DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) — A new judge has been assigned to the criminal case involving April Franklin, whose December 2024 arrest by the Dothan Police Department drew widespread attention after eyewitness video showed a Dothan police officer striking her multiple times during the encounter.
The case stems from a Dec. 15, 2024, incident outside the Elks Lodge Club. According to the Dothan Police Department, officers were responding to a reported altercation and attempting to detain another individual when Franklin allegedly ignored repeated commands to stay back and approached officers. Police said she was arrested and later charged with resisting arrest and aggravated assault on a police officer.
The arrest gained public attention after eyewitness video circulated on social media showing the officer striking Franklin several times during the arrest.
Following the incident, Franklin’s attorney, Dustin Fowler, publicly alleged excessive force and sought the release of body camera footage and other investigative records. A previous request by the defense to obtain body camera footage and investigative records was denied while the investigation remained pending.
During a hearing Wednesday, Judge Hollingsworth was assigned to the case after the previous judge recused himself. Hollingsworth told those in the courtroom he would not recuse himself and said he intends to see the case through.
Following the hearing, Fowler told WDNews the defense has been seeking a speedy trial for more than a year and expressed frustration over what he described as repeated delays in the case.
“We filed over a year ago a right to a speedy trial, and we get ambushed six days before with a motion to continue,” Fowler said.
Fowler said the defense had rearranged its schedule and prepared witnesses for the trial, including witnesses who were expected to testify remotely from outside the state.
“We cleared our schedules, we continued other cases, we put clients back. The most important people, my clients, have taken off work, and the city’s gonna send this to us six days before work and didn’t even have the courtesy to send it via email. They sent it mail.”
According to Fowler, court officials had ample time to arrange Zoom testimony for an out-of-state witness but those arrangements had not been completed before the scheduled trial date.
“They have known this person has been there since 2025, has not set up Zoom, everything else. It’s continue, continue, continue, change judges, change judges, change judges.”
Fowler also criticized the number of judges who have been assigned to the case.
“This is the third or fourth judge that the City of Dothan has assigned this case.”
While acknowledging Judge Hollingsworth had only recently been assigned the case, Fowler said his frustration was directed at the repeated postponements.
“Judge Hollingsworth got brought in this at the last minute. I completely understand that, this is number judge three or four. But I’m tired of the city’s delays, I’m tired of this case getting pushed back, I’m tired of my clients taking off work, I’m tired of putting everybody out because of the city.”
Fowler said he believes the case should finally move forward.
“This is absolutely ridiculous. The city is gonna try this case whether they like it or not, win or lose. Now that’s just a fact.”
He also said the defense intends to continue pursuing the matter if necessary.
“They have multiple attorneys, they have multiple judges. At some point in time, there’s got to be a reckoning of this. And we’re gonna have one, like I said, whether the city likes it or not.”
Fowler said the defense is prepared to continue the case beyond municipal court if it is dissatisfied with the outcome.
“So, we will hopefully try this on the 21st. If we don’t like the results here, then we’ll see you at a jury trial in circuit court. But this isn’t over by any stretch of the imagination.”
The case is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 21, 2026, at 9 a.m.
