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Kemp Signs Law Clearing Way for Prosecutor Oversight Commission to Begin Operating

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp claps after signing a law letting a commission to discipline and remove prosecutors begin operating at the Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Critics fear the law will be used to target Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' prosecution of former President Donald Trump. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
(Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp claps after signing a law letting a commission to discipline and remove prosecutors begin operating at the Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Critics fear the law will be used to target Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' prosecution of former President Donald Trump. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 332 into law Wednesday afternoon. According to Kemp, the measure provides legislative fixes that would allow the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission to move forward and begin operations.

The new measure removes the provision which required the state Supreme Court to review and approve actions by the commission, now only a majority vote of the investigative panel is necessary to a full investigation of a district attorney or solicitor general.

Kemp said the law is aimed at prosecutors in cities where criminals are left off the hook.

The law would require prosecutors who handle lower level cases in some counties, to evaluate each case on
its own, instead of declining to prosecute classes of offenses.

Opponents say the law does not allow prosecutors to use their discretion in cases.

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!