Jason Carter's opponents hope to paint the Democrat as a left-leaning trial lawyer who took on partisan cases as he prepared to run for governor, while his campaign depicts him as a champion of vulnerable citizens in court.
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution review of his case history shows a more nuanced legal background. Carter played a limited role in the blockbuster legal challenge of Georgia’s voter ID law that figures prominently in his campaign, and he spent significant time defending large companies and organizations who were sued.
In short, he was a young attorney at a big-name firm who worked on a mix of cases he often didn’t get to choose. At the prestigious firm where he worked as an associate, Carter was assigned to help senior lawyers by doing legal research, investigation and taking pretrial deposition testimony.
The Atlanta state senator’s supporters see his legal record as a sign he honed his leadership in the courtroom despite limited experience in public office. To allies of Gov. Nathan Deal, his November opponent, the cases show he’s a liberal eager to press his agenda on the courts.
Read the analysis of Carter's legal history and find out what experts have to say on the candidate's record at myajc.com.
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