On Thursday, August 22, 2024, Atlanta News First reported that a hearing for former Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson was postponed. Peterson faced charges related to an incident that occurred in June at the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge in Buckhead, Atlanta.
Peterson was accused of punching an Atlanta police officer during a disturbance at the nightclub. She was subsequently charged with simple battery against a police officer and felony obstruction of law enforcement. Following her arrest, the Georgia Supreme Court removed Peterson from her position as probate judge due to alleged judicial misconduct unrelated to the nightclub incident.
Peterson hired Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. to represent her in the criminal case. Arrington filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Peterson, claiming that the officer lied about being punched. According to Arrington, Peterson was merely trying to assist her friend, who was being restrained by an individual she did not realize was a police officer.
The hearing on Arrington’s motion was scheduled for Thursday, August 22 in Fulton County court. However, Arrington did not appear for the proceedings. He notified the court that he was on a leave of absence to attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. While Arrington said he filed his leave notice three weeks prior, the prosecutor claimed to not have seen it until late Wednesday evening.
Due to Arrington’s absence, the judge did not immediately reschedule a new date to hear the motion to dismiss the charges against Peterson. The former probate judge will have to return to court at a later time while she seeks to have the criminal case stemming from the June nightclub incident dismissed.
Source: Atlanta News First
