What can result in a reported decision by the Georgia Court of Appeals becoming considered bad law?

A reported decision by the Georgia Court of Appeals can be considered bad law for several reasons, all of which highlight how legal principles can evolve or be undermined.

The inconsistency in how lower courts apply a decision can lead to confusion and uncertainty in legal precedent. When different courts interpret the same ruling in varying ways, it can signal that the precedent is not reliable, thereby affecting its validity in practice.

Additionally, a decision may be deemed bad law if it has been subsequently overruled. When a higher court decides to reverse a previous ruling, that previous decision loses its authority, and the legal community must follow the new ruling. This effectively nullifies the prior case's standing as good law.

Lastly, changes in legislative statutes can also result in a court decision being rendered bad law. If the legislature amends a law that forms the basis of the appellate court's decision, the ruling may no longer align with the current legal framework. As statutes change, court decisions must be interpreted in light of new legislation, leading to potential conflicts or obsolete interpretations.

Therefore, considering all these factors, it is clear that each of these scenarios can independently contribute to a decision becoming bad law, hence the comprehensive nature of the correct answer.