A Georgia judge rejected an attempt to have charges dropped in the case against a former prosecutor accused of stalling the investigation in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

Judge John Turner announced the decision Wednesday, according to reports.

Judge denies former Georgia DA’s bid to drop charges in Ahmaud Arbery case https://t.co/CdWjY4CiWx

— The Hill (@thehill) November 29, 2023

The case

"The case against Johnson stems from Feb. 23, 2020, when three white men in pickup trucks chased and killed Arbery, a Black man," the Hill reported.

"Retired investigator Greg McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, were joined by their neighbor William 'Roddie' Bryan, as they chased Arbery, who was 25 years old at the time. Bryan filmed the chase, and it was the McMichaels who fired the shotgun blasts that left Arbery dead in the street," it added.

A judge Tuesday refused to dismiss misconduct charges against a former Georgia prosecutor accused of hindering the investigation into the 2020 killing of Ahmaud Arbery. https://t.co/BdiY8x2lcF

— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) November 29, 2023

The arrests

"More than two months passed before the McMichaels and Bryan were arrested on murder charges in Arbery’s death, which happened after Bryan’s graphic video was leaked online and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case from local police," WSB-TV reported.

"A grand jury indicted Johnson in connection with Arbery’s death in September 2021, charging her with a felony count of violating her oath of office and with hindering a law enforcement investigation, a misdemeanor," it continued.

Judge rejects former district attorney’s bid to throw out misconduct, obstruction charges against her over Ahmaud Arbery hate crime murder case

Full story here: https://t.co/zr7Fc2sOfh pic.twitter.com/2qLhCo9Fn5

— Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) November 30, 2023

Johnson's role

"Johnson was charged by a grand jury in March 2021 though the charges were not publicly revealed until that September. She was accused of letting her 'favor and affection' for the men who killed Arbery cloud her role as district attorney, prosecutors alleged," Law & Crime reported.

"She was accused of both violating her oath as a public officer and as well obstructing and hindering a law enforcement officer," it continued.

McMichael, one of the former officers involved, was a former employee of Johnson.

Johnson has pleaded not guilty and maintained her innocence in the high-profile case.

Arbery was shot in 2020 while on a run after being chased by the two officers. He was unarmed and shot directly in the chest by one of the officers. The case has moved slowly but the two former officers and now Johnson remain part of the investigation in the case.