Panel: Douglas judge guilty of 'systemic incompetence'[Georgia]

Fox5Atlanta ^ | 4/3/24 | Randy Travis

[CFW]

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. - She must go. That’s the unanimous recommendation from a hearing panel investigating Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson.

The first-time judge has also been the subject of several FOX 5 I-Team investigations since she took office in late 2020.

The three-member panel for the Judicial Qualifications Commission decided Peterson is guilty of "systemic incompetence" because she ignored courthouse rules, abused courthouse personnel, made inappropriate posts on social media and, in repeated cases, failed to do her job.

The extraordinary decision to remove Peterson follows four separate hearings starting in September 2023 where Peterson had a chance to testify and confront her accusers. She faced 30 counts of misconduct.

The one that troubled the panel the most involved Peterson's decision to jail a woman for simply trying to amend her marriage certificate to include the real name of her recently discovered father.

[snip]

The report criticized Peterson’s attempt at a neighborhood meeting to get her HOA to settle a lawsuit she had filed, even though she knew the HOA was represented by an attorney.

[snip]

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office complained Judge Peterson ignored their orders and held a wedding after hours, allowing people inside without deputies present.

She once hit a panic button when a deputy was late escorting her to court, causing needless panic among security.

[Flint]

I don’t even have to look to know.

[kvanbrunt2]

If this sets a precedent then i can see 80% of the judiciary being ousted.