Jury Selection Underway for Former District Attorney in Ahmaud Arbery Case

January 28, 2025
1 min read
Jackie Johnson, Brunswick’s former district attorney, is accused of obstructing the investigation into Ahmaud Arbery’s 2020 murder.

Jackie Johnson, Brunswick’s former district attorney, is accused of obstructing the investigation into Ahmaud Arbery’s 2020 murder.

⚖️ What’s Happening: Jury selection began this week in the trial of Jackie Johnson, who was Glynn County’s district attorney when Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was killed while jogging in February 2020.

  • Johnson is accused of using her authority to interfere with the investigation and protect Greg McMichael, a former investigator for her office, and his son, Travis, who fatally shot Arbery.
  • Prosecutors allege that Johnson directed police not to arrest Travis McMichael and delayed further investigation before recusing herself.

📰 Why It Matters: This trial examines whether a prosecutor’s actions influenced the handling of a high-profile murder investigation. For many, it’s about ensuring fairness and accountability in the justice system.

👨‍⚖️ The Charges: Johnson faces one felony count of violating her oath of office and one misdemeanor count of obstruction. A grand jury indicted her in 2021, roughly a year and a half after Arbery’s death.

🚨 Catch Up Quick: Arbery’s killing gained national attention after video of the incident surfaced, showing the McMichaels chasing Arbery in their truck before Travis McMichael shot him. Both McMichaels and a third man involved, William “Roddie” Bryan, were later convicted of murder.

📅 What’s Next: Twelve jurors are expected to be selected Tuesday morning, with the trial anticipated to last around two weeks. Jury selection is a critical step in ensuring impartiality in a case that has drawn widespread attention.