos: Hand Counts and "Reasonable Inquiries"
Remember that whole drama with the State Election Board (SEB) trying to change the rules at the eleventh hour? That was a wild ride. Basically, a group on the board wanted to require every single precinct to hand-count ballots to "verify" the machine totals before things could be certified.
The Georgia Supreme Court stepped in and, frankly, saved a lot of local election officials from a massive headache. In a major ruling in mid-2025 (and continuing to echo into 2026), the court upheld the block on that hand-counting rule. Chief Justice Nels Peterson didn't mince words. He basically said the SEB can't just go around making up new laws that contradict the actual Georgia Election Code.
It wasn't just about counting by hand, though. There was also this thing called the "Reasonable Inquiry" rule. It would have allowed county board members to delay certification if they felt like something was "off." The court shot that down too. They clarified that the job of certifying an election is more about math—adding up the votes—not playing detective and hunting for fraud on your own terms. That's what the courts and the Secretary of State are for.
However, it wasn't a total loss for the SEB. The court actually did allow the rule requiring video surveillance of drop boxes to stand. So, if you're dropping off your absentee ballot this year, just know that the camera is definitely rolling.
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The "Burroughs" Decision: Why Businesses are Panicking
This one flew under the radar for most people, but if you own a business or work in insurance, you’ve probably heard the screaming. It’s the case of Burroughs v. Strength of Nature Global, LLC.
Kiara Burroughs sued after she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, claiming they were caused by hair-relaxing products she’d used for decades. The companies argued that Georgia has a "statute of repose." Usually, that means you can't sue a manufacturer more than 10 years after the "first sale" of a product.
The manufacturers thought the clock started the very first time Kiara bought the product back in the 90s. But the Georgia Supreme Court disagreed in late 2025. Justice Andrew Pinson wrote that the clock actually restarts every time a new unit of the product is sold.
Think about that. It basically means that for any product you use repeatedly—shampoo, medicine, car parts—the 10-year limit never really "ends" as long as you keep buying it. This is a huge win for plaintiffs, but it's got the business community worried that they’ll be facing lawsuits for decades-old product lines that they thought were legally "dead" and buried.
The Heartbeat Law and the Right to Privacy
We can’t talk about Georgia Supreme Court rulings without touching on the LIFE Act. This is the "six-week" abortion ban that has been bouncing back and forth through the court system like a tennis ball.
In late 2024 and through 2025, the court repeatedly stepped in to keep the ban in place while the legal battles raged. The big question at the center of it all isn't just about abortion—it's about the Georgia Constitution's specific right to privacy.
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Our state constitution is actually way more explicit about privacy than the U.S. Constitution. Lawyers for groups like SisterSong are arguing that this "liberty interest" means the government can't tell a woman what to do with her body. The court has been incredibly cautious here. They’ve mostly focused on whether the law was "void from the start" (because Roe v. Wade was still active when it passed) or if it's currently unconstitutional.
As we move through 2026, we’re waiting for a definitive "final" word. But for now, the law stands, and it’s one of the most restrictive in the country.
Medical Malpractice: The Return of the Damage Caps?
If you or a loved one has ever been the victim of medical malpractice, you know the stakes are incredibly high. For years, Georgia had a $350,000 cap on "noneconomic damages"—basically, the money you get for pain and suffering.
The Supreme Court threw that out years ago, saying it violated the right to a jury trial. But in June 2025, they opened the door to bringing it back, at least for "wrongful death" cases.
In a case involving a $7.2 million award, the court suggested that the previous ruling might have been a bit too broad. They sent the case back down to the lower courts to see if the cap could still apply to death claims. Justice Colvin even wrote a concurring opinion basically asking the court to re-examine the whole idea of whether caps are unconstitutional at all.
If they flip on this, it would be a massive shift. It would mean that even if a jury thinks your suffering is worth millions, the law could automatically chop that check down to a fraction of the size.
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The Sapelo Island Fight: Gullah Geechee Victory
Down on the coast, there’s been a high-stakes battle over the future of Sapelo Island. The Gullah Geechee community, descendants of enslaved people who have lived there for generations, were fighting a McIntosh County zoning change.
The county wanted to allow much larger houses to be built on the island. The residents knew what that meant: higher taxes, developers moving in, and their culture being priced out of existence.
The Georgia Supreme Court stepped in and gave the community a huge win. They issued an injunction that put the zoning change on hold and allowed a local referendum to move forward. It’s a rare case where the "little guy" used the legal system to stop a powerful local government in its tracks. It shows that the court isn't just about high-level politics; sometimes, it’s about who gets to keep their family home.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Court
People tend to think the justices are just "politicians in robes." While they are elected (usually), their rulings are often surprisingly technical.
- It's not always Left vs. Right: You’ll see unanimous decisions where conservative and more moderate justices agree on the "plain meaning" of a law, even if the outcome is controversial.
- They don't pick the cases: They can only rule on what gets brought to them. If a lawyer messes up a filing, the court might dismiss a case even if they actually want to rule on it.
- Precedent is king: Even if a justice hates a previous ruling, they are very hesitant to overturn it. It’s called stare decisis, and it’s why the medical malpractice cap discussion is such a big deal—they are actually considering breaking their own rules.
Tort Reform: The Big 2026 Showdown
Governor Kemp has made "tort reform" a massive priority for his final year in office. He wants to make it harder to sue businesses and limit how much money lawyers can ask for in court.
He’s calling it the "Lawsuit Abuse Research Act" and other similar packages. This is going to land right on the Supreme Court’s doorstep. They’ll have to decide if these new laws—like "bifurcated trials" where you decide liability before you even talk about money—are legal under the Georgia Constitution.
Actionable Steps for Georgians
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all this, you aren’t alone. But you don't have to be a lawyer to stay informed.
- Check your voter registration: With the court upholding the surveillance of drop boxes and clarifying certification rules, make sure your info is current at the My Voter Page (MVP) website.
- Follow the "Opinions" page: The Georgia Supreme Court releases summaries of their noteworthy opinions every week. You can find them at gasupreme.us. It’s surprisingly readable.
- Know your limits: If you’ve been injured by a product or medical provider, don’t wait. The Burroughs ruling changed the game for products, but the rules for medical malpractice are still in flux. Talk to a lawyer sooner rather than later.
- Watch the 2026 elections: Since most of these justices are elected, your vote literally determines the future of the state’s legal philosophy. Research the candidates' previous rulings or legal backgrounds.
The Georgia Supreme Court isn't just some abstract entity in Atlanta. It's the final word on your rights as a Georgian. Whether it's the air you breathe, the products you buy, or the way your vote is counted, their rulings are the invisible hand shaping your daily life. Stay sharp.