Council confirms Miguel Dominguez to Atlanta Citizens Review Board

The Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee confirmed Miguel Dominguez to the Atlanta Citizens Review Board on a 5-0 vote, approving a three-year appointment submitted by the Atlanta Bar Association.

The appointment matters because the Atlanta Citizens Review Board (ACRB) investigates citizen complaints about Atlanta Police and Corrections officers. Lee Reed, executive director of the ACRB, told students and committee members that the board "is authorized to receive and investigate complaints"against police and corrections officers and that the office communicates investigation results to complainants.

Miguel Dominguez, who accepted the appointment, gave a brief biography describing work in social services, prosecution in Rockdale, DeKalb and Clayton counties, and later civil-rights and personal-injury practice. "I am here in service," Dominguez said when he accepted the nomination.

Councilmember Antonio Lewis and Councilmember Isha Collins spoke in support of Dominguez, citing his history of community service and a reputation for careful handling of prosecutorial decisions. Lewis said the city needs approaches that "do not lock our way out of these situations" and urged the ACRB to be part of reimagining public safety. Collins noted that recent funding increases and staffing for the ACRB should help the board fulfill its duties.

Byron D. Amos, who moved the nomination, and other committee members said they were familiar with Dominguez's work and welcomed his leadership. The motion to confirm was moved and seconded on the record; the committee opened and closed the roll call and recorded five yays and no nays.

Dominguez will serve a three-year term; the appointment was taken from the held-items list and presented to the committee with a favorable recommendation.