Cobb DA chosen to lead prosecution of suspects in Ahmaud Arbery killing
ATLANTA — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on Monday appointed Cobb County District Attorney Joyette Holmes to prosecute the father and son charged with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.
“District Attorney Holmes is a respected attorney with experience, both as a lawyer and a judge,” Carr said, “and the Cobb County District Attorney’s office has the resources, personnel and experience to lead this prosecution and ensure justice is done.”
Holmes said her “call to serve will not be taken lightly.”
“Our office will immediately gather all materials related to the investigation thus far and continue to seek additional information to move this case forward,” she said. “We appreciate the confidence that Attorney General Carr has in our office’s ability to bring to light the justice that this case deserves.”
Arbery’s parents applauded the move.
“In order for justice to be carried out both effectively and appropriately in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, it is imperative that the special prosecutor has no affiliation with the
Southeast Georgia legal or law enforcement communities,” said Benjamin Crump, one of three attorneys representing the family. “We implore District Attorney Joyette Holmes to be zealous in her search for justice, as she works to hold all of those responsible for the unjustifiable execution of an unarmed young black man in broad daylight.”
Gov. Brian Kemp, who appointed Holmes as Cobb’s top prosecutor last year, supported Carr’s decision on Twitter Monday, tweeting: “I am confident that she will serve with integrity and transparency to ensure justice is served.”
Holmes becomes the third prosecutor assigned by the state to the Arbery case. Tom Durden, DA of the Atlantic circuit, will step aside. Last week
Durden announced he would ask a grand jury to consider criminal charges against Greg and Travis McMichael. The duo cornered Arbery, with the help of third man, as the 25-year-old jogger ran through their subdivision just south of Brunswick.
Brunswick DA Jackie Johnson recused herself, having once been Greg McMichael’s boss. The 64-year-old was charged with felony murder and aggravated assault after he was arrested along with his on last Thursday night.
The case was then assigned to George Barnhill, who is now a subject, along with Johnson, of a federal probe into their investigation of the Feb. 23 fatal shooting.
Carr said in a statement that Johnson invited Barnhill to review evidence in the case and provide guidance to Glynn police before he was officially appointed. Barnhill told police he believed the
McMichaels had just cause to pursue Arbery, whom they had suspected in a neighborhood burglary.
Barnhill stepped away from the case after Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper Jones, discovered Barnhill’s son was employed by the Brunswick DA.
Holmes brings a different perspective to the investigation. Last June, she became Cobb’s first female and African American district attorney after Kemp appointed her to replace Vic Reynolds, who took over as GBI director.
Holmes will face voters for the first time this fall, running as a Republican. Holmes previously served as a prosecutor under Reynolds and Cobb County Solicitor General Barry Morgan. She’s also operated her own law firm.
The Arbery case is just the latest in a growing judicial pipeline connecting Brunswick and Cobb. Because of their similar demographics — instrumental in jury selection — the two destinations have served as alternatives in a series of high-profile criminal trials.
In 2007, the trial of Stacey Ian Humphreys, accused of killing two Cobb real estate agents, was moved to Brunswick due to extensive pretrial publicity. Cobb returned the favor in 2013, playing host to the trial of a Brunswick teenager accused of fatally shooting a toddler.
And in 2016, the trial of Justin Ross Harris, accused of intentionally leaving his son in a hot car to die, was moved to the Gold Coast. It remains to be seen whether the defense will seek a change of venue in a potential trial of the McMichaels.
The GBI assumed control over the investigation into Arbery’s death last week. Reynolds said Friday more arrests are possible.