On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the Judicial Qualifications Commission of Georgia issued an order setting a hearing on formal charges against Judge Shermela J. Williams. This order follows a series of complaints filed against the judge, including allegations of misconduct during her tenure on the Fulton County Superior Court bench.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Shermela William,” with case numbers S2421139 and S2520722.

The hearing is scheduled to commence on May 21, 2025, and will continue on the following days: May 22, May 23, June 26, and June 27, 2025. Each session is set to begin at 9:00 a.m. The venue for the hearings will be the Nathan Deal Judicial Center, located at 330 Capitol Avenue, SE, in Atlanta, Georgia. The proceedings will be accessible to the public and will also be streamed live via the Judicial Center’s broadcasting system, with a link to be provided later.

The formal charges against Judge Williams encompass multiple complaints, including several new allegations filed recently. These charges add to a history of accusations against her, which have raised significant concerns regarding her conduct as a judge. The Judicial Qualifications Commission has previously noted instances of alleged misconduct, including unlawful detention of a witness and improper involvement in legal proceedings.

During a status conference held on April 3, 2025, both parties involved in the case requested that the current docket numbers, including 52421139 and 52520722, be heard concurrently. This request reflects the complexity and interconnected nature of the allegations against Judge Williams.

The complaints against Judge Williams include serious claims of ethical violations. She is accused of unlawfully detaining a 22-year-old woman during divorce proceedings related to the woman’s parents. This detention is described in the complaints as a punitive action linked to the woman’s personal issues, conducted without legal justification during court proceedings.

In total, the Judicial Qualifications Commission has filed 15 new counts against Judge Williams, which include allegations of delaying rulings in various cases and improperly intervening in her uncle’s contempt proceedings by contacting an attorney to request a delay. The commission asserts that there is reasonable cause to believe that Judge Williams has engaged in multiple instances of misconduct while serving on the bench.

These recent charges follow an earlier set of 17 charges filed against her in June 2024. The previous allegations included claims of favoritism towards a sorority sister in a child custody case, as well as mishandling various legal matters.

Courtney Veal, Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, has called for further proceedings to determine whether Judge Williams has violated the Georgia Code of Judicial Conduct during her four years in office.

In response to the ongoing situation, Judge Williams’s attorney, Gabe Banks, has stated that the recent charges are not entirely new and has questioned the timing of the commission’s actions. Banks argued that the delay in filing these allegations raises concerns about the motivations behind the commission’s decisions.

He emphasized that Judge Williams has consistently sought to address these issues since the inquiry began in 2022. Banks has also suggested that the commission’s actions may be aimed at removing her from the bench, a move he believes is neither justified nor warranted.

In conclusion, the upcoming hearings will play a critical role in determining the future of Judge Shermela J. Williams as she faces multiple ethical allegations that could impact her judicial career and reputation. The Judicial Qualifications Commission continues to investigate and address the serious claims raised against her, with the hearings set to attract public attention and scrutiny.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.