ATLANTA — Disturbing new bodycam video has surfaced showing a sitting Georgia judge allegedly striking an Atlanta police officer during a chaotic confrontation outside a Buckhead nightclub, footage that comes as the Georgia Supreme Court has removed her from the bench for multiple violations of judicial conduct rules.
Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson was arrested in the early morning hours of June 20, 2024, outside the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge on Peachtree Road after police say she rushed into a physical dispute and assaulted an officer who was trying to de-escalate the situation.
According to Atlanta Police Department reports and body-worn camera footage released at the time, an officer working an off-duty detail observed a commotion and saw security escorting a woman out. As the officer attempted to assist and calm things down, Peterson, then 38, intervened aggressively.
The video shows Peterson screaming at the officer and security, then pushing the officer in the chest multiple times and swiping at his hands. She was taken into custody after the second push. Additional footage released shows her in the back of a patrol vehicle and later at a processing area, visibly emotional and repeatedly refusing to provide her name or identifying information to officers, which delayed her transport to jail.
Police later obtained warrants charging her with simple battery against a police officer and obstruction of law enforcement.
“We agree that removal is warranted here.”Just days after the arrest, on June 25, 2024, the Georgia Supreme Court ordered Peterson’s immediate removal from the bench. In its ruling, the court cited findings by the Judicial Qualifications Commission that Peterson had violated the Code of Judicial Conduct on 28 of 30 counts.
The court stated: “In light of her multiple violations of the (judicial code) 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 (JQC) 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.”The high court also barred Peterson from holding any judicial office in Georgia for seven years.
The newly circulating video, which includes both the arrest scene and Peterson’s interactions while in custody, has reignited discussion about accountability for those in positions of authority. Judges are expected to uphold the highest standards of conduct both on and off the bench, yet this footage captures a public official allegedly resorting to physical aggression against law enforcement and then refusing basic cooperation during arrest processing.
No one is above the law, including members of the judiciary. The Georgia Supreme Court’s swift action in removing Peterson underscores that point.
The bodycam footage serves as a stark reminder of the importance of body-worn cameras in documenting officer interactions and holding everyone accountable, regardless of title or status.
Peterson’s case drew widespread attention at the time, and the release of additional footage continues to fuel debate over judicial fitness and the standards expected of those entrusted with interpreting and upholding the law.
