WILLIAMS v. STATE, 283 Ga. 94 (2008)

656 S.E.2d 144

No. S08A0014.Supreme Court of Georgia.
DECIDED JANUARY 8, 2008. RECONSIDERATION DENIED FEBRUARY 11, 2008.

THOMPSON, Justice.

Danny Williams was convicted of murder and other crimes and sentenced to life plus five years in prison. His convictions were affirmed on appeal, Williams v. State, 270 Ga. 125 (508 SE2d 415) (1998), and his state and federal habeas corpus challenges were denied. In 2007 Williams filed a motion to set aside his convictions, arguing for the first time that his trial jury was not sworn. The court denied Williams’ motion and he appeals. For the following reason, we affirm.

The law is clear that a motion to set aside a verdict and vacate a judgment is not an appropriate remedy in a criminal case. Wright v. State, 277 Ga. 810, 811 (596 SE2d 587) (2004). OCGA § 17-9-4, which provides that “[t]he judgment of a court having no jurisdiction of the person or subject matter, or void for any other cause, is a mere nullity and may be so held in any court when it becomes material to the interest of the parties to consider it,” does not require a contrary result. We consistently have held that this provision does not authorize a departure from the recognized procedure for challenging a criminal conviction. See Wright, supra; Shields v. State, 276 Ga. 669, 671
(581 SE2d 536) (2003). Because a motion to set aside is not an

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established procedure for challenging the validity of a judgment in a criminal case, we affirm the trial court’s order denying the motion to set aside Williams’ conviction.[1]
Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.

DECIDED JANUARY 8, 2008. RECONSIDERATION DENIED FEBRUARY 11, 2008.
Murder. Richmond Superior Court. Before Judge Wheale.

Danny Williams, pro se.
Daniel J. Craig, District Attorney, Thurbert E. Baker, Attorney General, for appellee.