The Department of Human Resources ("DHR") filed suit to establish William Hargis's paternity of a minor. Hargis answered on May 20, 1997, demanding a jury trial. On July 1, 1997, an amendment to OCGA 19-7-40 became effective which extinguished the right to a jury trial in a paternity suit. Trial was set on the non-jury calendar and Hargis filed a motion for jury trial, which was denied. This Court granted Hargis's application for interlocutory review to consider the trial court's ruling that he did not have a right to a jury trial.

The right to a jury trial is a substantive one. See Barner v. State, 263 Ga. 365, 367 (4) (434 SE2d 484) (1993); Bell v. Cronic, 248 Ga. 457, 459 (283 SE2d 476) (1981). See also McSears v. State, 247 Ga. 48, 49-51 (2) (273 SE2d 847) (1981) (statute changing the size of a jury from twelve to six could not be applied retroactively to a criminal defendant because to do so would deprive him of a "substantial right" to be tried by a jury of twelve). Accordingly, a statute providing that a civil defendant may demand a jury trial provides that defendant with a substantive right, and a statute removing that right cannot be given retroactive application. That right vested in Hargis upon his demand for a jury trial. See Paul v. Keene, 272 Ga. 357 (529 SE2d 135) (2000); Trulove v. Trulove, 233 Ga. 896 (213 SE2d 868) (1975); Walker v. Bivins, 57 Ga. 322, 325-326 (2) (1876). Therefore, the 1997 amendment to OCGA 19-7-40 was unconstitutionally applied to him. 1

DHR argues that the legislature intended that the amendment to OCGA 19-7-40 be applied retrospectively because other sections of Ga. L. 1997, pp. 1613-1679 were specified to be effective January 1, 1998, and to "apply to all proceedings initiated on or after that date." Ga. L. 1997, p. 1679, 36. But the bill is silent as to retrospective or prospective application of the section at issue, other than to state that it, and most other sections, "become effective on July 1, 1997." Ga. L. 1997, p. 1679, 36. This silence is not language that "imperatively requires" retroactive application under the rules of statutory interpretation. See Coastal Ga. Reg. Dev. Center v. Higdon, 263 Ga. 827, 830 (2) (439 SE2d 902) (1994); Polito, supra at (2). Further, even if it did show an intent for such application, the legislature may not enact a statute to apply retrospectively in violation of our constitutional provision barring retroactive laws. See Canton Textile Mills, supra; Enger, supra.