RALEIGH — Former UNC Law School student James “Jamie” Marsicano’s domestic terrorism charges stemming from an attack on the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in 2023 were recently dismissed over “due process” delays by a Georgia judge.
“Considering all of the facts and arguments presented by both parties, the State’s delay in prosecuting this case has violated Defendant’s Due Process rights,” wrote Dekalb Superior Court Judge Gregory Adams in his Aug. 14 order, which allows refiling of the charges by the district attorney’s office if they choose.
Adams also wrote, “The Attorney General’s Office appears to have delayed this matter in order to gain a tactical advantage over the defense.”
Deputy Georgia Attorney General John Fowler reportedly denied the delay was about a “tactical advantage,” citing the vast amount of evidence in the case and giving the example of receiving millions of documents and more than 14 terabytes of data from the FBI.
Marsicano’s attorney had twice asked for a speedy trial — on March 1, 2024, and on May 1, 2025 — in the 2½ years since the arrest.
Last September, Fowler dropped 15 of the 18 anti-racketeering charges filed in connection with the “Atlanta Solidarity Fund,” a bail fund tied to those arrested during the 2023 attack. The three remaining RICO conspiracy charges filed in neighboring Fulton County, Georgia, are still active for Marsicano and 60 others.
The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center was called “Cop City” by protesters and was under construction at the time of the attack.
The March 5, 2023, a group of “violent agitators” rioted, according to Atlanta Police, using the peaceful protest at the center site as cover, changing into black clothing, entering the construction area and throwing rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails and fireworks at police officers. Several construction equipment items were destroyed by the rioters.
Marsicano, who is transgender, was a UNC Law student at the time and, following the arrest, was banned from the Chapel Hill campus.
In April 2023, UNC Law School students organized a walk-out over Marsicano being removed from the school following the arrest on the domestic terrorism charges. North State Journal obtained documents showing the decision to remove Marsicano rested with the university’s top leadership, including Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz.
Marsicano was allowed to complete his law degree through virtual classes at UNC Chapel Hill and courses on the Duke campus, graduating in May 2024. After passing the state Bar exam, Marsicano was not issued a law license by the North Carolina State Board of Law Examiners due to the pending domestic terrorism charges.
Marsicano’s father is Michael Marsicano, the former CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas for more than 20 years. In 2017, Charlotte magazine named him the city’s “most powerful person,” and in 2018 he was ranked in Business North Carolina’s Power 100 list at No. 61.
