Hearing set in lawsuit filed by Augusta District Attorney, three others against Kemp bill

A hearing has been scheduled in Fulton County to decide whether a motion for an injunction to prevent a new commission created by Gov. Brian Kemp from beginning any investigations will be granted.

The latest action was spurred by a lawsuit filed in August by Augusta District Attorney Jared T. Williams, three other Georgia district attorneys and the Public Rights Project, challenging Senate Bill 92.

The bill, enacted by Kemp during the 2023 legislative session, created the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission, which is authorized to investigate and remove local prosecutors beginning Oct. 1, and whose members are appointed by Kemp and other officials, according to previous reporting.

The hearing will be be held Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. in Fulton County Superior Court, according to a news release Wednesday from the district attorneys. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker will preside.

“SB 92 is a deeply unconstitutional law that overrides the will of voters and undermines the ability of district attorneys to promote justice and create safer communities,” said PRP legal director Josh Rosenthal. “This injunction is needed to allow DAs to do the job they were elected by the people to do.”

In a statement following the release, Williams said he is “committed to standing up for what’s right, defending the constitution, and fighting for the rights of voters in our community.”

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This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Hearing set in Augusta DA lawsuit against Kemp-created commission bill