Georgia law permits appointed panel to REMOVE 'rogue' prosecutors

In May, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp authorized the creation of the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission, a panel that would be given the authority to investigate district attorneys and prosecutors, and subsequently punish or remove them from office. Among those who protested the new law was Fulton County DA Fani Willis, who many cited as one of the officials likely to become a target of the panel. 

On Monday, Willis announced that a grand jury had indicted Donald Trump following an investigation into allegations of election fraud that she had spearheaded. 

As the Associated Press reported at the time, Kemp justified the creation of the panel by suggesting it would prevent "far-left prosecutors" from "making our communities less safe."
 

"I am not going to stand idly by as rogue or incompetent prosecutors refuse to uphold the law," he said. "Today we are sending a message that we will not forfeit public safety for prosecutors to let criminals off the hook."

The move was widely celebrated among Republicans, while Democrats deemed it "excessive and unnecessary."

Willis, who was only considering pursuing criminal charges against Trump at the time, said she viewed the law as racially motivated.

"This bill was never deemed necessary until a historic thing happened in 2020, and let's just talk about it and tell the truth," she said. “In 2020, we went from having five district attorneys that are minorities to 14 that are minorities."

Despite her claims, proponents maintained that the panel was thought up after a white Republican prosecutor was allowed to keep his job for months after being indicted for bribery. He resigned before the law was passed.

On August 9, Lt. Governor Burt Jones announced a number of appointments to the eight-person panel. Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit DA Stacey Jackson was appointed as chair, with Cobb County Deputy Chief Assistant DA Jason Saliba and Alcovy Judicial Circuit DA Randy McGinley serving as members.

"Prosecutors across Georgia should always prioritize protecting Georgia families by prosecuting criminals properly, instead of focusing on their own special interests," Jones declared. "I am grateful to the appointees for their willingness to serve and hold those who aren’t doing their job or the right thing accountable."