Over the objections of prosecutors and an emotional widow, a Fulton County judge on Tuesday granted a $500,000 bond to fired Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe, who is charged with .Fulton Superior Court Judge Jane Barwick made her decision after finding Rolfe was not a risk of flight and posed no significant threat of committing a crime or intimidating witnesses after being released from custody. Even though a prosecutor and defense attorneys argued over the strengths or weaknesses of the case, Barwick said that was not a factor in her decision.Brooks’ widow, Tomika Miller, became...…Over the objections of prosecutors and an emotional widow, a Fulton County judge on Tuesday granted a $500,000 bond to fired Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe, who is charged with .Fulton Superior Court Judge Jane Barwick made her decision after finding Rolfe was not a risk of flight and posed no significant threat of committing a crime or intimidating witnesses after being released from custody. Even though a prosecutor and defense attorneys argued over the strengths or weaknesses of the case, Barwick said that was not a factor in her decision.Brooks’ widow, Tomika Miller, became...WW…

A criminal justice task force chaired by former Gov. Nathan Deal is recommending sweeping changes to the federal system.The most notable is a call for the elimination of mandatory-minimum sentences for drug crimes. The task force also asks for the establishment of a “second look” provision that allows people serving lengthy sentences — many of whom are elderly and infirm — to seek sentencing reductions from a federal judge.The "Next Steps" report, , was submitted by a task force chaired by Deal since June 2019. The bipartisan group's members include ; Mark Holden, retired general...…A criminal justice task force chaired by former Gov. Nathan Deal is recommending sweeping changes to the federal system.The most notable is a call for the elimination of mandatory-minimum sentences for drug crimes. The task force also asks for the establishment of a “second look” provision that allows people serving lengthy sentences — many of whom are elderly and infirm — to seek sentencing reductions from a federal judge.The "Next Steps" report, , was submitted by a task force chaired by Deal since June 2019. The bipartisan group's members include ; Mark Holden, retired general...WW…

Top city of Atlanta officials appear to have overridden financial controls and bypassed the City Council to funnel $250,000 to Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, who then used a large portion of the money to supplement his own salary, according to documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News.Invoices for two $125,000 payments, which occurred during Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration, say the checks were for the district attorney’s office, the documents show. The AJC and Channel 2 previously reported the money actually went to a nonprofit...…Top city of Atlanta officials appear to have overridden financial controls and bypassed the City Council to funnel $250,000 to Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, who then used a large portion of the money to supplement his own salary, according to documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News.Invoices for two $125,000 payments, which occurred during Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration, say the checks were for the district attorney’s office, the documents show. The AJC and Channel 2 previously reported the money actually went to a nonprofit...WW…

Over the past decade, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has headed a nonprofit with a laudable mission: reduce youth violence.But Howard has used the nonprofit, People Partnering for Progress, as a conduit to receive tens of thousands of dollars to supplement the six-figure salary he gets from the state and county for being district attorney, an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News has found.PPP mentors students, augments a program that sends prosecutors out into the community and helps the DA’s office combat gang violence. From 2015 through...…Over the past decade, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has headed a nonprofit with a laudable mission: reduce youth violence.But Howard has used the nonprofit, People Partnering for Progress, as a conduit to receive tens of thousands of dollars to supplement the six-figure salary he gets from the state and county for being district attorney, an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News has found.PPP mentors students, augments a program that sends prosecutors out into the community and helps the DA’s office combat gang violence. From 2015 through...WW…

The GBI has opened an investigation of Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard and his use of a nonprofit to funnel at least $140,000 in city of Atlanta funds to supplement his salary, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News have learned.The criminal investigation comes at a time when Howard, Fulton's DA since 1997, is being  and is facing .In a statement issued Monday, Howard predicted he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.“This is not the first time what would be considered as an administrative matter for other Georgia elected officials is turned over to...…The GBI has opened an investigation of Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard and his use of a nonprofit to funnel at least $140,000 in city of Atlanta funds to supplement his salary, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News have learned.The criminal investigation comes at a time when Howard, Fulton's DA since 1997, is being  and is facing .In a statement issued Monday, Howard predicted he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.“This is not the first time what would be considered as an administrative matter for other Georgia elected officials is turned over to...WW…

The state of Georgia’s annotated version of state law cannot be protected under copyright law and sold for more than $400 a copy, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday.The decision resolves hotly disputed litigation between the state and public records activist Carl Malamud, who had published the code on his Public.Resource.org website. ,  and obtained an order from a federal judge directing him to remove it.But , siding with Malamud, and the U.S. Supreme Court agreed in a 5-4 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts.The code at issue includes the text of every Georgia...…The state of Georgia’s annotated version of state law cannot be protected under copyright law and sold for more than $400 a copy, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday.The decision resolves hotly disputed litigation between the state and public records activist Carl Malamud, who had published the code on his Public.Resource.org website. ,  and obtained an order from a federal judge directing him to remove it.But , siding with Malamud, and the U.S. Supreme Court agreed in a 5-4 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts.The code at issue includes the text of every Georgia...WW…

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has been slapped with a complaint from the state ethics commission, which is alleging the prosecutor committed a dozen violations of public disclosure law.The commission brought the action after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News reported discrepancies between personal financial disclosures Howard filed with the state and tax filings submitted to the IRS by a nonprofit he heads."We remain aware of the issues raised by the report and are continuing to actively investigate Mr. Howard's case," said .“We welcome the...…Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has been slapped with a complaint from the state ethics commission, which is alleging the prosecutor committed a dozen violations of public disclosure law.The commission brought the action after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News reported discrepancies between personal financial disclosures Howard filed with the state and tax filings submitted to the IRS by a nonprofit he heads."We remain aware of the issues raised by the report and are continuing to actively investigate Mr. Howard's case," said .“We welcome the...WW…

Days away from a re-election runoff, agreed to pay a $6,500 state ethics fine for failing to disclose his role as CEO of two non-profits, one of which netted him $195,000 in city grant money.The state ethics commission approved a consent agreement with Howard imposing the fine Thursday. Howard was accused of 14 violations, which he admitted to in the consent agreement.In a statement, Howard said he was pleased to get the matter resolved. He lashed out at unidentified critics whom he said have equated the ethics violations with criminal conduct.“Their arguments have been false, as they were...…Days away from a re-election runoff, agreed to pay a $6,500 state ethics fine for failing to disclose his role as CEO of two non-profits, one of which netted him $195,000 in city grant money.The state ethics commission approved a consent agreement with Howard imposing the fine Thursday. Howard was accused of 14 violations, which he admitted to in the consent agreement.In a statement, Howard said he was pleased to get the matter resolved. He lashed out at unidentified critics whom he said have equated the ethics violations with criminal conduct.“Their arguments have been false, as they were...WW…

Atlanta Police Officer Devin Brosnan watched with horror the video showing George Floyd’s final minutes in Minneapolis last month. Footage showing a Minneapolis police officer — since fired and facing charges — with his knee on Floyd’s neck disgusted him.“To me, just watching that is just the exact opposite of what I want anyone to ever associate with me, my profession,” Brosnan said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.He never imagined he would be involved in an officer-involved killing that would also become national news and lead to him being charged weeks later. But on...…Atlanta Police Officer Devin Brosnan watched with horror the video showing George Floyd’s final minutes in Minneapolis last month. Footage showing a Minneapolis police officer — since fired and facing charges — with his knee on Floyd’s neck disgusted him.“To me, just watching that is just the exact opposite of what I want anyone to ever associate with me, my profession,” Brosnan said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.He never imagined he would be involved in an officer-involved killing that would also become national news and lead to him being charged weeks later. But on...WW…