In the Media
News and media featuring Mark's commentary and analysis on criminal justice and appellate law.

Director: William J Howard III
Film released in 2026
Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story
This documentary details the events when John McNeil was found guilty for murder and sentenced to life in prison for a self defense shooting in Kennesaw, Georgia, and the efforts of his wife Anita McNeil and two communities and multiple organizations to right the injustice of the sentencing.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
December 28, 2023
From the Inside: Criminal Kingpins
Fourth in the Georgia Prison Corruption series: An Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation has found that the state's prisons are allowing criminal enterprises to flourish, often with deadly results, from behind bars.

The New York Times
October 30, 2019
Judge Says Sheriff Can’t Post Sex Offender Warning Signs on Halloween
A federal judge filed a preliminary injunction on Tuesday preventing a sheriff in Georgia from placing signs at three sex offenders’ homes, saying it violated their constitutional rights.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
March 14, 2019
Court strikes down lifetime electronic monitoring of sex offenders
The Georgia Supreme Court unanimously struck down a law requiring sex offenders who have completed their sentences to wear electronic monitors for the rest of their lives. The requirement violates the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
February 7, 2013
Cobb man convicted of murder may go free
John McNeil, sent to prison for life for killing his building contractor in 2005, may be freed next week because he is expected to plead to the lesser crime of manslaughter to end a legal fight now before the...

WABE
October 2, 2012
African-American businessman serving life sentence could go free
An African-American businessman who has been in prison for a 2005 shooting in Cobb County could go free after a judge concluded that John McNeil received ineffective assistance of counsel during his...