Georgia just witnessed three major lawfare incidents in rapid succession — each different, each revealing the same pattern. This is what lawfare looks like, why it’s becoming the new normal, and how Georgia conservatives can prepare to defend against it.
Georgia saw three major lawfare incidents in the last few weeks:
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A lawsuit against the State Election Board (SEB) was settled.
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A baseless ethics complaint against a Fulton commissioner was dismissed.
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The criminal case against President Trump brought by Fani Willis collapsed.
Each case was different, but all shared a common thread:
Lawfare is being used aggressively in Georgia politics — and unless we prepare for it with discipline, documentation, and professionalism, good people will continue to be targeted and taxpayers will continue to pay the price.
Encouragingly, as noted later in this piece, the Legislature has begun taking steps to close loopholes and strengthen accountability — a positive sign that Georgia is starting to respond to the problem rather than merely endure it.
1. The SEB Records Lawsuit — Process as Pressure [1][2]
In November, the State Election Board settled a lawsuit brought by American Oversight, which accused board members, including Dr. Jan Johnson, of conducting official business on private email.
The Board agreed to:
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move all business to official email,
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preserve all records,
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end the use of personal accounts, and
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pay $50,000 in attorney fees.
No wrongdoing was admitted, but the message was unmistakable: the process itself is the punishment.
Yet something encouraging happened: Jan Johnson raised more than $30,000 for her legal defense. Those funds now sit in a trust, where donors may request refunds or allow their contributions to seed a future Conservative Lawfare Defense Fund.
This is what readiness looks like — leaders stepping up early and refusing to be caught flat-footed.
2. The Ethics Complaint Against Bridget Thorne — A Coordinated Hit, Paid by Taxpayers [3]
Commissioner Bridget Thorne faced an ethics complaint filed by Commissioner Dana Barrett, alleging improper influence during a public meeting.
The Ethics Board dismissed the complaint for lack of probable cause.
What emerged during the process was revealing:
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The complaint was drafted by attorneys at Krevolin Horst, the same firm tied to Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight.
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One partner at the firm has represented Abrams for years and received more than $20 million from Abrams-aligned organizations.
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Another attorney from the firm represented Barrett at the hearing.
This was not one commissioner raising a concern.
It was a coordinated legal action by a political network.
And taxpayers footed the bill: $3,500 in legal fees and stipends for a baseless complaint.
Here too, there was a positive takeaway:
Bridget Thorne stood firm, was transparent about the attack, and brought critical information to light. Courage at the local level matters.
3. The Collapse of the Trump Prosecution — When Lawfare Backfires on the Public [4][5]
In late November, Fulton County prosecutors dismissed the sweeping criminal case against President Trump brought by Fani Willis. After years of headlines and extraordinary legal costs, the case collapsed.
But thanks to a new Georgia law, defendants in dismissed cases may seek reimbursement of their legal fees if the prosecutor was disqualified or at fault.
Meaning: Fulton County taxpayers could now be responsible for millions in legal costs.
This is a hallmark of lawfare: even when a politically motivated prosecution fails, the public still pays.
What These Three Cases Teach Us About Lawfare
Together, these three cases reveal a clear pattern:
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Lawfare is coordinated.
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It targets individuals personally.
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The process is the punishment.
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Taxpayers often end up paying for it.
Conservatives do not need to imitate these tactics.
But we must understand the battlefield — and be prepared to defend against it.
Defending against lawfare requires:
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disciplined compliance (no private email, clean records, tight process),
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legal readiness (defense funds, pro-bono networks, early preparation),
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professional communication and documentation,
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political awareness (understanding networks and incentives),
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stronger laws so bad actors cannot exploit loopholes.
This is not about fighting fire with fire.
It is about protecting good people from being burned.
The Legislature Moves to Close Lawfare Loopholes [6]
Earlier this year, the New Georgia Project admitted it illegally raised and spent millions during Stacey Abrams’s 2018 campaign.
The organization dissolved.
The Legislature is now moving to close the loopholes that made such abuses possible.
Proposed reforms include:
This is what a functioning system should do:
correct abuses, strengthen oversight, and make cheating harder for everyone.
Celebrating Local Leaders — Brave and Resilient
Jan Johnson and Bridget Thorne are standing up to coordinated attacks with courage and clarity.
They are transparent, professional, and prepared.
These are signs of a healthier, more resilient conservative movement in Georgia.
There’s more work ahead, but progress is already visible.
Conclusion
Lawfare is the new normal.
But Georgia conservatives are not standing still.
We are beginning to build the readiness, professionalism, and defensive infrastructure needed to protect good people — and protect taxpayers — from coordinated legal attacks.
There’s more work ahead — but the work has begun.
References
[1] AJC — "State Election Board settles records lawsuit brought by watchdog group"
https://www.ajc.com/politics/2025/11/state-election-board-settles-records-lawsuit-brought-by-watchdog-group/
[2] AJC — "Georgia State Election Board member raises money online for legal defense"
https://www.ajc.com/politics/2025/11/georgia-state-election-board-member-raises-money-online-for-legal-defense/
[3] Bridget Thorne — Public Facebook Post
https://www.facebook.com/Thorne4Fulton/posts/pfbid0BtugCtZdsRs2etsBEs885XPuokoq1NURPSRmUTdcfuvMVL8d3Q85MtUauJbAQfrjl
[4] AJC — "Georgia dismisses Trump election case, ending his last criminal prosecution"
https://www.ajc.com/politics/2025/11/georgia-dismisses-trump-election-case-ending-his-last-criminal-prosecution/
[5] AJC — "Fulton could pay millions in legal fees after Trump case dismissal"
https://editions.ajc.com/shortcode/AJC466/edition/2f80a25f-7cde-2234-13fc-b1dfe03459f2?page=5be43a73-538b-c5d0-cf8a-33c66547ff03&
[6] AJC — "Investigation into Abrams-linked group could spark new campaign laws"
https://www.ajc.com/politics/2025/11/investigation-into-abrams-linked-group-could-spark-new-campaign-laws/
