Sherry Boston

[[File:DA Sherry Boston Headshot.jpg|thumb|DA Sherry Boston Headshot]]

[[File:DA Sherry Boston Headshot.jpg|thumb|DA Sherry Boston Headshot]]

'''Sherry Boston''' serves as the [[district attorney]] for [[DeKalb County, Georgia]], which includes a portion of [[Atlanta]], as well as several smaller metro-area cities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/dekalb-solicitor-sherry-boston-wins-district-attorney-race/5upsztQ2uyDOvEJmIzXGaI/|title=DeKalb Solicitor Sherry Boston wins district attorney race|first=Mark|last=Niesse|via=AJC.com}} Boston was first elected to the position in 2016 after defeating incumbent DA Robert James, a fellow Democrat, in the primary. Boston ran on an anti-corruption platform.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/how-sherry-boston-won-dekalb-race/AziHSofLRJ67Fh38hr6l6I/|title=How Sherry Boston won DeKalb's DA race|first=Mark|last=Niesse|via=AJC.com}} She is the second woman to serve as DA in DeKalb County.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/2023-atlanta-500-government-infrastructure/|title=Atlanta's 500 Most Powerful Leaders in 2023: Government & Infrastructure|first=Atlanta|last=Magazine|date=January 27, 2023}}

'''Sherry Boston''' serves as the [[district attorney]] for [[DeKalb County, Georgia]], which includes a portion of [[Atlanta]], as well as several smaller metro-area cities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/dekalb-solicitor-sherry-boston-wins-district-attorney-race/5upsztQ2uyDOvEJmIzXGaI/|title=DeKalb Solicitor Sherry Boston wins district attorney race|first=Mark|last=Niesse|via=AJC.com}} Boston was first elected to the position in 2016 after defeating incumbent DA Robert James, a fellow [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], in the primary. Boston ran on an anti-corruption platform.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/how-sherry-boston-won-dekalb-race/AziHSofLRJ67Fh38hr6l6I/|title=How Sherry Boston won DeKalb's DA race|first=Mark|last=Niesse|via=AJC.com}} She is the second woman to serve as DA in DeKalb County.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/2023-atlanta-500-government-infrastructure/|title=Atlanta's 500 Most Powerful Leaders in 2023: Government & Infrastructure|first=Atlanta|last=Magazine|date=January 27, 2023}}

As district attorney, Boston oversees a staff of approximately 300 attorneys, investigators, victim-witness advocates and other employees whose job is to prosecute felony cases in the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dekalbda.org/about_us/message_from_the_district_attorney/index.php|title=Welcome to Dekalb County District Attorney|website=www.dekalbda.org}} Before becoming DA, Boston served as DeKalb County's Solicitor-General, a position [[Sonny Perdue|Gov. Sonny Perdue]], a Republican, appointed her to fill in January 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/perdue-appoints-boston-dekalb-solicitor/ve94hLPhNgmGNMWEZNCQ8O/|title=Perdue appoints Boston as DeKalb solicitor|first=Bill|last=Rankin|via=AJC.com}} Boston started her career as a defense attorney. She was the first woman ever appointed to serve as municipal court judge for the City of Dunwoody.

As district attorney, Boston oversees a staff of approximately 300 attorneys, investigators, victim-witness advocates and other employees whose job is to prosecute felony cases in the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dekalbda.org/about_us/message_from_the_district_attorney/index.php|title=Welcome to Dekalb County District Attorney|website=www.dekalbda.org}} Before becoming DA, Boston served as DeKalb County's Solicitor-General, a position [[Sonny Perdue|Gov. Sonny Perdue]], a Republican, appointed her to fill in January 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/perdue-appoints-boston-dekalb-solicitor/ve94hLPhNgmGNMWEZNCQ8O/|title=Perdue appoints Boston as DeKalb solicitor|first=Bill|last=Rankin|via=AJC.com}} Boston started her career as a defense attorney. She was the first woman ever appointed to serve as municipal court judge for the City of Dunwoody.

== SB 92 legal challenge ==

== SB 92 legal challenge ==

On August 2, 2023, Boston lead a bipartisan group of four district attorneys who filed a lawsuit against the State of Georgia aimed at striking down Senate Bill 92 (SB92).{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/four-georgia-das-file-lawsuit-challenging-oversight-panel-as-overreach/FYHYCTLKABGO3HXRQNLSEOJWKU/|title=Four Georgia DAs seek to block Republican-backed oversight panel|first=Greg|last=Bluestein|via=AJC.com}} The new law created a commission of political appointees empowered to investigate, discipline and even remove elected prosecutors from office, named the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission (PAQC).{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4133485-georgia-prosecutors-challenge-state-law-limiting-their-authority/|title=Georgia prosecutors challenge state law limiting their authority|first=Lauren|last=Sforza|date=August 2, 2023}} The plaintiffs argued the law violates both the Georgia Constitution and the U.S. Constitution by limiting their [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights to free speech, as well as violating the separation of powers between the judicial, legislative and executive branches of state government.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wabe.org/georgia-lawsuit-seeks-to-strike-down-commission-that-could-discipline-or-remove-prosecutors/|title=Georgia prosecutors are suing to strike down a new state law that undermines their authority|date=August 2, 2023|website=WABE}}

On August 2, 2023, Boston lead a bipartisan group of four district attorneys who filed a lawsuit against the State of Georgia aimed at striking down Senate Bill 92 (SB92).{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/four-georgia-das-file-lawsuit-challenging-oversight-panel-as-overreach/FYHYCTLKABGO3HXRQNLSEOJWKU/|title=Four Georgia DAs seek to block Republican-backed oversight panel|first=Greg|last=Bluestein|via=AJC.com}} The new law created a commission of political appointees empowered to investigate, discipline and even remove elected prosecutors from office, named the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission (PAQC).{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4133485-georgia-prosecutors-challenge-state-law-limiting-their-authority/|title=Georgia prosecutors challenge state law limiting their authority|first=Lauren|last=Sforza|date=August 2, 2023}} The plaintiffs argued the law violates both the Georgia Constitution and the U.S. Constitution by limiting their [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights to free speech, as well as violating the [[separation of powers]] between the judicial, legislative and executive branches of state government.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wabe.org/georgia-lawsuit-seeks-to-strike-down-commission-that-could-discipline-or-remove-prosecutors/|title=Georgia prosecutors are suing to strike down a new state law that undermines their authority|date=August 2, 2023|website=WABE}}

On December 8, 2023 the plaintiffs filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit after the Georgia Supreme Court issued an order declining to review the rules for the PAQC. In the order, the Supreme Court raised questions about the constitutionality of the statute and whether district attorneys fall under the judicial or executive branches of governments. The court's decision prevented the commission from moving forward because SB92 required Supreme Court approval before the commission could operate.https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2023/12/11/das-challenging-ga-prosecutor-oversight-commission-dismiss-lawsuit-after-high-court-ruling/?slreturn=20231115143053

On December 8, 2023 the plaintiffs filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit after the Georgia Supreme Court issued an order declining to review the rules for the PAQC. In the order, the Supreme Court raised questions about the constitutionality of the statute and whether district attorneys fall under the judicial or executive branches of governments. The court's decision prevented the commission from moving forward because SB92 required Supreme Court approval before the commission could operate.https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2023/12/11/das-challenging-ga-prosecutor-oversight-commission-dismiss-lawsuit-after-high-court-ruling/?slreturn=20231115143053

== Personal life ==

== Personal life ==

Boston was born in Maryland and grew up in Baltimore County. Her mother was a teacher, and her father was a machinist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/opinion-da-sherry-boston-leading-the-charge-against-georgias-da-oversight-law/ZXJN67XPEVEVBOQ5ZBBYZISVBM/|title=OPINION: DA Sherry Boston leading the charge against Georgia's DA oversight law|first=Patricia|last=Murphy|via=AJC.com}} Boston graduated from Villanova University in [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Pa]]. and completed her law degree at [[Emory University School of Law|Emory University's School of Law]] in Atlanta. Boston lives in DeKalb County with her husband and two daughters.

Boston was born in Maryland and grew up in Baltimore County. Her mother was a teacher, and her father was a machinist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/opinion-da-sherry-boston-leading-the-charge-against-georgias-da-oversight-law/ZXJN67XPEVEVBOQ5ZBBYZISVBM/|title=OPINION: DA Sherry Boston leading the charge against Georgia's DA oversight law|first=Patricia|last=Murphy|via=AJC.com}} Boston graduated from [[Villanova University]] in [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Pa]]. and completed her law degree at [[Emory University School of Law|Emory University's School of Law]] in Atlanta. Boston lives in DeKalb County with her husband and two daughters.

== References ==

== References ==