Altanta- 21 prosecutors have left the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.

Atlanta- Since the beginning of this year, 21 prosecutors -- one-fifth of those on staff -- have left the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.

The exodus has forced District Attorney Paul Howard to plug holes to keep cases moving and frustrated judges who have found new prosecutors in their courtrooms who know little about the cases they must bring to trial.

Nichols said he grew frustrated by often finding himself in the middle of an ongoing feud between Howard and judges on the Fulton bench. For years, the DA's office and the court have criticized each other over how they conduct their business.

Fulton prosecutors also have little to no discretion to resolve cases without approval from a supervisor, Nichols said. He also noted Howard is requiring prosecutors to use sentencing guidelines for recommending prison terms.

"It became layer on top of layer on top of layer," Nichols said. "It got to the point where I felt I had no discretion, that I felt like I wasn't an attorney anymore."

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