Full Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia ATLANTA,____________________ August 26, 2026 The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order: A27A0255. BUDDY LAMAR BAGGETT, JR. v. IDA ROSE BAGGETT. Buddy Lamar Baggett, Jr. (“Buddy”), who is a prisoner, filed this case seeking two forms of relief: first, to set aside the final judgment and decree of divorce between him and Ida Rose Baggett (“Ida”); and second, to hold Ida in contempt of the divorce decree. The trial court issued an order denying the requested relief, and Buddy filed this direct appeal. We lack jurisdiction. Buddy was required to file an application for discretionary review for two reasons. First, appeals from judgments or orders in domestic relations cases, including orders “holding or declining to hold persons in contempt,” must be made by application for discretionary appeal. See OCGA § 5-6-35(a)(2), (b); Russo v. Manning, 252 Ga. 155, 156 (312 SE2d 319) (1984). Second, under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, any appeal in a civil case that was initiated by a prisoner must come by discretionary application. See OCGA § 42-12-8; Jones v. Townsend, 267 Ga. 489, 490 (480 SE2d 24) (1997). “Compliance with the discretionary appeals procedure is jurisdictional.” Hair Restoration Specialists v. State of Ga., 360 Ga. App. 901, 903 (862 SE2d 564) (2021). Thus, Buddy’s failure to follow the discretionary appeals procedure deprives us of jurisdiction over this appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED. Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 08/26/2026 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.