Memorandum

To:	Chief Judge Gary B. Andrews

Presiding Judge Marion T. Pope, Jr.
From:	William L. Martin, III
Subject:	Senate Bill 623, Direct Appeals and Attorneys' Fees
Date:	February 24, 1998

Attached please find a copy of Senate Bill 623 which has passed the Senate and is presently pending in the House Judiciary Committee. It would amend OCGA §5-6-34 to provide that appeals of orders granting or denying awards of attorneys' fees under OCGA §§9-15-14 and 9-11-11.1 would be by direct appeal rather than by application.

This is Senator Mary Margaret Oliver's bill. Given the delicate status of Senate Bill 78, the bill which will create two new judges for the Court of Appeals of Georgia, I am not sure what type of overt action we may be able to take regarding this legislation.

Please contact me if you have any questions.