A north Georgia judge has resigned after a DUI arrest that came just after she had held hearings, according to a media report.

It is the second time Whitfield County Magistrate Judge Kaye Cope, 60, has been accused of being under the influence of alcohol while on the job, the Dalton Citizen reported.

Cope was pulled over Saturday after jail personnel noticed a strong smell of alcohol on her breath during first-appearance hearings, according to the report.

However, it is not likely that any of the judge’s rulings will be overturned because of the arrest, a legal expert told the paper.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Juana Alzaga (standing) instructs members of the Buford Highway Orchestra Project at the Latin American Association in Brookhaven on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. The orchestra, which is comprised mostly of children of parents who lack legal status, will be featured in the documentary “La Orquesta” coming this month to PBS. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller