Judge accused of assaulting police officer outside Atlanta nightclub dismissed

ATLANTA (DT) — A 38-year-old judge accused of assaulting a police officer outside an Atlanta nightclub should be removed from office, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

Court documents indicate that Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson violated the Code of Judicial Conduct (CJC), as well as several violations, according to the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC), demonstrating “a pattern of judicial misconduct” during his tenure.

“The JQC Hearing Panel concluded that Judge Peterson violated several rules of the CJC and that these violations warranted her removal from the bench. We agree that removal is warranted here,” the Georgia Supreme Court noted in rulings. documents filed Tuesday.

“In light of his multiple violations of the rules (of the judicial code) in several areas – some of them reflecting blatant disregard for the law, the rules of the courts and the rules of judicial conduct; the pattern of violations that the Director of the (JQC) has proven by clear and convincing evidence; the extremely worrying nature of some of these violations, particularly with regard to cases of criminal contempt; and his conduct during the JQC investigation, we conclude that dismissal is the appropriate sanction,” the court added.

The Atlanta Police Department recently released body camera video of Peterson’s arrest, which shows officers arriving on scene on June 20 at 3:15 a.m. In the footage, several people are seen fighting and shouting outside a club.

***WARNING: The following video contains graphic content. Viewer discretion recommended.***

Police said that while officers and club security attempted to separate everyone and defuse the crowd, a woman, later identified as Peterson, began yelling at an officer and punched him. Peterson is then handcuffed and refuses to give police her identifying information so she can be taken to jail and processed for her charges.

“Take me wherever you need to take me – immediately,” she cries. “They will take my fingerprints and find out who I am.”

“That’s not how it works,” the officer said.

She later tells the officer to “shut up” and asks him not to touch her.

Peterson was charged with simple battery on a police officer and misdemeanor obstruction of law enforcement officers.

She will not be eligible to be elected or appointed to any future judicial office in Georgia for seven years.

Peterson was sworn in for a four-year term as Douglas County Probate Court judge on December 29, 2020.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: WKRC contributed to this report.