Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia
ATLANTA,____________________
October 24, 2019
The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
A20A0408. TONYA COOPER v. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES.
An administrative law judge reversed the decision of the Georgia Department
of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services (“DFCS”), to place
Tonya Cooper’s name on the Georgia central child abuse registry. After DFCS filed
a petition for judicial review of the administrative decision in superior court, the
superior court reversed that decision. Cooper then filed this direct appeal. We lack
jurisdiction.
Under OCGA § 5-6-35 (a) (1), a party must follow the discretionary appeal
procedures to obtain review of a superior court decision reviewing the decision of an
administrative agency. Dunlap v. City of Atlanta, 272 Ga. 523, 524 (531 SE2d 702)
(2000). Cooper’s failure to follow the proper avenue of appeal deprives this Court of
jurisdiction to consider her appeal. Accordingly, this appeal is hereby DISMISSED.
Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
10/24/2019
I certify that the above is a true extract from
the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
Witness my signature and the seal of said court
hereto affixed the day and year last above written.
, Clerk.