A hearing on allegations Brian Pritchard voted illegally has been set for February 2024.
An order issued by Administrative Law Judge Linda Boggs set the hearing for Feb. 9, 2024, 10 a.m. at the Gilmer County Courthouse.
Pritchard is alleged to have voted illegally in Georgia while on felony probation in Pennsylvania.
Currently, he is serving as the vice of the Georgia Republican Party and was a candidate for the State House District 7 won by Johnny Chastain.
Several continuances have been issued in the case due to the health of Pritchard’s attorney, George W. Weaver.
In an order signed Oct. 10, 2023, Pritchard is to either state Weaver will be his attorney, George Weaver Jr., who represented Pritchard for the purpose of the continuance will continue representing him as substitute counsel or Pritchard is seeking a new attorney.
Judge Boggs ordered Pritchard to notify the court and opposing attorneys of his choice by Jan. 2, 2024.
Pritchard is accused of voting multiple times in Gilmer County while on probation for a trio of felonies in Pennsylvania. The votes are alleged to have taken place between 2008 and 2014.
Pritchard pleaded guilty in the Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County to two counts of forgery-after writing and one count of theft by failure to make required disposition funds. He received probation, fines and was ordered to pay restitution.
He has said he has a pardon for the Pennsylvania crimes.
On Nov. 8, 2017, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a pardon restoring Pritchard’s civil and political rights. Those rights included serving on a jury and running for and holding political office.
However, Liz Evans Scolforo, director of pardons and communications for the Office of Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, said, “The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons has no record for having issued a pardon for Brian Keith Pritchard.”
Judge Boggs signed the original order for the July 19 hearing. The case, she wrote, had been assigned Dec. 1, 2022, and a prehearing telephone conference had been postponed four times “due to the continued extension of a medical leave of absence” by Pritchard’s counsel.
“While the court recognizes the challenges facing the respondent’s (Pritchard’s) counsel, the fact remains that this case has been pending for five months with no significant action taken.” The court then set the July hearing, “to minimize further delay.”
Pritchard has previously denied the charges.
“They are allegations. Let’s be clear. I have not been charged with anything,” he said. “I think this is all a setup.”
“The hearing shall proceed on the selected date in February 2024, regardless of the status of Mr. Pritchard’s legal representation,” Judge Boggs said in the order dated Oct. 10, 2023.