On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp accepted the resignation of  Jason Blackmon, Chief Judge of the Haralson County Magistrate Court. This decision followed a formal investigation by the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) regarding allegations of judicial misconduct.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Jason Blackmon,” with case number 2024-626.

The inquiry into Judge Blackmon began after a complaint was filed, which alleged that he violated the Georgia Code of Judicial Conduct. Specifically, the complaint asserted that he failed to uphold public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, as mandated by Rule 1.2 (A). The JQC’s Investigative Panel found reasonable cause to believe that Judge Blackmon had engaged in actions contrary to these standards, including initiating and considering ex parte communications, a violation of Rule 2.9 (A).

After the complaint was lodged, the JQC’s Director conducted a review and determined that the allegations, if substantiated, would constitute judicial misconduct. This resulted in the Investigative Panel authorizing a comprehensive investigation into Judge Blackmon’s conduct.

On the same day as his resignation, Judge Blackmon submitted a letter to Governor Kemp, officially resigning from his position, effective immediately. The governor accepted the resignation, marking a significant development in this ongoing investigation. The Investigative Panel and Judge Blackmon reached a mutual agreement regarding the case, adhering to state law and JQC regulations.

The details of the case and the agreement reached between the JQC and Judge Blackmon are outlined in a Consent Agreement dated February 5, 2025. This agreement is part of the public record and will be filed with the Supreme Court of Georgia, as required by law.

Courtney Veal, the Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, submitted the Report of Disposition, which includes the procedural history and findings of the investigation.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.