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stating that “this court lacks the authority to grant an extension of time for the filing of an application for discretionary appeal,” citing Rosenstein and Court of Appeals Rule 16(c), which provides that “[n]o extension of time shall be granted for filing interlocutory or discretionary applications or filing responses thereto”
Summary of this case from Gable v. StateOpinion
A01A1181.
DECIDED: OCTOBER 26, 2001.
Child support. Oconee Superior Court. Before Judge Stephens.
Gary C. Harris, for appellant.
Griner Mirate, Galen A. Mirate, Ellisa Garrett, for appellee.
Robert F. Wilson sent an application for discretionary appeal by certified mail to this court on October 5, 2000. The order Wilson sought to appeal, which concerned child support and modification of visitation rights, was entered on September 5, 2000. The application Wilson presented to this court did not include a pauper's affidavit or the prescribed filing fee. Wilson's completed application containing the filing fee was filed on October 10, 2000.
This court dismissed Wilson's application on October 31, 2000. Wilson filed a motion for reconsideration of that dismissal, arguing that extenuating circumstances precluded the timely filing of the application. This court granted the motion for reconsideration of the dismissal and granted the application.
Because this court has no jurisdiction over this matter, we must dismiss the appeal. O.C.G.A. § 5-6-4 provides that the costs for applications for appeals filed in the Court of Appeals shall be paid "at the time of the filing of the application." The statute then provides:
The clerk is prohibited from receiving the application for appeal or the brief of the appellant unless the costs have been paid or a sufficient affidavit of indigence is filed or contained in the record.
See generally Sorrentino v. Boston Mutual Life Insurance Co., 206 Ga. App. 771 (2) ( 426 S.E.2d 594) (1992).
The mandate of O.C.G.A. § 5-6-4 is reiterated in our Court of Appeals Rule 5 which states that the clerk "shall not file any matter unless the costs have been paid or a sufficient pauper's affidavit has been filed." Consistently, Rule 4 states that "[a] document shall be deemed filed when it is physically delivered to the Clerk's office, with sufficient costs, if applicable. . . ." The second sentence of Rule 4 elaborates upon the provisions for the filing by registered or certified mail.
Contrary to Wilson's arguments, we find no inconsistency between the first and second sentences of Rule 4. The first sentence of the rule describes the requirements for completing; the second sentence allows for filing by mail.
Wilson argues that the failure to file the filing fee does not warrant dismissal because this is not one of the three instances enumerated in O.C.G.A. § 5-6-48 (b). This argument lacks merit. Here, the completed application was not filed within thirty days of the entry of the order, as required under O.C.G.A. § 5-6-35 (d), and this court has no jurisdiction of an untimely application. Moreover, this court lacks the authority to grant an extension of time for the filing of an application for discretionary appeal. Rosenstein v. Jenkins, 166 Ga. App. 385 ( 304 S.E.2d 740) (1983); Court of Appeals Rule 16 (c).
Appeal dismissed. Blackburn, C. J., and Mikell, J., concur.
DECIDED OCTOBER 26, 2001 — CERT. APPLIED FOR.