Ex-judge in Buckhead brawl gets felony charge dropped

A former Douglas County judge ousted for misconduct has been dealt a win and a loss in the criminal case stemming from her involvement in a brawl outside a Buckhead nightclub.

Attorney Christina Peterson was removed as Douglas County’s probate judge in June 2024 in response to ethics charges brought by the state’s judicial misconduct watchdog. Days earlier, she had been arrested outside the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge, accused of hitting an Atlanta police officer and refusing to identify herself.

Peterson, 40, was initially charged with battery and felony obstruction. She claimed her arrest was “a setup” and that she had been trying to help a woman who was being attacked outside the club.

Atlanta police body camera footage shows Christina Peterson, a former Douglas County probate judge, sitting in the back of a squad car after being arrested at a Buckhead nightclub. (Atlanta Police Department)

On Wednesday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis dropped the battery and felony obstruction charges. She formally charged Peterson with a single misdemeanor count of willful obstruction of law enforcement officers.

The accusation sheet filed in court said Peterson intentionally interfered with an officer, Kenneth Wadsworth, as he was restraining an individual involved in a physical altercation.

Peterson, who represents herself in the case, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that she is ready to face the new charge.

“Lies travel three times around the world before the truth gets out the bed,” Peterson said Thursday. “Justice is for all, including a former judge.”

Peterson had recently filed a speedy trial request in the case, asking for the district attorney to move forward with the prosecution or drop the charges. Peterson had waited more than a year without being indicted.

In a Sept. 10 court filing, Peterson said she had completed a drug and alcohol evaluation, community service and therapy at the district attorney’s request in the understanding the case would be dismissed prior to indictment.

“Numerous eyewitnesses to the incident have consistently stated that the allegations against Defendant are false, and video footage corroborates Defendant’s innocence,” Peterson wrote.

Atlanta police body camera footage shows Christina Peterson, a former judge, as she is apprehended following an altercation at a Buckhead nightclub. She claims her arrest was “a setup.” (Atlanta Police Department)

In Peterson’s arrest warrants, Wadsworth said he was “approached and struck with a closed fist” by Peterson as he was investigating an assault between two others just after 3 a.m. on June 20, 2024. The officer said the incident was captured on his body-worn camera.

Atlanta police published some of the camera footage after Peterson’s release from the Fulton County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Peterson’s initial lawyer, Marvin Arrington Jr., told reporters shortly after her arrest that she had been at the nightclub with friends for a birthday party. He said eyewitnesses saw Peterson trying to help a woman who was being attacked by a man.

The woman under attack, Alexandria Love, said Peterson was the only one who helped her. Love said Peterson did not mean to hit the police officer who “swooped in and grabbed me up.”

Alexandria Love speaks during a news conference about the arrest of Christina Peterson (right) in Atlanta. Love said Peterson was the only one who helped her during the attack. (AJC 2024)

In a social media post shortly after her arrest, Peterson said the officer had slammed her to the ground and she was left with bruises, a black eye and a swollen knee.

Peterson was elected to the bench unopposed in 2020 and almost immediately faced complaints of misconduct. She was first charged with ethics code violations in July 2021.

In early 2024, the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission recommended Peterson be removed from office. The Georgia Supreme Court agreed and ousted her several months later. Peterson’s arrest did not factor in her removal.