Allen v. State

319 Ga. 415

FINAL COPY S24A0171. ALLEN v. THE STATE. PETERSON, Presiding Justice. The right to trial by jury is the cornerstone of our justice system. “That right is no mere procedural formality, but a fundamental reservation of power in our constitutional structure. Just as suffrage ensures the people’s ultimate control in the legislative and executive branches, jury trial is meant to ensure their control in the judiciary.” Blakely v. Washington,

542 U.S. 296, 305-306

( 124 SCt 2531, 159 LE2d 403) (2004). Accordingly, a critical element of that right is that certain questions are to be decided…