Georgia district attorneys challenge law allowing state to oust prosecutors

Four district attorneys file lawsuit against oversight commission seen as response to election of progressive, Black prosecutors

A group of district attorneys filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the state of Georgia and Governor Brian Kemp challenging Republican-led legislation that gives the state the ability to oust prosecutors it finds are not enforcing the law.

The four district attorneys are challenging Senate Bill 92, which Kemp signed into law in May creating a statewide Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission with the power to investigate complaints against district attorneys, discipline them and remove them from office if it decides they are not adequately carrying out state law. They claim that the law, which institutes a top-down approach to law enforcement", prevents voters from selecting their own district attorneys. In recent years, Georgia voters have increasingly chosen progressive, Black prosecutors.