CORDELE, Ga. (WALB) — A South Georgia judicial circuit that already faces a massive backlog of cases is now operating with only two prosecutors. So what does that mean for the four-county circuit?

The Cordele Judicial Circuit originally had eight prosecutors tackling cases, but it now only has two. According to a source close to the matter, six prosecutors left their positions, including the now-former district attorney, Brad Rigby.

“After careful consideration, I have decided that it is the appropriate time for me to step down from this position and pursue the next chapter of my professional and personal life. I appreciate the confidence placed in me during my tenure…”

Rigby’s resignation comes just months after a recent investigation by WALB that uncovered more than 4,200 unindicted or pending criminal cases in the Cordele Judicial Circuit.

“There are a lot of cases that no one could possibly be handling right now because there’s just not enough people. We know already that the backlog was crippling,” Chris Cohilas, a legal expert, said. “You can’t get the work done unless you have prosecutors, and if you don’t have prosecutors, that backlog is not getting smaller, it’s getting bigger. And if it’s getting bigger, then you got a bigger problem.”

A source close to the matter says the district has had to cancel hearings and move cases due to the need for immediate help.

As of now, Governor Brian Kemp’s office says the governor will appoint someone to fill the vacancy. The office will provide an update once the appointment is made.

Read Rigby’s full letter of resignation below.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X. For more south Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.