This series contains records related to the Georgia Law Department's representation of the state and its officers and employees in all federal and state courts in civil and criminal matters. The case files selected for inclusion in this records series are those determined to have continuing value not only as research material for other current and future cases, but as historical data. Division directors select, based on the eight factors below, cases from their division that document "litigation of historical importance." The Attorney General, or his appointed designee, makes the final determination on which cases to include in this series.

Factors considered in selecting "litigation of historical importance":

1. Any case which was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, any case before

the Georgia Supreme Court, or Georgia Court of Appeals or a federal

court which (a) declared a state law to be unconstitutional, or

(b) concerned the powers of the Governor, the Supreme Court, the

General Assembly or State Government.

2. Any capital felony case in which the defendant was executed.

3. Any criminal case in which a state elected official or an appointed

official who is the chief administrative officer of a state department

is charged and in which the charge is related to official conduct.

4. Any case which had an impact on conditions in society or which

captured the attention of the public and was widely reported

throughout the entire course of the case in the news media.

5. Any case in which the state brought suit against individuals or

corporations in which the state sought damages, fines, or recovery

exceeding $10,000,000.00.

6. Any case the results of which caused a significant change(s) in

state law.

7. Any litigation involving State tax revenues in excess of $500,000.

8. Class action and/or prison condition cases with court orders

requiring compliance for an indefinite or lengthy period of time.



Included in the "Litigation [Case Files] of Historical Importance" are:

(1) correspondence,

(2) pleadings,

(3) research,

(4) evidence,

(5) exhibits,

(6) transcripts of hearings and depositions, and

(7) other records relating to the case



Case files not designated "litigation of historical Importance" are maintained in accordance with the retention schedules approved for the case files of each division.