Judge: Governor doesn’t have to testify in ethics case

A judge on Monday ruled that Gov. Nathan Deal cannot be compelled to testify in a whistleblower lawsuit brought by the former director of the state ethics commission.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville granted the state’s motion to quash the subpoena.

The trial in Stacey Kalberman’s lawsuit is to start Monday. She claims she was forced from her position after aggressively investigating Deal’s 2010 campaign.

Kalberman’s attorneys said Deal had “personal and firsthand” knowledge of information needed to build Kalberman’s case. The state said the governor had no such information.

Glanville ruled that it is unclear whether Deal could offer relevant testimony and that “nothing in the record, save plaintiff’s assertions, suggests that Governor Deal was involved in the decisions related to the plaintiff’s employment.”

About the Author

Aaron Gould Sheinin

Kemp unveils sweeping legal overhaul aimed at curbing rising insurance costs in Georgia

Gov. Brian Kemp unveils proposed overhaul of legal system he says will bring down insurance costs for Georgians.

Georgia takes first step toward banning transgender athletes from competing against women

The Georgia bill that would ban transgender athletes from competing against women in both high school and college sports.

Georgia Democrats are fracturing over Trump’s hardline immigration agenda

The protests over Trump’s hard-line immigration policies that united most Georgia Democrats in 2016 have given way to a complex and ongoing political reckoning.

The Latest

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Georgia takes first step toward banning transgender athletes from competing against women

Georgia Democrats push for Medicaid expansion, health care access

Kemp unveils sweeping legal overhaul aimed at curbing rising insurance costs in Georgia

Featured

Credit: Tim Lilley

Georgia native was a copilot of American Airlines flight that crashed in D.C.

Sam Lilley was "finally living out his dream" of becoming a pilot, a pastor at his family's church said.

Georgia dealer sold them cars despite bad credit. GPS kill switch stranded them

An affiliate of the dealership chain U.S. Auto Sales controlled thousands of cars across the South. Its system disabled borrowers' cars even when they were paying their loans.

Georgia sheriffs sign up for ICE program to crack down on illegal immigration

Local law enforcement agencies in Georgia could help realize Donald Trump’s deportation agenda.