4:16 pm - February 25, 2025
A judge in Brunswick, Georgia, brought an abrupt end to the trial of former District Attorney Jackie Johnson on Wednesday, dismissing the felony indictment against her and effectively halting the proceedings before the case could go to the jury. Johnson had been accused of using her influence to shield the men involved in the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, from prosecution. The decision marked the end of a legal battle that had spanned more than three years, during which Johnson maintained her innocence and denied any wrongdoing.
Johnson, who previously served as the top prosecutor in Glynn County, faced charges of violating her oath of office, a felony, and obstructing police, a misdemeanor. The trial began last week, with Johnson testifying in her own defense. However, on Wednesday morning, Senior Judge John R. Turner ruled in her favor, dismissing the felony charge after her attorneys argued that the 2021 indictment was flawed and failed to accuse her of any actual crimes. Turner also acquitted Johnson of the misdemeanor charge earlier in the week, stating that prosecutors had not provided sufficient evidence to support the allegation.
The judge’s decision was met with disappointment from Arbery’s family, who believed Johnson had played a role in covering up the circumstances surrounding their son’s death. Arbery’s father, Marcus Arbery Sr., described the ruling as “devastating,” while his mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, expressed her confidence that the jury would have convicted Johnson if given the opportunity. “The evidence was there,” Cooper-Jones said. “We all know that Jackie Johnson played a part in the cover-up of the death of Ahmaud.”
The case stems from the events of February 23, 2020, when Arbery was chased and killed by Gregory and Travis McMichael, a father-son duo, and their neighbor, William “Roddie” Bryan, in a predominantly white neighborhood near Brunswick. The men armed themselves and pursued Arbery after spotting him running in the area. Bryan recorded a video of Travis McMichael fatally shooting Arbery at close range with a shotgun. Despite the severity of the incident, no arrests were made for more than two months, sparking widespread outrage when the video surfaced online. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation eventually took over the case, leading to the arrest and conviction of all three men for murder and federal hate crimes.
Johnson’s prosecution was initiated by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, who accused her of withholding critical information and failing to act impartially. Specifically, prosecutors alleged that Johnson had not disclosed her connection to Greg McMichael, who had previously worked as an investigator in her office, and that she had sought the advice of another prosecutor, George Barnhill, without fully informing Carr’s office. Johnson denied any wrongdoing, stating that she had not interfered with the investigation or instructed police to avoid arresting the McMichaels. Barnhill, who initially reviewed the case, testified that he had concluded the shooting was justified without input from Johnson.
Johnson’s legal team argued that the indictment against her was fatally flawed, citing technical errors and a lack of evidence. They claimed that the charges did not outline specific crimes but instead focused on perceived failures in how Johnson treated Arbery’s family or handled the case’s conflicts of interest. Brian Steel, Johnson’s lead attorney, called the indictment an injustice, stating, “Ahmaud Arbery was slaughtered for no reason, and then Attorney General Carr piggybacked on the greatest tragedy … and indicted an innocent woman.” Steel emphasized that Johnson was unfairly portrayed as supporting racism, a claim he denied outright.
In the end, the trial’s abrupt conclusion left many questions unanswered, particularly for Arbery’s family, who continues to seek justice and accountability. While Johnson’s legal team celebrated the dismissal as a victory, others expressed frustration that the case never reached the jury. The outcome also highlighted the challenges of prosecuting public officials for alleged misconduct, as well as the enduring impact of Arbery’s death on his loved ones and the broader community. The case remains a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and equality in the United States.