On February 15, 2023, Judge Robert McBurney, Presiding Officer of the Hearing Panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission for the State of Georgia, issued a scheduling order relating to the misconduct case of Douglas County Probate Court Judge Christina Peterson.
The case is titled, In re: Inquiry concerning Judge Christina Peterson, case # S22Z0180.
The accusations of Judge Peterson’s misconduct included in the formal charges relate to several complaints to the JQC and cover a period of time from when she was a practicing attorney through her most recent judicial service. According to the earliest complaint, she mismanaged and stole money from a settlement she received for herself and nine neighbors in a lawsuit she filed against their homeowner’s association in 2017.
The next allegation centers on allegedly false statements Judge Peterson made to the JQC regarding her capacity to represent adoptive foster parents in Georgia after being appointed to the court. The third set of claims involves allegations of indecorous and/or intemperate conduct and flouting and abuse of court security protocols. A fourth accusation relates to a rule that Judge Peterson allegedly put in place that gave her the only authority to withhold copies of marriage applications and certificates that would otherwise be open to the public.
According to court documents, on December 2, 2022, Peterson’s counsel filed a motion seeking to dismiss the formal charges for failure to state a cause of action or motion for the judgment on the pleadings with prejudice, or in the alternative motion for summary judgment. Counsel for Peterson, also filed a statement of theories of recovery and material facts as to which there is no genuine issue to be tried, in support of the motion for summary judgment.
Judge McBurney after having conferred with the parties and the other members of the hearing panel, set the hearing on the matter on March 17, 2023, at 9:00 AM in Courtroom 1-A of the Fulton County Courthouse.
The Scheduling Order reads:
“The hearing will run for one hour. A Zoom link will be provided for any parties who will be appearing remotely. There will also be a live feed of the proceedings accessible through the Superior Court of Fulton Country’s website.”
The Judge earned a law degree from the Wisconsin School of Law in 2023.
The Judge’s Courtroom is at 8700 Hospital Drive 3rd Floor, Judicial Side in Douglasville, and can be reached at 770-920-7249. Her info can be found online at this link.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
