
    S03A0451.
    STATE OF GEORGIA v. COLACK.
    (578 SE2d 893)
    Decided March 27, 2003.
    
      Daniel J. Porter, District Attorney, Elizabeth L. Jaeger, Thomas N. Davis, Jr., Assistant District Attorneys, for appellant.
    
      Henderson & Lipscomb, David S. Lipscomb, for appellee.
   Sears, Presiding Justice.

Because the habeas court improperly granted relief to Colack before the habeas petition was served on the State and without the benefit of a hearing on the merits of the petition, the habeas court’s judgment is reversed and the case is remanded to the habeas court for a full hearing.

Judgment reversed.

All the Justices concur. 
      
       See Gaither v. Gibby, 267 Ga. 96, 97 (475 SE2d 603) (1996).
     