Black Woman Prosecutor Appointed to the Ahmaud Arbery Murder Case

The death of Ahmaud Arbery has taken the nation by storm. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has named Cobb County District Attorney Joyette Holmes as the new lead prosecutor in the case of Ahmaud Arbery, according to ABC News.

Holmes becomes the fourth prosecutor to handle the case of the young black man who was killed while jogging on Feb. 23 in Glynn County, Georgia. She is the first African American to serve as a district attorney in Cobb County.

Carr made the announcement yesterday from his Twitter account.

I have appointed District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes of the Cobb County Judicial Circuit to lead the prosecution of Gregory and Travis McMichael who have been charged with aggravated assault and the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

More here -> https://t.co/VcanmxSVF8 pic.twitter.com/SGzms0ApL4

— GA AG Chris Carr (@Georgia_AG) May 11, 2020

In a press release, Attorney General Chris Carr announced that he formally appointed District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes of the Cobb County Judicial Circuit to lead the prosecution of Gregory and Travis McMichael who have been charged with aggravated assault and the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

“I appreciate District Attorney Tom Durden’s involvement in the Ahmaud Arbery case,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “This case has grown in size and magnitude since he accepted the appointment on April 13, 2020, and as an experienced District Attorney, Tom has recognized that another office is better suited from a resource perspective to now handle the case. As a result, he has requested our office to appoint another District Attorney.

“Today, our office formally appointed District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes of the Cobb County Judicial Circuit to lead the prosecution. District Attorney Holmes is a respected attorney with experience, both as a lawyer and a judge, and the Cobb County District Attorney’s office has the resources, personnel and experience to lead this prosecution and ensure justice is done.”

Retired district attorney investigator Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son Travis McMichael, 34, were arrested last week for the February shooting death of 25-year-old Arbery. The father and son are facing charges of murder and aggravated assault.