Judge arrested at Buckhead nightclub learns fate in ethics case today

The case before the state Supreme Court does not involve criminal charges.

Photo credit: Fulton County Sheriff’s Office

Photo credit: Fulton County Sheriff’s Office

Peterson said her arrest by Atlanta police was “a trap” and that she was only trying to help a woman who was being attacked outside the club. She is charged with assault and obstruction of justice.

Body camera footage of Peterson’s arrest was released by Atlanta police Friday night and shows Peterson repeatedly yelling at an officer, “Let her (expletive) go,” while shoving the officer.

The officer stated in an incident report that Peterson struck him in the chest and neck area. He said Peterson repeatedly cursed at him as he asked her name and date of birth while she was handcuffed.

Photo credit: Atlanta Police Department

Photo credit: Atlanta Police Department

After being released from the Fulton County Jail on $5,000 bail Thursday afternoon, Peterson held a press conference at her attorney’s office, where her memory of events was confirmed by two women who said they were involved in the nightclub incident.

Alexandria Love said she was attacked by a man she did not know as she waited in line for food outside the club, and Peterson was the only person who immediately tried to help her. Love’s friend Madison Shannon Kelly said Peterson did not intend to hit the officer.

Peterson’s attorney asked Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to review the case. He said the charges were without merit and should be dropped. Love and Kelly said they did not know Peterson before the incident.

In the JQC case, Peterson is accused of violating the Georgia Code of Judicial Conduct in a number of ways. At one point, she was charged with 50 different counts, but 20 were withdrawn or dropped.

Peterson, a University of Georgia law school graduate who practiced law for several years before becoming a judge, was accused of making inappropriate social media posts, unnecessarily detaining and fining a woman who wanted to change her marriage license, and allowing wedding attendees into the Douglas County courthouse after hours without permission. She also insulted a fellow judge and other county officials, obstructed access to public records and had inappropriate contact with a litigant, the JQC said.

Commissioners also faulted Peterson’s conduct as a judicial candidate — making lewd jokes in public, asking for money for her birthday and promoting events at Atlanta bars in connection with her 2020 election bid. They also faulted her behavior at a 2022 meeting of her homeowners association, saying she mocked several attendees and gave “petty and sarcastic responses” while inappropriately attempting to influence a pending lawsuit she filed against the association and its directors.

Credit: Special

Credit: Special

“And that is why she must go,” the JQC hearing panel said in its March 31 report to the state Supreme Court.

Peterson’s lawyer in the ethics case had asked the court in late April to reject the “erroneous findings of fact, which are refuted by the record,” as well as the JQC’s recommendation that she be removed from office.

In May, Peterson lost the Democratic primary for her seat. Her successor will be Douglasville attorney Valerie Vie, who faces no Republican challenger in the November general election.