Video Cop City RICO: Mistrial declared in Ayla King’s case || Full Court Proceeding

The speedy trial of Ayla King, which resumed on Monday after an 18-month delay following an appeals process and a new presiding judge, is once again headed to the Georgia Court of Appeals.

King was the first of 61 defendants scheduled to be tried under Georgia’s Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act for their alleged actions related to the Stop Cop City movement—a multi-year protest against the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, a.k.a. “Cop City.”

If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison.

King’s trial began with jury selection in December 2023. The then-presiding judge, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Esmond Adams, closed the courtroom to the press and public during jury selection. Following jury selection, the court went on break for the winter holidays. The defense filed a motion on Jan. 1, 2024, arguing that the trial did not commence in time to satisfy Georgia’s speedy trial statute. That motion went to the Georgia Court of Appeals.

The Court of Appeals’ opinion stated that jury selection constituted the start of a trial and denied the appeal. However, the court also wrote that Adams’ closure of the courtroom during jury selection was grounds for a partial mistrial.

Adams was later transferred to a different court, and the RICO cases were assigned to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin M. Farmer. On Monday, Farmer—following the direction of the Court of Appeals—declared a partial mistrial, called in the previously sworn-in jury and dismissed them.

The defense made an immediate motion appealing the retrial on the grounds of double jeopardy. The Court of Appeals must now rule on the issue.

The earliest King’s trial is expected to resume—should the appellate court rule against King—is September.

In the interim, Judge Farmer will begin trials for some of the other 60 defendants in the Cop City RICO case.

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