Pete Skandalakis Biography: Career, Education, Politics, Age, Net Worth, Family

Peter (Pete) Skandalakis is a longtime Georgia prosecutor who, after decades of public service, rose to statewide prominence when he became the Executive Director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and later stepped into several high-profile, politically sensitive matters.

Known for a pragmatic prosecutorial philosophy — “do the right thing, and you can defend it” — Skandalakis has been both praised for independence and criticized by opponents depending on the case and the politics around it.

Early life and education

Pete Skandalakis (sometimes referred to as Peter Skandalakis) grew up in Georgia and pursued a legal education in the state. He graduated from the University of Georgia before embarking on a career in public prosecution. Over the years he developed a reputation for steady courtroom presence, case management, and mentorship of younger prosecutors — qualities that later factored into his appointment as a statewide prosecutorial leader.

Career highlights — from Coweta County to statewide leadership

Coweta County District Attorney

Skandalakis served for many years as District Attorney in Coweta County, Georgia. During that time he handled a broad array of criminal matters, rising through the ranks and earning local recognition. His long tenure in Coweta County established his courtroom credentials and shaped his prosecutorial style: thorough, pragmatic, and focused on outcomes rather than headlines.

Executive Director — Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia (PAC)

After decades in local prosecution, Skandalakis became Executive Director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia. In this role he oversees training, statewide prosecutorial coordination, and the allocation of resources for district attorneys across Georgia. This position made him a natural choice, legally and practically, to designate or assign conflict prosecutors and to step into cases where a local DA was recused or removed.

High-profile cases and public attention

Rayshard Brooks investigation (Atlanta)

Skandalakis drew wider public attention as a special prosecutor in high-profile police-use-of-force matters, most notably in the aftermath of the 2020 shooting of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta. His involvement underlined both his experience handling sensitive cases and his willingness to take on matters that attracted intense media scrutiny.

The 2020 Georgia election interference case

Skandalakis entered the national spotlight in late 2025 when, after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified over an “appearance of impropriety,” he was tasked with appointing a new prosecutor to handle the sprawling election-interference indictment involving former President Donald Trump and others. After several conflict prosecutors declined, Skandalakis appointed himself to take control of the remaining prosecution to avoid the case being dismissed for lack of a prosecutor. He emphasized impartial review of the voluminous investigative file before deciding how to proceed.

On November 26, 2025, Skandalakis filed a motion that effectively brought the final criminal case in Georgia to a close by dismissing the charges — a decision that immediately reverberated through state and national politics and drew intense commentary.

Prosecutorial philosophy and approach

Throughout his career, Skandalakis has articulated a simple prosecutorial creed: follow the facts, be prepared to prosecute aggressively when evidence supports it, and be prepared to dismiss cases when justice requires it. He stresses documentation and transparency so that the public — even those who disagree with a decision — can understand the basis for prosecutorial choices. That approach has meant he sometimes draws praise for independence and other times criticism from those who see prosecutorial decisions through partisan lenses.

Controversies and criticism

Because many of the matters Skandalakis has touched involve politically charged investigations, his decisions have been scrutinized intensely. Critics sometimes argue his rulings and appointments reflect political considerations; supporters counter that his decades of experience and insistence on legal and evidentiary standards guided his actions. The decision to take on the Georgia election case — and the later motion to dismiss — brought both applause and condemnation depending on political perspective, which is not uncommon for prosecutors at the intersection of law and politics.

Notable decisions — a quick timeline

• Longtime Coweta County DA: Built a career as a local prosecutor.
• Executive Director of PAC: Took a leadership job coordinating prosecutors statewide.
• Special prosecutor in high-profile police cases: Assigned to or involved in cases such as Rayshard Brooks.
• Assigned to Georgia 2020 election case (Nov 2025): After Fani Willis’ disqualification, he appointed himself when no conflict prosecutor would accept the matter.
• Filed dismissal in election case (Nov 26, 2025): Moved to dismiss the remaining charges in the Georgia case.

Personal life and interests

Skandalakis keeps a relatively private personal life compared with his public legal role. Public records and profiles indicate he has deep roots in Georgia, and that mentorship and legal education for younger prosecutors are priorities for him in his PAC role. He is frequently described as a by-the-book prosecutor who prizes institutional stability and careful process.

FAQs — Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is Pete Skandalakis?

A: Pete (Peter) Skandalakis is an experienced Georgia prosecutor who served as a longtime Coweta County district attorney and later became Executive Director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, handling high-profile and conflict matters. :

Q: Why did Skandalakis take over the Georgia election case?

A: After Fulton County DA Fani Willis was disqualified, the law required someone to appoint a conflict prosecutor. Several declined; to prevent dismissal for lack of a prosecutor, Skandalakis appointed himself to ensure the case would be reviewed.

Q: Did Pete Skandalakis dismiss the Trump case in Georgia?

A: On November 26, 2025, Skandalakis filed a motion that led to dismissal of the remaining charges in the Georgia election interference case. That filing effectively ended that state criminal prosecution at that time.

Q: What was Skandalakis’s role in the Rayshard Brooks matter?

A: He was a special prosecutor in parts of the investigation and prosecution related to Atlanta officers’ actions in the death of Rayshard Brooks, drawing attention to his ability to handle sensitive police-use-of-force cases.

Q: Is Pete Skandalakis a political appointee or an elected official?

A: He served as an elected (or appointed, depending on the local office cycle) district attorney at the county level and later as an appointed Executive Director of PAC, a statewide prosecutorial entity. His PAC role is an appointed leadership position.

Conclusion

Pete Skandalakis’s career reflects the arc of a prosecutor who moved from local courtroom battles to statewide leadership. Whether you view his actions through a partisan lens or as a measured legal administrator, his choices — especially in late 2025 — reshaped high-profile legal disputes in Georgia. He’s a reminder that prosecutors don’t just try cases; their charging and dismissal decisions can have systemic and political consequences. For students of law and Georgia politics alike, Skandalakis’s tenure offers concrete lessons about evidence, discretion, and the heavy responsibilities that come with deciding when to wield the state’s power to prosecute.