On Monday, June 2, 2025, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published an article detailing the professional downfall and partial redemption of Christian Coomer, a former Georgia Court of Appeals judge.
Coomer, once a prominent figure in Georgia’s legal and political spheres, was removed from his judicial position and faced a suspension of his law license due to unethical conduct involving an elderly client.
Coomer, a former Republican majority whip in the Georgia House of Representatives and a U.S. Air Force judge advocate, was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2018. Prior to his judicial role, he engaged in questionable financial dealings with an elderly client, securing $370,000 in unsecured loans with repayment terms extending until the client would have been 106 years old. Additionally, Coomer drafted a will for the client, naming himself as executor, trustee, and beneficiary, only transferring those roles to his wife after his judicial appointment.
In August 2023, Coomer was removed from the appeals court following an investigation by the Georgia State Bar. The investigation revealed that Coomer acted with a dishonest and selfish motive, intentionally exploiting a vulnerable, lonely, and depressed elderly client through a pattern of misconduct. This included drafting and revising the client’s wills and obtaining multiple favorable loans.
The Supreme Court of Georgia suspended Coomer’s law license for two years in 2024. However, the suspension was effectively reduced to nine months, as the court credited him for time not practicing law since his removal from the bench. During his leave from the court between 2020 and 2023, Coomer received approximately $600,000 in salary and benefits from public funds while contesting his removal.
Coomer is set to regain his law license in August 2025, allowing him to resume practicing law.
Coomer’s case has drawn attention in legal circles, particularly in comparison to the disbarment of Johnbull Nwosu, a Nigerian-born attorney who altered a court document in a civil case. Nwosu’s attorney, Lester Tate, cited Coomer’s lenient punishment in legal filings, arguing that the Supreme Court’s decision to disbar Nwosu while allowing Coomer to return to practice highlighted inconsistent standards in attorney discipline.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Coomer noted his substantial legal experience and intentional misconduct, distinguishing his case from Nwosu’s, which involved a single act some described as a mistake.
Supporters of Coomer, including former colleagues from the Georgia legislature, defended his character, asserting that he had learned from his actions. Coomer did not respond to requests for comment, and the Supreme Court declined to elaborate beyond its official opinion.
As Coomer prepares to re-enter the legal profession, his case continues to spark debate about fairness and accountability in Georgia’s legal system.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
