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News Articles: Citizen's Arrest Law

Arbery Case AP

Tagged as: 

  • Law

Judge Weighs What Evidence To Allow In Arbery Case

In the first of two days of hearings on a long list of pretrial motions, the judge heard arguments on what evidence will be allowed in the trial for the three white men charged with killing Ahmaud Arbery.

May 12, 2021
|
By:
  • Emily Jones
Gov. Brian Kemp hugs Wanda Cooper-Jones, mother of Ahmaud Arbery

Tagged as: 

  • Politics

Georgia's Citizen's Arrest Overhaul Bill Signed By Kemp

Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation Monday overhauling Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law to greatly limit who can detain criminal suspects beyond on-duty police officers.

May 10, 2021
|
By:
  • Beau Evans
Bert Reeves

Tagged as: 

  • Law

General Assembly Repeals Georgia's Citizens Arrest Law

The measure stems from the shooting death last year of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black jogger who was cornered near Brunswick by two white men in pickup trucks and shot dead. The defendants have cited the citizen’s arrest law in their defense.

March 31, 2021
|
By:
  • Dave Williams
State Rep. Al Williams and other lawmakers speak on the steps of the Glynn County Courthouse

Tagged as: 

  • Law

Brunswick Celebrates As Citizen's Arrest Repeal Moves Forward

The state House voted unanimously to repeal Georgia's citizen's arrest law, which has been in the spotlight since the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in February 2020.

March 09, 2021
|
By:
  • Emily Jones
Georgia Legislature

Tagged as: 

  • Law

Busy Legislative Deadline Day Includes Overhaul Of Georgia's Citizen's Arrest Law

A Civil War-era law that was originally cited as justification in the killing of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery cleared the House with a unanimous vote Monday.

March 09, 2021
|
By:
  • Jill Nolin
An illustration of a paper plane flying across a photo of the General Assembly.

Tagged as: 

  • Politics

Political Rewind: Voting Rights (And Restrictions) On Display On Crossover Day

Monday on Political Rewind: Georgia teachers are now eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Officials hope the move will ensure schools across the state are able to keep their doors open for in-person classes. Also, legislators face an important deadline at the state Capitol. Crossover Day at the General Assembly means any legislation unable to pass out of either legislative chamber today is potentially dead until next year.

March 08, 2021
|
By:
  • Bill Nigut ,
  • Emilia Brock ,
  • and 1 more
Governor Kemp Press conference photo

Tagged as: 

  • Law

Lawmakers Brief: Kemp Announces Overhaul of Citizen’s Arrest Statute

Gov. Brian Kemp announced legislation to overhaul Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law at the Georgia Capitol on Tuesday with solid bipartisan support.  

February 16, 2021
|
By:
  • Fenly Foxen
The bustling interior of the state capitol building in Atlanta.

Tagged as: 

  • Politics

Political Rewind: Pause On Medicaid Renews Debate Over Expansion; Citizen's Arrest Reform On Deck

Tuesday on Political Rewind: The Biden administration pauses Gov. Brian Kemp’s plan for a partial expansion of Medicaid. President Donald Trump had approved Kemp’s plan, which ties expanding Medicaid to a work requirement. But now, the Biden administration says the requirement is unfeasible during a pandemic. The Democratic party might push once again for a full expansion of Medicaid in the state.

February 16, 2021
|
By:
  • Bill Nigut ,
  • Emilia Brock ,
  • and 1 more
Protesters demanding justice for Ahmaud Arbery and new criminal justice reforms rally on June 4 at the Glynn County Courthouse.

Tagged as: 

  • Politics

Support Grows For Changes To Citizen's Arrest Law, If Not Outright Repeal

State lawmakers who are reviewing Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law said they could soon reach common ground on whether to repeal or just revise the law. 

July 23, 2020
|
By:
  • Stanley Dunlap
GPB News NPR

Advocates Ask Lawmakers To End 'Archaic' Citizen's Arrest Law

Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law drew withering criticism Monday from civil rights advocates who called for a House legislative committee to push for a...

July 14, 2020
|
By:
  • Stanley Dunlap
GPB News NPR

Lawmakers Consider Repealing Citizen’s Arrest Law Used As Defense in Ahmaud Arbery Death

According to Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter, Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law is rooted in medieval times and is an “outmoded concept” in...

July 14, 2020
|
By:
  • Donna Lowry
"You see a black man jogging down the street and assume he's a criminal? It's insanity to even attempt to try and call that citizen's arrest," civil rights attorney L. Chris Stewart said.

What Is Georgia's Citizens Arrest Law ⁠— And Why Are There Calls To Repeal It?

Gregory and Travis McMichael were arrested last week for the death of Ahmaud Arbery in February. The McMichaels shot and killed Ahmaud Arbery while he...

May 15, 2020
|
By:
  • Sarah Rose
State Rep. Al Williams stands at podium May 12, 2020, during a press conference and meeting with other lawmakers in Brunswick to call for passage of a hate crimes law following the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery.

Tagged as: 

  • Race

Georgia Lawmakers Call For Passage Of Hate Crime Law And End To Citizen's Arrest

State lawmakers are pushing for passage of a hate crime bill after two white men were charged with murder in the February shooting death of unarmed...

May 12, 2020
|
By:
  • Emily Jones

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