A Georgia commission empowered to discipline and dismiss prosecutors awaits only Governor Brian Kemp's approval to commence operations, potentially disrupting Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' pursuit of President Donald Trump's prosecution.
The state House voted 97-73 on Tuesday in favor of Senate Bill 332, advancing it to Kemp. The Republican governor has affirmed his intention to endorse the measure.
Despite Kemp signing legislation last year to establish the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission, its operation was stalled when the state Supreme Court declined to endorse regulations governing its conduct in November. Justices expressed “grave doubts” about their capacity to regulate the responsibilities of district attorneys beyond the legal profession. Tuesday's measure eliminates the need for Supreme Court approval.
The legislation mandates that district attorneys and solicitors general, who handle prosecutions in certain counties, must assess each case individually instead of declining to prosecute classes of offenses.
The bill progresses despite the establishment of a special investigative committee by the state Senate, which Republicans assert will investigate whether Willis utilized state funds for personal gain by appointing attorney Nathan Wade as a special prosecutor in the Trump case. The commission is set to hear from Ashleigh Merchant, defense attorney for co-defendant Michael Roman, who initially raised concerns about Wade, on Wednesday.
