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DA Deborah Gonzalez's Statement on Lawsuit Filed Against Her

 Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez addresses Athens-Clarke County commissioners on Jan. 12, 2023.
Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez addresses Athens-Clarke County commissioners on Jan. 12, 2023.

District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez says a recent lawsuit targeting her office is part of a broader campaign targeting DAs around the state and nation. The suit claims Gonzalez is not fulfilling the requirements of her office due to a shortage of prosecutors and a lack of cases being prosecuted. Athens business owner Jarrod Miller filed the measure.

DA Gonzalez’s Statement on Application of Writ of Mandamus Filed Against Her

This attack on my office is part of a broader, politically-motivated campaign to undermine prosecutors who have been elected by their communities to pursue smart justice that moves away from the failed “tough on crime” strategies of the past.

These attacks, in the form of power-stripping removal petitions and impeachments, among other things, are happening in Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Iowa, and Georgia to name a few. They have nothing to do with making our communities safer and everything to do with deflecting attention away from our refusal to seriously address the causes of crime.

My community elected me based on my promise to fight for a safer and more just future. I will always strive to be better in implementing new approaches, and I am proud of the work our office does every day, fighting for victims and a more just legal system.

I will continue to hold myself accountable to my community and resist efforts to strip them of the leadership they have duly elected to carry out this job.

Alexia Ridley joined WUGA as Television and Radio News Anchor and Reporter in 2013. When WUGA TV concluded operations, she became the primary Reporter for WUGA Radio. Alexia came to Athens from Macon where she served as the News Director and show host for WGXA TV. She's a career journalist and Savannah native hailing from the University of Michigan. However, Alexia considers herself an honorary UGA DAWG!