ATLANTA, GA - Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson, 38, was arrested for striking a police officer outside of a club on Thursday, and within two business days the Atlanta Police Department (APD) released the bodycam footage.
As reported by Fox News, an officer of the APD was working an approved part-time job assisting security at the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge, a common side job for many officers, and responded to the sound of a disturbance shortly after 3:00 a.m.
According to the authorities, the officer met up with a security guard escorting a woman from the property and began trying to de-escalate the confrontation when a second woman, who was later identified as Peterson, "rushed toward the commotion and immediately started screaming at the security guard and the officer."
The footage was shared by Citizen Free Press, who wrote, "This is Atlanta's highest paid judge, Christina Peterson, a Democrat. She was arrested this week for for punching a cop in the head, outside of a bar. She was booked into Fulton County jail on felony charges. She was already facing 30+ ethics charges."
Fox reported that Peterson, a prominent Democrat in the county, can be seen on camera assaulting the officer and yelling "Let her f---ing go." The police added that she, "kept swiping his hands away as he attempted to assist the female being escorted out."
The judge allegedly assaulted the officer a second time before being taken into custody. As she was being handcuffed, the judge can be heard telling the officer, "Don’t f----ng touch me," and "Shut the f--- up."
Peterson's attorney and Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. told a press conference Friday that the judge was helping to defend a woman who was under attack by an unknown man when the officer intervened.
The woman, identified as Alexandria Love, told reporters that Peterson was trying to help her. "He viciously attacked me," she said regarding the unnamed man, "punched me in my face and Judge Peterson was the only one to help me."
Fox local affiliate Fox5 Atlanta confirmed that Peterson has faced 30 counts of misconduct and that the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission found Peterson guilty of "systemic incompetence" and made the recommendation two months ago that she be removed from the bench. The hearing panel reported in April, "[Judges] are expected to act in a manner that promotes the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. Respondent has shown that she cannot — or will not — do so. And so she must go."
The Georgia Supreme Court will ultimately rule on her removal.
Preliminary reports from the outlet also added that she "appeared to be under the influence" when she assaulted the Atlanta police officer.
According to Just The News, The Georgia Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Judge Peterson should be removed from the bench, writing, in part:
"In conclusion, in light of her multiple violations of the CJC rules in relation to several matters—some of them reflecting a flagrant disregard for the law, court rules, and judicial conduct rules; the pattern of violations that the Director proved by clear and convincing evidence; the extremely concerning nature of some of those violations, in particular with respect to the criminal contempt matter; and her behavior during the JQC inquiry, we conclude that removal is the appropriate sanction."
Peterson denies hitting the officer.
As reported by Fox News, an officer of the APD was working an approved part-time job assisting security at the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge, a common side job for many officers, and responded to the sound of a disturbance shortly after 3:00 a.m.
According to the authorities, the officer met up with a security guard escorting a woman from the property and began trying to de-escalate the confrontation when a second woman, who was later identified as Peterson, "rushed toward the commotion and immediately started screaming at the security guard and the officer."
This is Atlanta's highest paid judge, Christina Peterson, a Democrat.
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 23, 2024
She was arrested this week for for punching a cop in the head, outside of a bar. She was booked into Fulton County jail on felony charges.
She was already facing 30+ ethics charges.pic.twitter.com/Y9HQ9u4yX4
The footage was shared by Citizen Free Press, who wrote, "This is Atlanta's highest paid judge, Christina Peterson, a Democrat. She was arrested this week for for punching a cop in the head, outside of a bar. She was booked into Fulton County jail on felony charges. She was already facing 30+ ethics charges."
Fox reported that Peterson, a prominent Democrat in the county, can be seen on camera assaulting the officer and yelling "Let her f---ing go." The police added that she, "kept swiping his hands away as he attempted to assist the female being escorted out."
The judge allegedly assaulted the officer a second time before being taken into custody. As she was being handcuffed, the judge can be heard telling the officer, "Don’t f----ng touch me," and "Shut the f--- up."
Peterson's attorney and Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. told a press conference Friday that the judge was helping to defend a woman who was under attack by an unknown man when the officer intervened.
The woman, identified as Alexandria Love, told reporters that Peterson was trying to help her. "He viciously attacked me," she said regarding the unnamed man, "punched me in my face and Judge Peterson was the only one to help me."
Fox local affiliate Fox5 Atlanta confirmed that Peterson has faced 30 counts of misconduct and that the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission found Peterson guilty of "systemic incompetence" and made the recommendation two months ago that she be removed from the bench. The hearing panel reported in April, "[Judges] are expected to act in a manner that promotes the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. Respondent has shown that she cannot — or will not — do so. And so she must go."
The Georgia Supreme Court will ultimately rule on her removal.
Preliminary reports from the outlet also added that she "appeared to be under the influence" when she assaulted the Atlanta police officer.
According to Just The News, The Georgia Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Judge Peterson should be removed from the bench, writing, in part:
"In conclusion, in light of her multiple violations of the CJC rules in relation to several matters—some of them reflecting a flagrant disregard for the law, court rules, and judicial conduct rules; the pattern of violations that the Director proved by clear and convincing evidence; the extremely concerning nature of some of those violations, in particular with respect to the criminal contempt matter; and her behavior during the JQC inquiry, we conclude that removal is the appropriate sanction."
Peterson denies hitting the officer.
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Comments
2024-06-28T09:54-0500 | Comment by: David
Another DEI success story.