Georgia Republicans Push More Bills Aimed at Fulton County DA Fani Willis

Proposed legislation would add more reasons to discipline or remove local prosecutors

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Georgia Republicans are pushing for new restrictions on local prosecutors, saying their investigation into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis proves the moves are needed. The state Senate passed a measure that adds more reasons prosecutors can be disciplined or removed by a commission created in 2024 to provide oversight to elected district attorneys and solicitors general in Georgia.

Why it matters

The legislation comes after Willis obtained an indictment against former President Trump and 18 others in August 2023, accusing them of participating in a scheme to illegally try to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. That case was later dismissed due to an 'appearance of impropriety' stemming from a romantic relationship Willis had with a prosecutor she hired to lead the case.

The details

The measure passed by the Senate allows the oversight commission to discipline prosecutors for violating bar rules, failing to notify crime victims of actions, failing to comply with public records requests, or showing 'undue bias or prejudice' against the person being prosecuted. Republicans say the bill is not specifically targeted at Willis, but the state's lieutenant governor, who is running for governor, said the legislation is needed due to Willis' 'lawfare of President Trump and his allies'.

  • In August 2023, Willis obtained an indictment against Trump and 18 others.
  • In November 2023, the case was dismissed due to an 'appearance of impropriety' stemming from a romantic relationship Willis had with a prosecutor she hired.
  • In January 2024, the state Senate created the Special Committee on Investigations to examine allegations of misconduct against Willis.
  • On March 7, 2026, the state Senate passed a measure adding more reasons prosecutors can be disciplined or removed.

The players

Fani Willis

The Fulton County District Attorney who obtained an indictment against former President Trump and 18 others in August 2023, accusing them of participating in a scheme to illegally try to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Bill Cowsert

An Athens Republican state senator running for attorney general, who said the measure was not targeted at Willis but was based on 'evidence presented to us, and testimony about conduct of prosecutors and really the lack of public faith in the independence and the impartiality of the prosecuting attorneys in the state'.

Burt Jones

The Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia, who is running for governor and has been endorsed by Trump. Jones said the legislation is needed due to Willis' 'lawfare of President Trump and his allies'.

Greg Dolezal

A Republican state senator who is running for lieutenant governor and engaged in a combative back-and-forth with Willis during a hearing in December.

Ed Setzler

A Republican state senator from Acworth who argued that making district attorneys and some other county officials be elected on a nonpartisan basis in five Democratic-dominated metro Atlanta counties, including Willis, would make them more effective and efficient.

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What they’re saying

“There was quite a bit of evidence presented to us, and testimony about conduct of prosecutors and really the lack of public faith in the independence and the impartiality of the prosecuting attorneys in the state.”

— Bill Cowsert, State Senator (taylorvilledailynews.com)

“But Fani Willis' lawfare of President Trump and his allies has highlighted why oversight by the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission is vital. This bill gives the PAQC the ability to go after DAs who refuse to be transparent, who engage in unprofessional attorney conduct, and who don't take seriously their duties to victims of crimes.”

— Burt Jones, Lieutenant Governor (taylorvilledailynews.com)

What’s next

The fate of the legislation concerning local prosecutors is unclear in the Georgia House, which is less rawly partisan than the Senate, although still under Republican control.

The takeaway

This ongoing political battle over the oversight and discipline of local prosecutors in Georgia highlights the broader tensions between partisan politics and the perceived independence of the criminal justice system, with Republicans arguing for more accountability and Democrats warning of potential overreach and political interference.