The Georgia state Supreme Court denied review Wednesday of proposed rules to discipline state prosecutors in a blow to a state legislature effort to oversee the actions of district attorneys.
The proposed rules would have allowed the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Qualifications Commission to “discipline, remove, and cause involuntary retirement of appointed or elected district attorneys or solicitors-general” for misconduct or failure to carry out duties. The rules were supported by Republican legislators dissatisfied with the recent indictment of former President Donald Trump. Under these new rules, the Commission could have removed the prosecutors leading the case against Trump if they were able to show cause.
Pursuant to Ga. Code § 15-18-32, the creation of these new rules was only permissible “provided … that such standards and rules shall be effective only upon review and adoption by the Supreme Court.” However, after receiving the proposed rules, the Georgia Supreme Court denied review. The court