ATHENS, Ga. — Editor's note: The video in this story is from a previous report.
A lawsuit against the Athens District Attorney, accusing her of failing to do her job properly, can proceed, according to a unanimous decision by the State Supreme Court.
Athens DA Deborah Gonzalez, who is running for reelection and serves the Western Judicial Circuit that covers Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties, argued she had immunity and that she was not subject to the state’s Open Records Act (ORA).
"Gonzalez contends that neither she nor her office is subject to the ORA because district attorneys are constitutional officers of the judicial branch of government," the Georgia Supreme Court ruling states. "The lawsuit may proceed because Gonzalez has not shown reversible error. Therefore, we affirm the order of the trial court."
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by Athens businessman Jarrod Miller. He requested records to see if problems in her office were leading to high caseloads and staffing shortages that allowed criminals to go free.
The lawsuit alleges Gonzalez asked former Western Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney June Teasley to delete messages between the two.
RELATED: Lawsuit: Arrest warrant sought for Athens DA after she allegedly ordered employee to delete records
For more than two years, 11Alive News Investigates has covered the concerns in Athens Clarke County.
You can read the Georgia Supreme Court's full ruling below:
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