State of Georgia v. Amy Elizabeth Barnes: Insulting the police from afar is not Disorderly Conduct.

MARIETTA, GEORGIA — The Cobb County State Court of Georgia has released a judicial order regarding the Disorderly Conduct trial of Amy Barnes.

UPDATE: A lawsuit was filed on March 31, 2014, against Cobb County (CASE #: 1:14-cv-948).

Download it here: barnes_12m3361_Order04262013_ocr

The Disorderly Conduct case revolved around these facts:
(1) Barnes was riding down the sidewalk and did not stop;
(2) The offensive statements of were not made in a direct confrontational (read: face-to-face) manner.
(3) The statements did not cause any public disruption.

The Court considered the facts and granted victory – and vindication – to Defendant Amy Elizabeth Barnes, who was arrested on April 8, 2012 for Disorderly Conduct.

The following served as counsel during the trial:
Cynthia Counts of Counts Law Group
Kenneth B. Hodges, III of Rafuse, Hill, & Hodges LLP, and
Alex Bartko of Rafuse, Hill, and Hodges LLP

Here are two blog posts from the Counts Law Group website related to this case:

1.  Appeals Court says middle finger to cop is not Disorderly Conduct:
http://www.lawcounts.com/blog/37-appeals-court-says-middle-finger-to-cop-is-not-disorderly-conduct
2.  Cobb County woman vindicated after wrongful arrest for comments to police:
http://www.lawcounts.com/blog/49-cobb-county-woman-vindicated-after-wrongful-arrest-for-comments-to-police

For additional news coverage of this case:

1. WSB-TV — Cyclist arrested for cursing police, plans on filing lawsuit:
   http://www.wsbradio.com/news/news/local/cyclist-arrested-cursing-police-plans-filing-lawsu/nSdZS/#cmComments
2. LegalJuice — Maybe If Police Officers Read Legal Juice, This Wouldn’t Keep Happening!
   http://www.legaljuice.com/2012/10/post_516.html
3. FoxNews Atlanta — Georgia woman arrested for profanity:
   http://video.foxnews.com/v/1899063206001/georgia-woman-arrested-for-profanity/
4. GANewsDaily — Cobb woman Amy Barnes fights cursing arrest:
   http://www.gadailynews.com/news/145110-cobb-woman-amy-barnes-fights-cursing-arrest.html
5. The Atlanta Injury News Blog — Woman Swears at Cops in Front of Teens: Freedom of Speech?:
   http://atlantainjurynewsblog.com/2012/10/woman-swears-at-cops-in-front-of-teens-freedom-of-speech.html

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