Trial over for former Georgia prosecutor in Ahmaud Arberry case

BRUNSWICK, Ga. - A judge has dismissed charges against former Glynn County District Attorney Jackie Johnson, ending her trial on accusations of abusing power to protect the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery, according to the Associated Press. 

PREVIOUS STORIES

• Former prosecutor denies cover-up in Ahmaud Arbery case during trial
• One charge dismissed against former Georgia prosecutor in Ahmaud Arberry case

What we know:

Senior Judge John R. Turner dismissed the 2021 felony indictment against former District Attorney Jackie Johnson on Wednesday, citing technical issues with the wording of the charge that accused her of violating her oath of office. Johnson, who served as Glynn County's top prosecutor when Ahmaud Arbery was fatally shot in 2020, was on trial for allegedly using her position to shield the men responsible for Arbery’s death.

Earlier in the week, Judge Turner also ordered Johnson acquitted of a misdemeanor charge of obstructing police, concluding there was insufficient evidence to support the accusation.

What happened to Ahmaud Arbery

The backstory:

Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was chased by three white men in pickup trucks through their neighborhood in Glynn County, Georgia, before being fatally shot. The incident, which occurred nearly five years ago, gained national attention after a cellphone video of the shooting surfaced. The three men involved—Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William "Roddie" Bryan—were later convicted of murder and federal hate crimes.

Johnson, who was the district attorney at the time, faced scrutiny for her handling of the case, with allegations that she used her authority to protect Greg McMichael, a former investigator in her office.

Jackie Johnson

Former DA Jackie Johnson's charges dismissed

What they're saying:

"Frankly, this is a decision I didn’t want to make," Judge Turner told attorneys in the courtroom. But he said he felt the defense’s challenge to the indictment against Johnson "needs to be granted."

The judge also expressed sympathy for Arbery’s mother as she sat in the courtroom.

"When I think of this situation, I get a very deep sense of sadness," Turner said.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear whether new charges could be brought against Johnson with revised indictments or if further legal action will be pursued. The broader implications for prosecutorial accountability in similar cases are also yet to be determined.

Ahmaud Arbery’s parents react to charges being dropped

The other side:

Through their attorneys, Ben Crump and S. Lee Merritt, the parents of Ahmaud Arbery, Wanda Cooper-Jones and Marcus Arbery, released the following statement on Wednesday evening.

"We are deeply disappointed by the court’s decision to dismiss the charges against Jackie Johnson. However, we remain grateful that the grand jury chose to indict Johnson and that the Georgia Attorney General’s Office vigorously pursued a conviction.

"Wanda Cooper-Jones and Marcus Arbery deserved their day in court to address the way they were treated by Jackie Johnson in the aftermath of their son’s brutal and unjustifiable murder. They were able to take the stand, confront Johnson, and expose her abuse of power.

"We remain committed to seeking justice. This trial reaffirmed the systemic failures and institutional racism that not only led to Ahmaud’s murder but also sought to shield his killers from accountability. We will continue to fight, using the facts revealed in this case in our ongoing federal lawsuit against Glynn County, as well as against Jackie Johnson and George Barnhill individually.

"This outcome does not mark the end of our pursuit for justice – it strengthens our resolve."

What's next:

With the charges against Johnson dismissed, attention may shift to potential reforms in prosecutorial conduct and the legal processes governing such cases. Advocacy groups are likely to continue pushing for greater transparency and accountability within the justice system.

Why you should care:

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the intersection of race, justice, and prosecutorial accountability. The dismissal of charges against Johnson raises important questions about how the legal system handles cases of potential misconduct by public officials, particularly in high-profile cases involving racial violence.