Cobb Clerk’s Criminal Case Moves Forward Amid Motions to Dismiss

Cobb County, GA — The criminal case against Cobb County Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor continues to unfold as her attorneys seek to have felony charges dismissed before trial, while prosecutors simultaneously push back with several pretrial motions over what evidence can be presented.

Taylor, first elected in 2020, faces four felony counts — two each of destruction of public records and violation of oath of office — stemming from allegations that she directed an employee to delete government documents and emails related to her handling of passport service fees.

Charges and Suspension

A Cobb County grand jury returned the indictment on July 31, 2025. Prosecutors allege Taylor ordered a court worker to delete a folder titled “Passport” containing accounting records and an email detailing expedited passport revenue.

Following the indictment, Governor Brian Kemp suspended Taylor from her position, effective immediately, pending the outcome of the case or the expiration of her term.
Taylor was booked into the Cobb County Jail and released on her own recognizance, court records show.

Defense Seeks Dismissal

In filings in November, Taylor’s attorneys — including former Gov. Roy Barnes — asked a judge to dismiss the charges before trial. The defense argues that prosecutors misunderstand the law around public records retention and that Taylor had discretion in how records were maintained, so long as the records were not falsified. They also contend the indictment lacks allegations about Taylor’s intent or state of mind.

Taylor’s lawyers further argue that the records in question were ultimately preserved and provided in another form and that ordering deletion in itself is not a crime without evidence of falsification.

Prosecutors Advocate for Evidence Rules

Prosecutors from the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, which took over the case after the local district attorney recused, have filed multiple motions seeking to limit certain defense arguments and shape what evidence may be introduced.

One motion seeks to bar the defense from alleging “selective prosecution,” noting the high profile of the case. Another seeks to exclude mentions of Taylor’s suspension and a GBI interview she gave denying criminal conduct, unless conditions are met.

Prosecutors have also asked that evidence related to Taylor’s collection of passport fees — including more than $80,000 in expedited shipping fees that should have gone to the county — be admissible because it provides context to the “chain of events” leading to the charged conduct.

Background: Passport Fees and Investigation

Taylor’s handling of passport service fees first drew scrutiny after a 2022 report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution showed she collected more than $425,000 in passport processing fees during the first two years of her term — fees Georgia law allows clerks to retain as personal income.

Following the news coverage, a whistleblower in Taylor’s office alleged she ordered documents deleted after an open records request about those fees, prompting an investigative referral by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to the Attorney General’s office.

Taylor later agreed to reimburse Cobb County more than $83,000 for passport expedited shipping fees that clerks are not legally entitled to keep.

Judicial Emergency and Office Issues

The clerk’s office has also faced operational challenges. In 2024, the chief judge of the Cobb Judicial Circuit declared a judicial emergency, citing significant delays and disruptions in court filings tied to systemic issues in the clerk’s case management operations.

Next Steps

Taylor has waived a formal arraignment. Her trial has been repeatedly delayed — originally scheduled for October, then November, and moved again. A pretrial hearing on motions is set for Feb. 5, 2026. If convicted of a felony, Taylor would be permanently removed from office. If acquitted or charges are dismissed, she would be eligible for reinstatement. Notes on reporting: This article summarizes recent developments from law enforcement press releases and local news coverage. An indictment contains only allegations; a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.