State prosecutors will face additional supervision.
The Georgia House’s Republican majority has passed legislation creating an oversight board for the state’s district attorneys and solicitor generals over the objections of Democrats who argued the panel is unnecessary and politically motivated.
House Bill 231 passed 98-75 primarily along party lines on Crossover Day. The eight members of the Prosecuting Attorneys Oversight Commission would be appointed by the Georgia Supreme Court to investigate complaints against prosecutors and hold hearings. The panel would have the power to discipline or remove prosecutors on a variety of grounds including mental or physical incapacity, willful misconduct or failure to perform the duties of the office, conviction of a crime of moral turpitude, or conduct that brings the office into disrepute.
We spoke with Clarke and Oconee District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez about the measure earlier. She says DAs already face oversight and that the measure subverts the will of voters.
