The recent constitutionality of a state law will allow Columbia county to move into a new judicial circuit. Columbia county will “separate from the Augusta Judicial Circuit, leaving Richmond and Burke counties” behind, according to the Associated Press.
Attorney Willie Saunders is one person who opposed the change, claiming that because the newly created judicial circuit would have another district attorney, the restructuring would nullify every vote for Jared Williams, the first Black district attorney in the Augusta Judicial Circuit.
Columbia County isn't the only county threatening to leave its current judicial circuit. Earlier this year, some in Oconee County asked to have that county separated from the Western Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Clarke County.
WUGA's Jessica Wurst reports.
https://apnews.com/article/georgia-race-and-ethnicity-voting-rights-1263d21f76ee48e8d053c5935da167f6
https://apnews.com/article/georgia-race-and-ethnicity-voting-rights-1263d21f76ee48e8d053c5935da167f6
https://apnews.com/article/ga-state-wire-racial-injustice-race-and-ethnicity-447926441c704aeaf5bc33fed7035345
https://www.onlineathens.com/story/news/local/the-oconee-leader/2021/01/06/watkinsville-mayor-break-athens-create-judicial-circuit-oconee/6566784002/