Georgia probate judge detained in Fulton County

An embattled Georgia probate judge was arrested in Atlanta on Thursday on felony charges after allegedly hitting a police officer.

Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson was arrested on simple battery against a police officer and felony willful obstruction of law enforcement officers by use of threats or violence charges on Thursday, according to Fulton County Jail records.

A police report obtained by Fox 5 Atlanta alleges that Peterson struck a police officer, who was working a different job at a restaurant in the Buckhead part of Atlanta, in the head while the officer was going to speak with a different woman who was crying. The report alleges that Peterson “appeared to be under the influence” and refused to identify herself multiple times.

Peterson was booked and waived her appearance at Fulton County Magistrate Court on Thursday.

The judge was first elected in 2020 and has been charged with 30 ethics charges brought by the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission. The commission alleged that Peterson had made inappropriate social media posts, obstructed access to public records, jailed and fired a woman unnecessarily after she wanted to amend her marriage license, and had been abusive toward a fellow judge, among other claims, per the Atlanta Journal–Constitution.

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“This persistent unwillingness to apply to herself the rules that apply to everyone else is deeply troubling,” the commission said in its report. “Moreover, she has demonstrated a steadfast unwillingness to accept moral accountability in nearly all the episodes of misconduct.”

The commission’s report deemed that “she must go,” but voters have guaranteed that she will not hold the position next. Peterson lost the Democratic primary for her judicial seat last month to Valerie Vie, who will succeed her as she faces no Republican opponent in November.