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PAGE 6A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. JUNE 30. 2022
Federal court requests new briefs in
Georgia abortion law case
By Rebecca Grapevine
Staff Reporter
Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA - Georgia’s
“heartbeat law” banning
abortions after the first six
weeks won’t take effect until
at least mid-July despite last
week’s U.S. Supreme Court
riding overturning the 1973
Roe v. Wade decision that le
galized the procedure.
The 11th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals is asking
both sides in a lawsuit over
Georgia’s law to file legal
briefs within the next three
weeks.
The heartbeat law pro
hibits most abortions in
Georgia after the detection of
a fetal heartbeat. Passed in
2019, the law never took ef
fect due to a lawsuit filed by
reproductive rights organiza
tions.
Most recently, the appel
late court put a decision on
the Georgia law on hold until
the Supreme Court nded on
abortion - as it did on Friday.
Hours after the court an
nounced its decision, Geor
gia attorney general Chris
Carr filed a notice asking the
appellate court to ride on
Georgia’s law.
State Sen. Jen Jordan
Monday signaled what could
be Georgia Democrats’ legal
strategy in the case. Jordan,
D-Atlanta, who is challeng
ing Republican Carr’s reelec
tion bid, told reporters at a
news conference the heart
beat law is unconstitutional
both under Georgia and fed
eral law.
Jordan said Georgia’s
constitution provides a very
strong right to privacy, which
the heartbeat law violates.
“A right of privacy has
been recognized in Georgia
since approximately 1903,”
she said.
“Georgia’s [right] has
been reaffirmed over and
over and over, and it is con
sidered to be one of the
strongest in the nation in
terms of the case law inter
preting it. There is absolutely
a viable path in terms of chal
lenging the law under the
Georgia constitution.”
Designating a fertilized
egg a legal person, as the law
does, would open a “Pan
dora’s box” of litigation, Jor
dan said.
Women who miscarry a
pregnancy could face inves
tigation or prosecution under
the heartbeat law, Jordan
said.
“We are facing basically a
situation where women are
going to be asked incredibly
private questions about their
lives,” she said.
Jordan said that if elected
attorney general, she would
not enforce the law.
“I would not defend it be
cause I don't believe it is law-
fid,” she said.
At least eight Georgia dis
trict attorneys (DAs) have
said they will not prosecute
people seeking or providing
abortion in their jurisdic
tions.
"We stand together in our
firm belief that prosecutors
have a responsibility to re
frain from using limited
criminal legal system re
sources to criminalize per
sonal medical decisions,"
said a letter sponsored by
Fair and Just Prosecutors, a
national network of elected
prosecutors working for
criminal justice reforms.
That letter was signed by
the DAs for Gwinnett,
DeKalb, Douglas, Chatham,
Athens, Macon and Augusta
as well as DAs in other
states.
Fulton County DA Fani
Willis also said on Friday
that she would not prosecute
abortion seekers or
providers.
This story is available
through a news partnership with
Capitol Beat News Service, a
project of the Georgia Press Ed
ucational Foundation.
Are We
Getting it
Straight?
If you spot an error
in our pages, contact
our editor:
dpool@
pickensprogress.com
706-253-2457
photo/Dan Pool
The ultimate southern treat, blackberries are sweet and ripe throughout Pickens
County now. When you pick, be ready to sweat and bleed for them but the work pays off
with cobblers and jams — not to mention raw by the handful straight from the thorns.
Co-defendants plead guilty
to trafficking meth and
Street Gang violation
Case began with Ball Ground
traffic stop
From Public Information Officer
Office of the District Attorney
Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace
announces that Amy Elizabeth Little, 41, (aka Amy Eliz
abeth Weaver) and Brayden Lee Moore, 23, pled guilty
and were sentenced for trafficking methamphetamine and
violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention
Act.
The co-defendants were arrested on February 7, 2020,
after Ball Ground Police conducted a traffic stop on the
car they were driving. Little was found with a scale con
taining methamphetamine residue. A search of the vehicle
uncovered approximately 91 grams of methampheta
mine. During the investigation, the Cherokee Multi-
Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS) and Cherokee
Sheriff’s Office determined that Little and Moore were
members of Ghostface Gangsters (GFG), a criminal
street gang that originated in the Georgia prison system.
“Through an analysis of the evidence, investigators
were able to determine that Little and Moore were known
throughout metro Atlanta to possess and distribute
methamphetamine, including to suppliers in Cherokee
County,” said Assistant District Attorney Damion Over-
street, who prosecuted this case on behalf of the State.
“These co-defendants were engaged in the activity that
GFG is perhaps most known for - drug trafficking.”
On August 17, 2021, Little entered a negotiated guilty
plea and Chief Superior Court Judge Ellen McElyea sen
tenced her to 15 years, with the first 10 years to be served
in confinement in the state prison system. On April 15,
2022, Moore entered a negotiated guilty plea and was
sentenced by Judge McElyea to 15 years, with the first 7
years to be served in confinement and the remainder on
probation. During probation, the co-defendants may have
no contact with each other or with any gang member or
gang associate. They must also avoid alcohol and drugs,
not possess firearms, and participate in substance abuse
evaluation and treatment.
“Keeping our community safe is a mission we share
with all law enforcement agencies in our county,” said
District Attorney Shannon Wallace. “We are committed
to removing known drug distributors and gang members,
such as these co-defendants, from our streets and these
sentences are another step toward eradicating criminal
street gangs in our county.”
This case was investigated by the Cherokee Multi-
Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS) and the Cherokee
Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant District
Attorney Damion Overstreet, Office of the District At
torney.
The Office of the District Attorney for the Blue Ridge
Judicial Circuit is committed to seeking justice, acting
with integrity, and collaborating with partner agencies in
the criminal justice system in order to protect the citizens
of Cherokee County and the State of Georgia.
I would be remiss not to thank Commissioner Jerry Barnes for his years of
service to our County. This community is much better as a result of his efforts;
and at the end of his term, he will leave a large pair of shoes to fill.
I also wanted to take the this opportunity to thank each of you who entrusted
me with your vote. Every day I am in office, I will work to earn that trust and
keep your interests at the forefront of my decision making process.
Lastly, I have to thank my wonderful wife, Abby, and our family for their
steadfast support throughout this entire campaign. Without them, I never
would have taken this step.
Last week, the election results were certified. I am very much looking forward
to this new challenge and serving the residents of Pickens County as your
Post 1 Commissioner!