Cobb County Clerk of Court Connie Taylor Indicted on Charges of Destroying Public Records

COBB COUNTY, GA – Cobb County Clerk of Court Connie Taylor has been indicted by a grand jury on two counts of Destruction of Public Records and two counts of Violation of Oath of Office. The indictment follows a lengthy investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) into allegations of destroying public documents in response to an open records request.

The investigation was initiated on November 16, 2022, when the Chief Judge of the Cobb County Superior Court requested the GBI to look into allegations regarding the destruction of public records related to the collection of passport fees. The completed GBI investigation was turned over to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office on March 14, 2024. The Attorney General’s White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit presented the evidence to a Cobb County Grand Jury on Thursday, July 31, 2025, which returned the indictment.

Taylor has previously come under scrutiny for her use of passport shipping fees and for a record-keeping backlog that prompted a Judicial State of Emergency in August 2024. Reports indicate that Taylor pocketed $425,000 in fees, of which $84,000 was from expedited shipping fees. While this action was not illegal, it was a departure from normal practice.

Georgia’s Open Records Act requires all government records and electronic communications to be preserved.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr stated, “Georgians deserve honesty and transparency from their elected officials, and anything less undermines public trust. Any attempts to conceal or destroy government records are serious allegations that cannot be ignored, and those responsible will be held accountable.”

GBI Director Chris Hosey added, “The intentional destruction of public records is a serious offense that undermines transparency and public trust. We remain committed to working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to ensure accountability and uphold the integrity of government operations across Georgia.”

The Cobb County Government issued a statement acknowledging that the Clerk of Superior Court is an independent, elected constitutional officer not under the direct authority of the Board of Commissioners. The county said it respects the judicial process and is committed to ensuring residents continue to receive efficient and effective services from the office.

Taylor, a Democrat from Powder Springs, was elected in 2020 as the first Black Clerk of Superior Court in Cobb County. She holds a BA in International Business and an MBA in Business. Her LinkedIn profile lists her as a member of several boards and organizations.