ATLANTA – State Representatives Sandra Scott (D-Rex), Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta), Rhonda Burnough (D- Riverdale) and Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) recently filed complaints with the State Bar of Georgia against three attorneys who were involved in the Ahmaud Arbery homicide case. The State Bar of Georgia responded to each complaint and dismissed the grievances.
“I am troubled by the letter that I received from the State Bar of Georgia, which informed us that the State Bar of Georgia could discipline attorneys only if they violate any of the rules set forth in the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct,” said Rep. Scott. “If the attorney has not violated one of these rules, the bar is unable to take action against him or her. Therefore, the State Bar of Georgia ruled our complaints insufficient and dismissed them. There is no way the State Bar of Georgia read our complaint.”
“Every American, especially Georgians, have a constitutional right for equal protection under the law. However, these attorneys displayed conduct unbecoming of officers of the court and need to be held accountable for first violating the constitutional rights of Ahmaud Arbery,” said Rep. Davis. “They have displayed acts of racial discrimination, conflicts of interest and violated the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. Until these attorneys are held accountable to the full extent of the law, the nation will be slow to heal.”
In their formal complaints, these legislators requested the disbarment of former Glynn County District Attorney Jackie Johnson and Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George E. Barnhill, as well as requested the bar to censure defense attorney Kevin Gough. These legislators believe the trial of Arbery’s death demonstrated abuse of the judicial process and disenfranchised Arbery’s civil and constitutional rights. Furthermore, these legislators are concerned that this case exposed racial disparities in the law relating to hate crimes and African Americans receiving justice under the law.
“Their actions not only violated the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct in the handling of the Ahmaud Arbery case, but the overwhelming evidence also exposes a fatal flaw in this system of filing for disbarment,” said Rep. Schofield. “Accountability should always be an acceptable standard.”
“We did our research and presented our findings to hold these attorneys involved in the Ahmaud Arbery case accountable, and it was still not enough,” said Rep. Burnough. “Those attorneys denied Ahmad Arbery a fair trial because they did not want to investigate those white men. It is time for all Georgians to be protected under the Constitution that was written for all Americans.”
“As elected officials, we want to ensure that Georgians receive fair and equitable treatment in the judicial system and that measures are in place to hold people accountable when Georgians’ constitutional rights are violated,” added Rep. Davis.
Finally, these legislators have requested a review of other cases overseen by Johnson and Barnhill for acts of discrimination and conflict of interest.
*Editor’s Note: The individual complaints submitted to the State Bar of Georgia are attached.
Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She was first elected to the House Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Human Relations & Aging, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Science and Technology and Special Rules committees.
Representative Kim Schofield represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2017 and currently serves on the Health & Human Services, Interstate Cooperation, Information and Audits and Small Business Development committees.
Representative Rhonda Burnough represents the citizens of District 77, which includes portions of Clayton County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and currently serves on the Special Committee on Election Integrity and the Economic Development & Tourism, Governmental Affairs, Higher Education and Small Business Development committees.
Representative Viola Davis represents the citizens of District 87, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Natural Resources & Environment, Insurance, Interstate Cooperation and Science and Technology committees.
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