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Judge ordered the acquittal of former Georgia prosecutor on one of two misconduct charges

Former Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson listens Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Georgia, prior to a pretrial motions hearing in her violation of oath office case. (Michael Hall/Pool Photo via AP)
Michael Hall/The Brunswick News
Former Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson listens Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Georgia, prior to a pretrial motions hearing in her violation of oath office case. (Michael Hall/Pool Photo via AP)

A judge on Monday ordered the acquittal of a former Georgia prosecutor on one of the two misconduct charges against her, ruling that prosecutors at her trial failed to present any evidence the she obstructed a police investigation of the 2020 killing of Ahmaud Arbery. The trial of former District Attorney Jackie Johnson was to continue Tuesday.

She still faces a felony charge of violating her oath of office. Soon after prosecutors rested their case Monday, Senior Judge John R. Turner took the rare step of granting a directed verdict on the misdemeanor obstruction charge against Johnson. The ruling means the judge found the case against Johnson on that single charge was too weak for any reasonable jury to convict her.

Turner told attorneys he was letting the oath violation charge stand “for the moment.” He asked both sides to submit written briefs with additional legal arguments.

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