Judge allegedly attacks police officer

A Douglas County Probate Court judge faced criminal charges following her arrest in Atlanta. Christina Peterson was sent to prison on June 20.

According to county jail records, Peterson currently faces a myriad of charges, including obstructing a police officer by using threats or violence, as well as simple battery on a police officer.

According to NOV 5, which received an Atlanta police report, an officer was allegedly attacked while working at the Peachtree Road Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge. The report states that in the early morning hours, an officer went to speak to a woman who appeared upset and crying in the service area of ​​the restaurant and lounge. However, when the Atlanta officer contacted Peterson, he said he was reportedly hit in the head by her.

Court records show Peterson “appeared to be under the influence” and repeatedly refused to identify herself to the arresting officer. Even after the Douglas County Probate Court judge was sent to prison, Peterson did not tell officers her name. She only revealed her identity after she told the arresting officers to notify another officer to come and take her statement.

Peterson also waived her June 20 initial appearance in Fulton County Court.

This isn’t the first time Peterson has found herself in hot water. Peterson was investigated in April and later found guilty of “systemic incompetence” by a panel of the Commission on Judicial Qualifications. The panel recommended that she be removed from office for her conduct.

After making 30 separate allegations of misconduct, the panel found that Peterson consistently ignored court rules and “abused court staff, made inappropriate social media posts, and on repeated occasions failed to do her job.”

Prior to the Commission on Judicial Qualifications panel investigation, Peterson had additionally been “the subject of several investigations by the FOX 5 I-Team” since she took office in late 2020.

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