A county commissioner calling a civil rights icon a "racist pig" and referring to roughly half of his constituents as "a bunch of idiots."

A magistrate court judge comparing those protesting Confederate monuments to ISIS.

Both have happened in Gwinnett County this year — and both incidents happened on Facebook.

The fallout from each situations was different. The commissioner, Tommy Hunter, has been publicly reprimanded and protests have flooded board meetings for more than seven months, but he's vowed to remain in office. The judge, Jim Hinkle, was suspended and quickly resigned.

But both incidents raise the question: What, if anything, governments should do to try and prevent such public displays?

In other Gwinnett news:

Police are actively searching for the man they said tried to force his way inside the woman's home.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie Broder  is retiring at the end of the year. Her deputy, David Studdard, will take over the office. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Featured

Managing Partner at Atlantica Properties, Darion Dunn (center) talks with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens during a tour following the ribbon cutting of Waterworks Village as part of the third phase of the city’s Rapid Housing Initiative on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez