State Senator Colton Moore was arrested in Atlanta after causing a disturbance at the State House of Representatives and is now being supported by the Chattooga County Republican Party. On January 16th, during Governor Brian Kemp’s State of the State Address, Moore was barred from entering and subsequently arrested by Georgia State Troopers.  Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns had banned Moore from the House of Representatives after a speech Moore made in March 2024 that criticized the late Speaker David Ralston.

The Chattooga County Republican party contends that this event took place during a joint chamber session, where as an elected representative for Georgia’s 53rd District, Moore should have been allowed to attend. The local party says Moore’s exclusion raises concerns about free speech and respect for elected officials. The local GOP went on to say that although Moore’s speech upset Ralston’s family, it was an expression of his right to free speech and not a violation that warranted his arrest.

House Speaker Burns said on Friday, that lawmakers would not be barred from future joint sessions of the General Assembly.

“While the senator’s actions were despicable and hurtful to all who knew, respected and loved former Speaker David Ralston, we know that Speaker Ralston’s first priority was always to serve the people of our great state, and he wouldn’t want that important work to be hindered,” Burns said.

“For this reason, the Ralston family has expressed to their family here in the House that they desire for our chamber to resume business as normal – with all members of the General Assembly present – for any future joint sessions with or without the apology they and the House deserve.”