On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, former Georgia Judge Christina J. Peterson filed a civil rights lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against the City of Atlanta and Atlanta Police Officer Keith Wadsworth. The case, bearing file number 1:26-cv-00202-VMC, alleges violations of Peterson’s civil and constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, as well as state law claims. Peterson is acting as her own attorney in the case.
The complaint stems from an incident on or about June 21, 2024, outside the Red Martini nightclub in Atlanta. Peterson states that she witnessed a man assaulting a woman and attempted to intervene non-violently. According to the lawsuit, Officer Wadsworth then seized Peterson without warning or investigation. Peterson alleges that Wadsworth violently slammed her head-first into the ground, applied compressive force to her neck and back while she was prone and compliant, and then placed her in handcuffs.
Peterson claims that at the time of her seizure, Wadsworth had no personal knowledge of the altercation, had not observed any criminal conduct by her, and conducted no investigation before using force. She further alleges that Wadsworth did not interview the victim or speak with witnesses to determine her role.
Following the incident, Peterson was detained for four to five hours in Wadsworth’s patrol vehicle. She claims that Wadsworth drove erratically, stopped at undisclosed locations, exited the vehicle multiple times, and made private phone calls. Peterson alleges her detention was punitive and pretextual, lacking probable cause or prompt judicial determination.
Approximately eight hours after the initial seizure, Peterson was informed that Wadsworth had obtained warrants accusing her of felony obstruction of a law-enforcement officer and misdemeanor battery on a law-enforcement officer. Peterson claims that Wadsworth falsely alleged she struck him with a closed fist and/or shoved him and struck him in the head and/or chest. Both charges were later dismissed by the prosecuting authority.
The lawsuit also alleges that the City of Atlanta approved, released, and promoted edited body-worn and dash-camera footage that implied Peterson committed felony obstruction and battery on a police officer. Peterson claims that the City continued to publish the misleading footage and narratives even after the felony charges were dismissed.
Peterson’s lawsuit includes claims against Wadsworth for false arrest, excessive force, unlawful detention/false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution, all under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. She also brings state law claims against Wadsworth for false arrest/false imprisonment, battery, and assault. Against the City of Atlanta, Peterson asserts a claim for stigma-plus due process violation under the Fourteenth Amendment and municipal liability (Monell) under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Peterson seeks compensatory damages exceeding $50,000,000 for physical injury, emotional distress, loss of liberty, and reputational and professional harm. She also seeks punitive damages against Wadsworth, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. Peterson demands a jury trial on all issues.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
