In a significant ruling on Wednesday, a judge dismissed a felony indictment against a former prosecutor in Georgia, effectively concluding her trial related to allegations of misconduct linked to the case of Ahmaud Arbery, whose death in 2020 sparked widespread outrage.
Jackie Johnson, the former District Attorney for Glynn County, had consistently denied any wrongdoing concerning her handling of the investigation into Arbery’s shooting. Johnson was accused of trying to shield the individuals involved in the case from facing charges immediately after the incident. Following an investigation prompted by state Attorney General Chris Carr in 2021, she was indicted. However, the prosecution struggled to present a strong case as the trial commenced last week.
After a week of testimonies, Senior Judge John R. Turner acquitted Johnson of a misdemeanor charge of police obstruction, determining that the prosecution had not provided adequate proof that she had interfered with law enforcement regarding the arrest of Arbery’s shooter. The judge emphasized that there was no compelling evidence showing Johnson directed police to withhold arrests.
On Wednesday, Judge Turner dismissed the remaining felony charge, which accused Johnson of violating her oath of office, citing substantial errors in the indictment itself. During the courtroom proceedings, he admitted that deciding to dismiss the charges was difficult but felt compelled to grant the defense’s request. He expressed his condolences to Arbery’s mother, who understandably felt deep sorrow over the case’s outcome.
Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arbery’s mother, expressed her disappointment outside the courtroom but maintained her belief that evidence suggested Johnson had a role in obscuring the circumstances surrounding her son’s death. She emphasized that the public was aware of Johnson’s involvement, even as she did not blame prosecutors for the dismissal.
Last week, Johnson’s legal team urged the judge to drop the charges, presenting arguments that the indictment citing her violation of duty was flawed. The defense pointed out that the oath referenced in the charges was one she had signed in 2010, which became obsolete when she took new oaths after being elected in 2012 and 2016 respectively. Several witnesses corroborated this, stating that each newly elected district attorney is required to take a new oath, invalidating any previous ones.
Neither the prosecution nor the Attorney General’s office publicly commented after the ruling. Meanwhile, public attention remains focused on the broader implications of the Arbery case, wherein three white men chased and killed him, claiming they suspected him of burglary. The men were later convicted of murder and hate crimes following a national outcry.
On the day of the shooting, February 23, 2020, Travis McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael, decided to pursue Arbery in their pickup truck, believing he was a burglar. They were eventually joined by neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan, who recorded the fatal encounter on video. Initially, law enforcement did not make arrests for over two months, only taking action after the video went viral and instigated public outrage.
Despite Johnson recusing herself from the case after the shooting, the prosecution aimed to demonstrate that she unfortunately attempted to maneuver behind the scenes to protect the McMichaels. However, their case suffered a significant blow when a key witness testified that she and Johnson had never discussed Arbery’s case. The prosecution concluded their argument without calling another key witness to testify, further complicating their case.
Ultimately, Johnson was voted out of office in November 2020, amidst the controversies surrounding the Arbery case. This ruling may shine a light on discussions surrounding accountability within the justice system, especially relating to how some officials interact with community safety and law enforcement.
