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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2006 > March > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLegislation sets up process to remove public defenders
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia General Assembly gave final approval Monday to legislation that sets up a process for removing public defenders accused of criminal wrongdoing or misconduct.
Since a statewide public defender system was created a year ago, one public defender has resigned after being accused of wrongdoing.
Arthur English, the former chief public defender for Fayette, Spalding, Pike and Upson counties, resigned in November to avoid being fired by the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council. He has been indicted on four felony charges for allegedly receiving stolen property - a front-end loader, a washer-dryer, an off-road vehicle and a trailer.
A fifth felony count accuses him of making a false statement when he told a tax official the trailer was “homemade” and did not have a serial number.
English has denied knowing the items were stolen.
Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) said Senate Resolution 793 sanctions the council’s plan for removing public defenders for criminal behavior or for repeatedly neglecting the duties of their job. He said the goal is to “continue to grow and improve our public defender system in Georgia.”
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