Ga. Supreme Court bars suspended probate judge

By Associated Press

For the AJC

The Georgia Supreme Court has permanently removed a suspended Twiggs County Probate Court judge from office and barred him from ever holding judicial office again in the state.

The court ruled on Monday that Judge Kenneth E. Fowler showed he was unwilling to live up to his legal and ethical responsibilities.

The Judicial Qualifications Commission found that Fowler had violated several judicial canons, such as by telling criminal defendants they had to prove their innocence.

The commission also said Fowler let criminal defendants buy out of community service, then put the proceeds into a bank account he controlled.

Fowler, who was suspended in May, is not a lawyer. His attorney, Jon Helton, returned a phone call but said he was in court and had not seen the ruling.