Full Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia ATLANTA,____________________ October 07, 2026 The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order: A27O0018. DAVID JOHNSON v. CARTER BROWN, CLERK, WALKER COUNTY et al. David Johnson filed in this Court a petition for an original writ of mandamus, requesting that this Court compel the trial court and the trial court clerk to docket, process, and/or rule upon a mandamus petition that he apparently filed in the trial court challenging his convictions and sentence. For the reasons that follow, Johnson’s original mandamus petition is dismissed. Both the superior and appellate courts of this state “have the power to issue process in the nature of mandamus, prohibition, specific performance, quo warranto, and injunction.” Ga. Const. of 1983, Art. VI, Sec. I, Par. IV. As explained by the Supreme Court of Georgia, however, an appellate court’s authority to issue such writs “is connected only to such powers as necessary in aid of its jurisdiction or to protect or effectuate its judgments. It does not grant jurisdiction to [the appellate court] to issue process as an original matter wholly unconnected to its appellate jurisdiction.” Arnold v. Alexander, 321 Ga. 330, 334(1) (914 SE2d 311) (2025) (quotation marks omitted). Here, Johnson has not shown that his original mandamus petition is related to any appeal or impending appeal in this Court or is necessary in aid of our appellate jurisdiction or to protect or effectuate any appellate court judgments. This case therefore does not present one of the “extremely rare” instances in which this Court will grant mandamus relief. See Arnold, 321 Ga. at 335(1) & n.6. Absent a ruling by the trial court or an impending appeal therefrom, this Court’s jurisdiction is not invoked. See id. at 334(1). Consequently, there is no basis for this Court to exercise its original jurisdiction, and this petition is hereby DISMISSED. Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 10/07/2026 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.