Imagine you’re accused of a crime you didn’t commit. You’re in court waiting for the judge to read the verdict, and this happens.
A 26-year-old named Alton Oliver was on trial in Georgia last week, facing MURDER charges. He was accused of killing an off-duty COP in 2022, but claimed it was in self-defense. (You can read the details here.)
The trial lasted three days and wrapped up on Friday after the jury quickly came back with a verdict. They handed it to the judge to read, and everyone was on the edge of their seat.
If you haven’t seen the court footage yet, it’s all over social media right now, because the judge FLUBBED the verdict. He said “guilty,” but meant to say NOT GUILTY on all counts.
Someone off camera, apparently a juror, corrected him. And he finally said “not guilty” about 20 seconds later.
The casual apology he gave irked some people. He chuckled and said, “I apologize for my mispronunciation.”
(Here’s the video.)
This is one hell of a judicial blooper
Fulton Superior Court judge Henry Newkirk misread a verdict form that actually said “not guilty”
— Phil Holloway ✈️ (@PhilHollowayEsq) August 15, 2025
(NBC News)
