BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WTOC) - A former Brunswick District Attorney will be back in court next week, but this time she’s the one on trial.

Jury selection in the Jackie Johnson case is set to start on Tuesday.

She’s charged with interfering with the investigation of the 2020 killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a case that gained national attention and an outcry for justice.

Three white men—Gregory and Travis McMichael, along with William Roddie Bryan were all convicted for the death and federal hate crimes in the shooting of the 25-year-old black man.

It’s been nearly five years since Arbery’s killing in February 2020, and almost four years since a grand jury indicted Jackie Johnson for charges related to the case in March 2021. The case has been bogged down in delays—and is finally heading toward jury selection.

Jackie Johnson had her first appearance this past December.

She is charged with violation of oath of office and obstruction of law enforcement.

According to the indictment, Johnson showed “favor and affection to Greg McMichael during the investigation into the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery,” violating her oath as District Attorney.

McMichael was later convicted of murder and federal hate crimes in the case.

Court records show one of the first phone calls Greg McMichael made after Arbery’s shooting was to Johnson.

He left a voicemail.

“Jackie, this is Greg. Can you call me as soon as you possibly can? Um, my friend and I have been involved in a shooting and I need some advice right away. Can you please call me as soon as you possibly can. Thanks. Bye”

McMichael worked for Johnson in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit for years. He retired in 2019, and had previously served as a chief investigator.

The indictment also states she interfered with law enforcement by telling two Glynn County Police Officers not to arrest Travis McMichael, Greg’s son, who was also convicted for his role in the attack on Arbery.

If convicted, Johnson could face a 1-5 year sentence for violation of oath, which is a felony.

She also could face a sentence of up to a year for the obstruction charge, which is a misdemeanor.

Johnson’s high-profile defense attorney Brian Steel has been involved in Georgia’s longest-running criminal trial in history in Atlanta, a multi-defendant racketeering case involving rap artists and YSL Records. The trial spanned more than a year, and ended in December.

Steel is now expected to be back in court in Glynn County to represent Johnson.

Attorney General Chris Carr’s office will prosecute the case after Johnson’s legal team tried to have him removed.

During her first court appearance in December, Steel stated he planned to call Carr as a witness, which he argued would disqualify him as the case’s prosecutor.

“I don’t believe that it is within the law to allow a prosecutor, or any lawyer, to also be a witness and it’s a material witness, in the case,” said Steel.

The judge ultimately ruled to allow the Attorney General’s office to remain on the case.

Jury selection is set to begin at the Glynn County Courthouse on Tuesday.

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