Former Georgia District Attorney’s Case in Ahmaud Arbery Killing Investigation Stalls in Court

Former Georgia District Attorney’s Case Stalled in Court Following Indictment in Ahmaud Arbery Investigation

Three years after former Georgia district attorney Jackie Johnson was indicted on charges related to the investigation into the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, the case has come to a standstill in the court system. Johnson, who was the state’s top prosecutor for Glynn County at the time of Arbery’s death in 2020, has been accused of interfering with the police investigation into the shooting.

Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was chased and fatally shot by three white men in pickup trucks while running in their neighborhood. Johnson transferred the case to an outside prosecutor due to her previous professional relationship with one of the men involved in the chase. However, the Georgia attorney general alleges that Johnson used her office to protect the men responsible for Arbery’s death.

While the men involved in the shooting have been convicted and sentenced to prison, Johnson’s case has been moving slowly through the court system. She faces charges of violating her oath of office and hindering a police officer.

Despite the progress in the case against the men responsible for Arbery’s death, his family has emphasized the importance of holding Johnson accountable for her alleged misconduct. Johnson has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing, stating that she recused herself from the case as soon as she became aware of the conflict of interest.

The presiding judge in Johnson’s case has assured that the delay is temporary and that the case will eventually move forward. Legal experts have noted that there is no deadline for Johnson to stand trial, and the backlog of cases in the courts, as well as the limited resources of the attorney general’s office, may be contributing to the slow progress.

Despite the challenges in moving the case forward, prosecutors remain committed to seeking justice for Arbery and his family. The case against Johnson highlights the complexities of prosecuting a former district attorney for alleged misconduct in a high-profile investigation.