On Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission Hearing Panel recommended the removal of Chatham County Probate Judge Thomas C. Bordeaux Jr. from office. This recommendation stems from findings that Judge Bordeaux failed to issue timely rulings in 16 separate cases, with some delays extending beyond seven years. The panel’s decision is detailed in a 69-page report, which concludes that Bordeaux violated judicial conduct rules by not disposing of court matters in a “fair, prompt, and efficient” manner.

Bordeaux, who was initially elected in 2016 and subsequently re-elected in 2020 and 2024, has acknowledged violating judicial conduct rules. However, he has denied allegations of incompetence or a lack of diligence. The judicial panel refuted these claims, asserting that Bordeaux acted in bad faith by disregarding multiple warnings issued by the judicial commission.

The most prominent case cited in the report involves the Estate of Joseph Barnes Jr. According to the panel, Bordeaux took seven years and four months to issue a ruling after conducting hearings in May and July of 2017. A final order was only issued in November 2024, following the filing of formal charges against the judge. Richard Jennings, the attorney representing the petitioners in the Barnes case, had previously sent multiple letters to Bordeaux requesting a ruling. In one letter from 2018, Jennings highlighted the extensive delay, noting that over five and a half years had passed since Barnes’ death without any progress in resolving his estate. Bordeaux admitted to his failure in this case, stating, “I dropped the ball. I failed.”

The panel emphasized that these delayed rulings caused significant harm to families navigating the loss of loved ones. One instance involved heirs who received insurance proceeds for hurricane damage but were unable to use the funds for repairs because an executor had not been appointed. Nancy Bondurant, an heir in another case, testified about the emotional strain caused by the delays, explaining that she felt unable to fulfill her responsibilities to her siblings, who were constantly waiting for updates. Another heir, Deborah Theall, expressed the feeling that her case was not a priority for Bordeaux.

The judicial commission began sending warning letters to Bordeaux in February 2024, but the delays persisted. In several instances, Bordeaux promised to issue rulings by specific dates but failed to meet those deadlines. For example, in the Estate of Charles Masterpolis case, Bordeaux initially committed to ruling “within the next month” in March 2024 and then pledged to prepare an order “within two weeks” in June 2024. The final ruling was not issued until November 2024, more than eight months after his initial promise. The panel concluded that Bordeaux only acted on some cases after formal charges were filed against him, indicating bad faith and a deliberate disregard for his responsibilities.

Bordeaux attempted to justify the delays by citing factors such as understaffing, inadequate technology, space constraints, and a strained relationship with his chief clerk. However, the panel dismissed these excuses as unconvincing. The court’s staff had grown from nine employees when Bordeaux assumed office to 21 permanent employees by the time of the hearing. Additionally, the court had acquired a new case management system, a staff attorney, and an associate judge to assist with the workload. Despite these additional resources, Bordeaux reportedly declined to use standard form orders approved by the Supreme Court, refused assistance from his staff attorney, and insisted on personally writing all orders. Chief Clerk Wendy Williamson created tracking spreadsheets to aid in case management, but Bordeaux largely disregarded them.

Bordeaux proposed a “judicial probation” system, with oversight from colleagues, as an alternative to removal, but the panel deemed this proposal inadequate. The panel determined that Bordeaux is subject to discipline based on three constitutional grounds: willful misconduct in office, willful and persistent failure to perform duties, and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute.

The Georgia Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to remove Bordeaux from office. If he is removed, a special election will be held to fill the remainder of his term, which is scheduled to run through 2028.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.