A disabled military veteran is taking a stand against what she claims are systemic violations of her constitutional rights by a county veterans treatment court. Shannon Briley Newsome filed a complaint on February 17, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against the Cherokee County Veterans Treatment Court and other associated parties. The complaint alleges that these entities have engaged in discriminatory practices and retaliatory actions that violate federal disability protections and constitutional rights.
Newsome’s case revolves around her experiences with the Cherokee County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC), which she accuses of using its authority as an instrument of discrimination and retaliation. According to Newsome, the VTC has systematically violated her rights to due process, family integrity, freedom of association, and protection from retaliation. She argues that the court has used its power to impose punitive conditions on her probation that exceed those placed on non-veteran defendants charged with similar or more serious offenses. These conditions include separating her from her infant daughter without due process or findings of harm or unfitness.
The complaint details how Newsome’s involvement with the VTC began after she was charged with two counts of aggravated stalking for sending text messages during a custody dispute. Despite being non-violent offenses, she was jailed for six months before entering the VTC program as an alternative to further incarceration. However, once in the program, Newsome claims she faced excessive supervision requirements and discriminatory practices that failed to accommodate her disabilities. “Defendants imposed compliance requirements on Plaintiff that far exceed those placed on standard First Offender probationers,” reads the complaint.
Newsome also alleges that private civil attorney Holly Holliman manipulated her treatment court outcome by leveraging personal connections within the legal system for financial gain in parallel custody litigation. This alleged interference resulted in harsher conditions for Newsome than those typically imposed by VTC standards. Furthermore, Newsome accuses Defendants of retaliating against her for exercising First Amendment rights by threatening imprisonment when she sought information through open records requests.
Seeking justice, Newsome requests declaratory relief from ongoing violations and injunctive relief to stop enforcement of unconstitutional conditions affecting her family life and support network. She also seeks monetary damages where applicable under federal law.
Representing herself in this complex legal battle are attorneys [names not provided], while presiding over this significant case is Judge [name not provided]. The case ID is 1:26-cv-00936-MLB.
Source: 126cv00936_Shannon_Briley_v_Cherokee_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georgia.pdf
