The Gist: A court hearing on Friday will decide if the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission can begin investigating elected prosecutors.
What Happened?: Senate Bill 92, effective since July, allows the new commission to scrutinize and potentially unseat elected prosecutors. This has led to four district attorneys, with support from the Public Rights Project, to challenge the bill, viewing it as an overreach and violation of the constitution. They argue it’s a direct counter to the public’s choice of elected officials.
By The Numbers:
- 4 District Attorneys: Sherry Boston (DeKalb County), Flynn Broady (Cobb County), Jonathan Adams (Towaliga Judicial Circuit), and Jared Williams (Augusta Judicial Circuit) are challenging the new law.
- July – Senate Bill 92 becomes effective.
- October 1, 2023 – The date the commission would begin its investigations.
Why It Matters: Those opposing Senate Bill 92 believe it’s a tool that could be misused to challenge prosecutors based on ideological differences, not their competence or ethics. The bill’s detractors say it threatens the democratic process and the decisions of local communities.
What’s Next?: Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker will preside over the hearing in Courtroom 5D at 1 p.m. on September 22, 2023. The decision could halt or greenlight the commission’s ability to investigate prosecutors as planned.
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