1. Prine Law Group
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, DUI/DWI, drug offenses, traffic violations, felony crimes, misdemeanor defense
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, DUI charges, drug possession and distribution, marijuana offenses, traffic violations, probation violations, juvenile offenses, domestic disputes, theft and shoplifting
Legal Services: Trial defense, plea negotiations, motion to suppress filings, arraignment representation, bond hearings, Fourth Amendment challenges, First Offender Act petitions, breathalyzer calibration challenges, discovery review, pre-trial motions
Background: The firm was founded in 2007 by Joseph R. Prine Jr. and now includes three attorneys with 38 combined years of practice. Joseph R. Prine Jr. graduated from Charleston School of Law (2007) and is admitted to the Georgia Bar, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Superior Courts of Georgia, and Supreme Court of Georgia. He serves as Solicitor for Twiggs County Probate Court. Dylan “Zane” Hasty graduated magna cum laude from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law (admitted 2019) and serves as Assistant Solicitor for Twiggs County Probate Court and Perry Municipal Court. Michael William Barber graduated from Charleston School of Law (admitted 2011 in Georgia and South Carolina). The firm holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, Macon Bar Association, and Dublin Bar Association. The firm has earned more than 85 five-star reviews on Google and FindLaw.
Location: 740 Mulberry Street, Macon, Georgia 31201
Contact: (478) 257-6333 | prinelaw.com/criminal-defense/
Consultation: Free initial consultation available; virtual appointments offered; confidential meetings
2. Brodie Law Group
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, DUI/DWI, drug crimes, violent crimes, felony defense, sex offenses, misdemeanor defense
Case Types Handled: Murder, drug trafficking and distribution, DUI, theft, probation violations, misdemeanors, violent crimes, sex offenses, domestic violence, driving without a license, drug possession
Legal Services: Trial defense, arraignment representation, plea negotiations, motion to suppress filings, evidence challenges, bail hearings, grand jury representation, pre-trial defense, post-conviction representation
Background: Brodie Law Group is led by criminal defense attorney Sean Brodie, who has practiced as a trial attorney in Middle Georgia for over 17 years and has handled over 3,500 criminal cases. Sean Brodie graduated from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law (admitted 2008) and spent more than 10 years as an Assistant Public Defender with the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office covering Baldwin, Greene, Hancock, Jasper, Jones, Morgan, Putnam, and Wilkinson Counties before joining the firm in 2018. Ashley Mackin Brodie graduated from Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia (honors, business management). She has served as President of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Bar Association (2014-2015) and County Attorney for Jones County. The firm maintains offices in Macon, Milledgeville, and Gray, covering the Macon Judicial Circuit (Bibb, Peach, and Crawford Counties).
Location: 4580 Sheraton Drive, Macon, Georgia 31210
Contact: (478) 239-2780 | brodielawgroup.com/practice/criminal-defense/
Consultation: Free consultations available; Spanish-speaking services offered; confidential case reviews
3. Deadwyler-Heuman Law Firm, LLC
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, immigration law, drug crimes, DUI/DWI, theft offenses, felony and misdemeanor defense
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, drug offenses, DUI, theft, domestic violence, probation violations, immigration-related criminal matters
Legal Services: Trial defense, plea negotiations, bail hearings, arraignment representation, motion practice, post-conviction relief, immigration consequences counseling, bilingual legal services
Background: Founded by Ashley Deadwyler-Heuman, a Mercer University School of Law graduate (J.D. 2010) admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2010. Attorney Deadwyler-Heuman has been selected to the Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Stars list from 2022 to 2024. She is a member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Macon Bar Association, William Augustus Bootle Inns of Court, and Georgia Bar Association Criminal Law Section. She received an Ethics and Professionalism Award from the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division and is an Equal Justice Works Fellowship Program alumnus. The firm has been practicing since 2013 and offers bilingual services in English and Spanish.
Location: 577 Mulberry Street, Suite 1250, Macon, Georgia 31201 (additional office in Cordele)
Contact: (478) 241-5247 | [email protected] | https://www.deadwylerlaw.com/
Consultation: Case reviews available; payment plans offered; bilingual services (English/Spanish)
4. Cooper, Barton & Cooper
Practice Focus: Criminal defense, DUI/DWI, drug crimes, sex crimes, violent crimes, felony and misdemeanor defense, federal crimes
Case Types Handled: Felonies, misdemeanors, drug crimes, DUI, violent crimes, sex crimes, federal offenses, expungement petitions
Legal Services: Trial defense, arraignment representation, plea negotiations, motion to suppress, bail hearings, federal court representation, expungement petitions, post-conviction proceedings
Background: The firm has 30+ years of combined experience with attorneys who have worked for judges and in multiple District Attorney’s offices across states. The attorneys are experienced litigators who handle cases at both state and federal levels. The firm has received peer recognition for skill, ethics, and competence in litigation. Attorney Ashley Cooper handles civil litigation, domestic relations, and criminal defense at state and federal levels. The attorneys bring experience from both prosecution and defense perspectives.
Location: 170 College Street, Macon, Georgia 31201
Contact: (478) 202-7050 | https://www.cooperbarton.com/criminal-defense/
Consultation: Free initial consultation available
5. The Sessions Law Firm, LLC
Practice Focus: DUI/DWI defense, criminal defense, personal injury
Case Types Handled: DUI charges, DUI refusal cases, drug-related DUI, commercial driver DUI, breath test challenges, field sobriety test challenges, traffic offenses
Legal Services: DUI trial defense, administrative license hearings, breath test calibration challenges, motion to suppress, implied consent hearings, plea negotiations, ignition interlock device petitions
Background: D. Benjamin Sessions is the owner of The Sessions Law Firm with offices in Atlanta and Macon. He received his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law and has been practicing for 21 years. He is one of only four lawyers in Georgia to be Board Certified in DUI Defense by the National College for DUI Defense. He has been consistently recognized as a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine and as Legal Elite by Georgia Trends Magazine. He is a member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National College for DUI Defense. He has been a speaker at seminars before the National College for DUI Defense, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Georgia Public Defender Standards Council, New York State Bar Association, and Georgia ICLE.
Location: Macon, Georgia (serves Bibb County and Middle Georgia)
Contact: (478) 254-2665
Consultation: Free consultations available
Criminal Defense Regulations in Georgia
Bar Admission Requirements: To practice criminal defense in Georgia, attorneys must be admitted to the State Bar of Georgia by passing the Georgia Bar Examination or by reciprocity. Attorneys must hold a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and demonstrate good moral character. Admission to the U.S. District Courts for the Middle, Northern, or Southern Districts of Georgia requires separate applications for federal practice.
Public Defender System: Georgia operates a statewide public defender system through the Georgia Public Defender Council (GPDC), established in 2003. Circuit Public Defenders serve each judicial circuit, with the exception of Bell-Forsyth, Blue Ridge, Cobb, Douglas, Gwinnett, and Houston Counties, which have opted out of the state system. Indigent defendants must complete an Application for Counsel, and eligibility is determined based on financial circumstances. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) and the Georgia Constitution (Art. I, § 1, ¶ XIV) guarantee the right to counsel for indigent defendants.
Specialty Certifications: Georgia does not have a state-specific criminal law specialist certification program. However, the National College for DUI Defense offers Board Certification in DUI Defense, which some Georgia attorneys hold. Attorneys may also hold certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Attorney Advertising Rules: Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct 7.1 through 7.5 govern attorney advertising and solicitation. The Supreme Court of Georgia approved amendments to these rules in 2023. Attorneys may not make false or misleading communications about their services. Firm names and letterhead must comply with specified requirements.
Attorney-Client Privilege: Georgia recognizes attorney-client privilege under both statutory and common law. Communications between attorneys and clients made for the purpose of obtaining legal advice are protected from disclosure. The privilege extends to criminal defense representation and includes work product protections.
Continuing Legal Education Requirements: Georgia attorneys must complete 12 hours of CLE annually, including 1 hour of ethics and 1 hour of professionalism. Attorneys who appear as sole or lead counsel in Superior or State Courts in contested civil cases or criminal trials must complete 3 hours of trial practice CLE for that year. Beginning January 1, 2026, Georgia will transition to biennial reporting with 18 hours required per two-year period, including 3 hours of ethics and 2 hours of professionalism.
Speedy Trial Requirements: Georgia’s speedy trial statute (O.C.G.A. § 17-7-170) requires that a defendant be tried within two regular terms of court after the term in which the indictment or accusation was filed, if the defendant files a demand for speedy trial. Federal constitutional speedy trial protections under the Sixth Amendment also apply.
Discovery Rules: Georgia criminal discovery is governed by O.C.G.A. § 17-16-1 et seq. The prosecution must provide the defendant with witness lists, written statements, and scientific reports. Brady v. Maryland (1963) requires disclosure of exculpatory evidence. Defendants may subpoena records such as breathalyzer calibration records and officer training certifications.
Bail and Pretrial Release: Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 17-6-1) establishes bail procedures. Misdemeanor defendants have a right to bail or unsecured judicial release. For serious felonies including murder, armed robbery, rape, aggravated child molestation, and trafficking offenses, bail must be set by a Superior Court judge. Georgia uses preset bail schedules for many offenses. First appearance hearings must occur within 48 to 72 hours of arrest. Types of release include own recognizance (ROR), cash bond, property bond, and surety bond. The minimum bond in Georgia is $1,000.
Felony Classification System: Georgia does not use a lettered or numbered classification system for felonies. Instead, each felony statute specifies its own penalty range. Felonies are punishable by more than 12 months incarceration and may carry sentences ranging from one year to life imprisonment or death for capital offenses. Georgia’s “Seven Deadly Sins” statutes impose mandatory minimum sentences for certain serious felonies.
Death Penalty Status: Georgia is a death penalty state. Capital offenses include murder with aggravating circumstances. The Georgia Supreme Court automatically reviews all death sentences. Capital defense requires specialized qualifications, and the Georgia Public Defender Council provides capital defense representation for indigent defendants.
Record Restriction and Sealing: Georgia uses the term “record restriction” rather than expungement. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, certain criminal records can be restricted from public view. Arrests that did not result in conviction may be automatically restricted after 2 years for misdemeanors, 4 years for most felonies, and 7 years for serious violent felonies. Up to two misdemeanor convictions may be eligible for restriction if the person has completed their sentence, has no convictions for 4 years, and has no pending charges. Pardoned felonies may be restricted with a petition to the court. The First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60) allows first-time offenders who complete their sentence without violation to have their records restricted. Sexual offenses, serious violent felonies, and certain traffic offenses are ineligible for restriction.
Mandatory Minimum Sentences: Georgia imposes mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses, including drug trafficking (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-31), serious violent felonies, and repeat offenders. The “two strikes” law requires life imprisonment without parole for a second serious violent felony conviction.
Repeat Offender Enhancements: Georgia’s recidivist statutes (O.C.G.A. § 17-10-7) provide enhanced sentences for repeat offenders. A fourth felony conviction can result in maximum sentence imprisonment. The “two strikes” law applies to serious violent felonies including murder, armed robbery, and rape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens at a first appearance or arraignment in Bibb County?
A: After arrest in Bibb County, defendants must be brought before a judge for a first appearance within 48 to 72 hours, depending on the classification of the crime. At this hearing, charges are formally read, the defendant is advised of their rights, and bail is addressed. At arraignment, the defendant enters a plea (typically “not guilty” if challenging the charges). First appearances for weekend arrests at the Bibb County Jail typically occur on Saturday mornings. The Bibb County Courthouse is located at 601 Mulberry Street for cases in Superior Court or State Court.
Q: How does the bail process work in Bibb County, Georgia?
A: Bibb County follows Georgia’s bail procedures. Many offenses have preset bail amounts that can be posted immediately after processing. For offenses requiring judicial review, a bail hearing will be scheduled within 48 to 72 hours. Bail may be posted through cash bond (full amount paid), surety bond (typically 10-15% to a bail bond agent), property bond (requiring equity equal to or greater than twice the bond amount), or release on own recognizance (ROR). Certain serious felonies are “bail restricted offenses” requiring a Superior Court judge to set or deny bail. The Bibb County Corrections Center can be reached at 478-746-9441 for bond information.
Q: What are the penalties for a first-time DUI offense in Macon and Georgia?
A: A first DUI conviction within 10 years in Georgia is a misdemeanor punishable by 10 days to 12 months in jail (with all but 24 hours typically suspended if BAC was 0.08% or higher), a fine of $300 to $1,000 plus surcharges, 12 months of probation, 40 hours of community service, completion of a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program (DUI school), a clinical evaluation, and driver’s license suspension for 12 months with possible reinstatement after 120 days. Georgia law does not permit expungement or record restriction for DUI convictions. Commercial drivers face a one-year CDL disqualification.
Q: Is my criminal record eligible for restriction (expungement) in Georgia?
A: Georgia uses “record restriction” rather than expungement, which limits public access but does not destroy records. Arrests that did not result in conviction are generally eligible for restriction (automatically after 2 years for misdemeanors, 4 years for most felonies). Up to two misdemeanor convictions may be restricted if you have completed your sentence, have no convictions for 4 years, and have no pending charges. Felony convictions may be restricted only if pardoned by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles or if you successfully completed the First Offender Act. Sexual offenses, serious violent felonies, DUI, and most theft offenses remain ineligible. Court records must also be sealed separately through a court order.
Q: What local diversion or alternative sentencing programs exist in Bibb County?
A: Georgia offers several alternatives to traditional sentencing. The First Offender Act (O.C.G.A. § 42-8-60) allows eligible first-time offenders to avoid a conviction record upon successful completion of their sentence, though it cannot be used for DUI, serious violent felonies, or sexual offenses. The Conditional Discharge Act (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-2) provides similar relief for certain first-time drug offenders. Pretrial diversion programs may be available through the District Attorney’s Office for qualifying defendants. Drug courts and mental health courts offer treatment-based alternatives to incarceration. The Bibb County State Court handles misdemeanor cases and may offer probation, community service, or treatment programs as alternatives to jail time. An attorney familiar with Bibb County courts can advise on available options based on the specific charges and circumstances.