In the Interest of J.F., a Child

300 Ga. 740

FINAL COPY S16Q1826. IN THE INTEREST OF J. F., A CHILD. NAHMIAS, Justice. The Georgia Constitution says that “[t]he Court of Appeals may certify a question to the Supreme Court for instruction, to which it shall then be bound.” Ga. Const. of 1983, Art. VI, Sec. V, Par. IV. In this case, the Court of Appeals, in a divided full-court (15-judge) decision, certified to this Court a single question of statutory construction: Does OCGA § 15-11-521 (b) require dismissal with prejudice when the State neither files a petition alleging [juvenile] delinquency within the applicable 30-day…