Chapman v. State

Gregory, Justice.

This appeal arises from Terry Norman Chapman’s conviction for murder. Chapman is a fifteen-year-old minor whom the State prosecuted as an adult felon under the concurrent jurisdiction provisions of OCGA § 15-11-5 (b). His sole enumeration of error is that this statutory scheme is unconstitutional under the state and federal constitutions. We affirm.

1. We begin our analysis by noting that any right a defendant may have to be treated as a juvenile is not an inherent right specifically protected by the constitution, but one created by statute. In the Interest of J. J. S., 246…