Georgia House advances measure revising prosecutor oversight panel with Willis in spotlight

The Georgia state House of Representatives passed a bill Monday that revives an oversight panel with powers to discipline and remove prosecutors. Democrats say the move is aimed at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is prosecuting former President Trump.

The bill passed 95-75 along party lines and heads to the state Senate, which advanced a similar bill last week.

Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed a bill last May that established the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission (PACQ), which could remove local prosecutors who “refuse to uphold the law.”

The state Supreme Court refused to approve the rules for the commission, saying it had “grave doubts” it could regulate the duties of district attorneys beyond the practice of law. The measure passed Monday by the state House removes the requirement for Supreme Court approval, The Associated Press reported.

“House Republicans are fighting to keep Georgia communities safe when prosecutors refuse to do their jobs. With this legislation, citizens can hold rogue DAs accountable,” the Georgia House Republicans account posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.  

While some Republicans have denied the measure is aimed at Willis, who is overseeing Trump’s 2020 election interference case in the state, Georgia Democrats argue it acts to protect Trump “from an ongoing criminal prosecution.” Democrats are also worried that without Supreme Court oversight, no one will police the commission itself, the AP reported.

Willis has come under fire recently after romance allegations emerged between her and special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she appointed as the head of the Trump case. Trump’s supporters have argued the alleged relationship is evidence of prosecutorial misconduct.

The AP noted Kemp said he favors the prosecutor oversight panel and not the Senate committee probe passed last week. He urged the Senate to pass the bill quickly.