By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
APRIL 26, 2024 | In 2020, voters of Gwinnett elected a new district attorney, as Republican Danny Porter was defeated by a newcomer, Patsy Austin-Gatson, in a year when most Democrats won in the county. Mr. Porter had been the district attorney for 28 years, and had served with distinction, efficiently prosecuting criminals in Superior Court.
Ms. Austin-Gatson came to the job with little background in trying cases or in prosecuting criminals. She has not performed the duties of the office in the last four years as they should have been. She should be defeated by the Democratic voters in her bid to return to office because of her poor record in putting criminals in jail and her ineptitude in leadership of the office. She has not tried a criminal case since being elected, but relies often on inexperienced staff members without adequate guidance to do her work. She is far over her head, and it shows, unfortunately.
Just look at Ms. Austin-Gatson’s murder conviction rate. Reporting showed in 2022 that the Gwinnett DA’s murder conviction rate was 57 percent, a record low for that office. Other Metro Atlanta jurisdictions for a similar period had significantly higher murder conviction rates, such as 100 percent in Cobb County, and 87 percent in both DeKalb and Fulton counties.
Austin-Gatson
People who are closest to crimes being committed, members of families of victims, know something is amiss in the DA’s office. It’s not unusual to see protests of mishandling of cases by Patsy Austin-Gatson’s office. These families of victims are trying to tell the voters of Gwinnett something….that the county is not getting its money’s worth from the DA’s office constantly losing key cases in Gwinnett courts. We feel for these people seeking justice, and recognize that it is being caused by the lack of leadership in the office of the District Attorney.
Local judges are keenly aware of what is going on in the courthouse. Voters in Gwinnett who are acquainted with any of the 11 Superior Court judges and the seven State Court judges, should ask them personally about the performance of the current District Attorney. You will find that these judges are concerned—even upset—with what they realize is happening in the District Attorney’s office. They want efficiency in this office, and recognize it’s not happening under the Austin-Gatson regime.
People who know the inside working of the courthouse recognize Mrs. Austin-Gatson’s limit. Of the 343 members of the Gwinnett Bar Association, only 11 attorneys (three percent) said Ms. Austin-Gatson was very qualified to serve. Nearly half (49.5 percent) did not know who she was, and those who knew her (40 percent) found her to be not qualified to be the DA.
A series of unethical practices taints Ms. Austin-Gatson’s background. She was found guilty of ethics violations when she was an employee of the Solicitor’s office. She paid fines of $2,500 for her violations to the State Campaign Finance Commission.
In the election of 2020, voters in Gwinnett County recognized another prosecutor, Solicitor Brian Whiteside, was inept in conducting his job, after numerous complaints and a poor prosecuting record. What happened? Gwinnettians voted Whiteside out of office. (Note that Mr. Whiteside in 2024 is a candidate for sheriff.)
We suggest that Gwinnett Democrats in 2024 come together again and remove another inferior office holder, that of District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson, from office. Her poor record in office shows she doesn’t deserve your vote.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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