--- title: SR 980. Boston, District Attorney Sherry; honor collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr980 cite_as: SR 980, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr980 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr980.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr980/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74182 date: 2026-03-19 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr979.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr981.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr980.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 980 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-19 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Sonya Halpern - Sally Harrell - Kim Jackson - Elena Parent - Tonya Anderson - Gail Davenport text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR980/2025 upstream_id: 2135879 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - DeKalb County - district attorney - ceremonial resolution - Georgia Senate honors --- # SR 980. Boston, District Attorney Sherry; honor ## Text Senate Resolution 980 By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Harrell of the 40th, Jackson of the 41st, Parent of the 44th, Anderson of the 43rd and others A RESOLUTION Honoring District Attorney Sherry Boston for her historic leadership, distinguished legal career, and dedicated service as District Attorney of DeKalb County; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, District Attorney Sherry Boston has devoted her professional life to upholding the rule of law, protecting victims, and strengthening public safety through fair and ethical prosecution; and WHEREAS, District Attorney Boston is a proud graduate of Spelman College, where she earned her undergraduate degree, and Emory University School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor, preparing her for a career rooted in service, leadership, and justice; and WHEREAS, she began her prosecutorial career in the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, where she served as an Assistant District Attorney and later as a Senior Assistant District Attorney, handling complex felony cases and earning a reputation for diligence, integrity, and courtroom excellence; and WHEREAS, in 2016, Sherry Boston was elected District Attorney of DeKalb County, becoming the first African American woman to hold the office, marking a historic milestone in the county's legal and civic history; and WHEREAS, under her leadership, the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office has implemented innovative, data-driven strategies designed to reduce violent crime, support victims, and improve efficiency within the criminal justice system; and WHEREAS, District Attorney Boston has prioritized victim advocacy and community engagement, strengthening partnerships with law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and neighborhood stakeholders to ensure a collaborative approach to public safety; and WHEREAS, she has championed initiatives focused on accountability courts, youth intervention programs, and evidence-based alternatives that seek to break cycles of recidivism while maintaining firm prosecution of violent offenders; and WHEREAS, District Attorney Boston's historic leadership and tireless dedication reflect a steadfast commitment to transparency, ethical standards, and restoring and maintaining public trust in the justice system, and through her service she continues to serve as a role model for aspiring attorneys and public servants across the State of Georgia. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body honor and commend District Attorney Sherry Boston for her historic achievements, exemplary leadership, and unwavering commitment to justice and public safety as District Attorney of DeKalb County. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to District Attorney Sherry Boston. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution honors DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston for her legal career and her role as the first African American woman elected to that office. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes Sherry Boston, the District Attorney of DeKalb County, for her educational background, her rise through the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, and her 2016 election as the first African American woman to hold that office. The resolution praises her leadership on victim advocacy, community partnerships, accountability courts, and youth intervention programs. It formally commends her for her service and directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for her. It does not create any new requirement, program, or funding. ### What it does - Formally commends Sherry Boston for her career and her historic election as DeKalb County's first African American woman District Attorney. - Recites her educational background at Spelman College and Emory University School of Law and her rise through the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office. - Praises specific initiatives credited to her tenure, including accountability courts, youth intervention programs, and victim advocacy partnerships. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and deliver a copy of the resolution to District Attorney Boston. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names District Attorney Sherry Boston of DeKalb County. It also involves the Georgia Senate and its Secretary, who must prepare the ceremonial copy, but it creates no obligations for the public, other officials, or agencies. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal effect on Georgia law, budgets, or criminal justice procedure. Its significance is symbolic: it is a formal, public statement from the Georgia Senate recognizing a sitting prosecutor's career and a historic milestone in DeKalb County's legal history. ### Key provisions - The resolved clause states the Senate 'honor and commend' Boston for her leadership and commitment to justice and public safety as DeKalb County's District Attorney. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to Boston. - The whereas clauses, while not operative law, detail her biography, career milestones, and initiatives, forming the resolution's stated basis. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-19) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-03-19) - Sponsors: Sonya Halpern, Sally Harrell, Kim Jackson, Elena Parent, Tonya Anderson, Gail Davenport - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74182 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr980.md?full=1