On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Law.com reported that a judicial misconduct hearing concerning Chatham County Probate Judge Thomas C. Bordeaux had concluded, with discussions now focused on potential sanctions. The hearing, held before the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) of Georgia, centered on allegations that Bordeaux repeatedly failed to issue timely final orders in numerous probate cases.
Bordeaux’s defense counsel requested that instead of sanctions, the jurist should be monitored. However, this recommendation was not well-received by Judicial Qualifications Commission of Georgia Director Courtney Veal, who stated, “We are not a probation or compliance department.”
The allegations against Bordeaux involve at least 16 probate cases, with one case remaining unresolved for over seven years. Bordeaux is represented by attorneys S. Lester Tate III of Akin & Tate and W. Matthew Wilson of Bell Wilson Law.
During the third and final day of the ethics proceedings, Bordeaux and Chatham County Probate Court Chief Clerk and Associate Judge Wendy Williamson presented conflicting accounts regarding the reasons for the delays.
Bordeaux attributed the delays to systemic challenges within the court, including the transition to a new case management system, an increased caseload, and staffing shortages. He also stated that his preference for drafting detailed orders, rather than using standard forms, contributed to the delays.
However, Veal challenged Bordeaux’s claims, particularly his reluctance to conduct remote court hearings to address the alleged courthouse challenges. Veal questioned Bordeaux on his aversion to virtual proceedings, which he reportedly stated “tend not to work very well time and time again.”
The hearing also revealed tensions between Bordeaux and Williamson, which Bordeaux claimed inhibited communication about outstanding cases. Bordeaux testified that Williamson had an “agenda” to take over his judicial post, believing she wanted him not to run again so she could run unopposed.
When questioned about potential sanctions, Bordeaux discouraged the JQC Hearing Panel from recommending his removal from the bench to the Supreme Court of Georgia. He also argued that a suspension would worsen the existing delays.
Bordeaux expressed his desire to make his daughter, a law school student, proud of him. He requested that if he were to be reprimanded, the language should acknowledge his hard work, competence, and dedication to his duties.
Williamson, called as a rebuttal witness, challenged Bordeaux’s account of communication issues and the need for better case management coordination. She testified about creating and maintaining a spreadsheet of outstanding orders for Bordeaux, and offered conflicting testimony about the frequency with which she provided these documents to him.
Williamson admitted to attempting to persuade Bordeaux not to seek reelection in 2023, and to sending him a letter in September 2023 that cited statutes and canons of judicial ethics regarding timely decision-making. However, she insisted her motive was to “save [Bordeaux] from himself,” rather than to replace him.
During closing arguments, Tate argued that the delays were linked to systemic failures rather than personal shortcomings. He highlighted Bordeaux’s high caseload and noted that the cases with delayed orders represented less than 1% of the total caseload. Tate also emphasized Bordeaux’s requests for additional staff, funding, and court space.
Tate proposed that Bordeaux remain on the bench under a case management review, with retired Chatham County assistant county manager Pat Monahan performing a management review of the office and Chase Daughtrey, the former Probate Judge Council President, providing ongoing review of case counts and order completion rates. Daughtrey would report to the JQC quarterly and alert them to any unreasonable delays.
Veal challenged the necessity of this approach, reiterating that the JQC is not a probation or compliance department. She disputed Bordeaux’s claims of systemic failures, noting that his staff had doubled since he took office in 2017. She also highlighted Bordeaux’s repeated inaction despite being notified of outstanding orders. Veal cautioned the panelists against setting a precedent of considering court funding and staffing in sanction recommendations.
The JQC Hearing Panel will now make a recommendation regarding sanctions, which will then be decided by the Supreme Court of Georgia. The outcome will determine the future of Bordeaux’s judicial career.
Source: Law.com
