Houston Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Hartwig was honored as the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Advocacy in Capital Litigation Award presented by the Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation (AGACL). The award recognizes attorneys who exhibit outstanding work in the fields of capital litigation and complex homicide prosecution. The award was presented on August 7 during opening ceremonies for the 2019 AGACL Conference in Austin, Texas.

“I am extremely honored to have even been nominated for this award,” said Hartwig. “To be selected as one of the recipients is truly a highlight of my career as a prosecutor.”

Hartwig was nominated in part due to his dedication of resources to solve unsolved murders in south Georgia. His efforts include the use of asset forfeiture funds to secure sophisticated DNA testing in cases where DNA testing was either not available or failed to produce any results.

One such case involved the 1994 murder of Summer Gleaton which went unsolved for over 20 years. The results of the DNA testing sought by District Attorney Hartwig led to the conviction of defendant Homer Ridley III for Summer’s murder. Summer’s daughter, who was an infant at the time of her death, and Summer’s mother were both present in the courtroom for the plea and sentencing of Ridley.

“I am very glad we could finally get justice for Summer Gleaton and her family,” said Hartwig. “Thanks to the hard work of my prosecution team, the investigative efforts of the Warner Robins Police Department, and cutting-edge DNA technology, we were able to put a brutal killer behind bars forever.”

“There could be no other attorney in the country who is more deserving of this recognition,” said Sheila Ross, Director of Capital Litigation for the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia. “Because of DA Hartwig’s commitment to serving his community, justice was served for these victims and their families.”

Hartwig currently serves as the Chairman of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia (PAC). He has served as the elected District Attorney for the Houston Judicial Circuit, headquartered in Perry, Georgia, since 2010. Prior to his election, he served as an assistant district attorney for nearly 10 years and he began his career in public service as a police officer in Broward County, Florida.

For more information on AGACL, visit https://agacl.com/.

###

About the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia (PAC)
Established in 1975, the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia (PAC) is the overarching judicial branch government agency supporting Georgia prosecutors and their staff, which includes 49 District Attorney Offices (primarily Felony cases) and 65 Solicitor-General Offices (only Misdemeanor cases). For more information visit the PAC website: www.pacga.org

##

Carla Rieffel Bozeman | Director of Communications | communications@pacga.org