Yet another Georgia judge -- the fifth since the beginning of March -- has stepped down from the bench while facing an investigation for alleged misconduct.
On Saturday, long-serving Superior Court Judge John Lee Parrott of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit notified Gov. Nathan Deal he was retiring immediately. In a court filing Monday, the state Judicial Qualifications Commission said it had been investigating allegations that Parrott "allowed the prestige of his office to advance his private interests."
The court filing did not provide any further details, and the agency's director, Jeff Davis, declined to comment.
"He was a mighty good judge and served for a long time," said Monticello attorney Roy Robinson Kelly III, who represented Parrott during the proceedings. "Whatever that document says, the document says."
Parrott, 63, served as a judge in the eight-county circuit in central Georgia for 24 years. He was appointed to the bench in 1987 by Gov. Joe Frank Harris and handily won reelection four years ago.
Over the past few years, some of the most prominent members of the state's judiciary, including seven chief Superior Court judges, have stepped down while facing allegations of misconduct, bringing disorder to the courts. Because of the number of high-profile resignations, more people are filing complaints with the Judicial Qualifications Commission, according to agency records.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission is bringing more transparency to the judiciary, which is good for litigants and the public, Atlanta lawyer Bruce Harvey said.
"Judges have the ability to rule their little fiefdoms, whatever the jurisdiction might be, to their own personal satisfaction," Harvey said. "They think they're bullet-proof. But now we're finding that some judges have no robes."
In early March, a North Georgia judge stepped down after pulling out a handgun in open court to make a rhetorical point to a sexual assault victim. Later that month, a fellow judge from the same circuit resigned after being investigated for having an improper meeting with a Forsyth County judge to promote the interests of a drug trafficker.
In late April, Chief Superior Court Judge William F. Lee Jr. of Newnan retired while being investigated for cutting a deal -- without the knowledge of prosecutors or the victim -- for a convicted sex offender. Last week, Rabun County's chief magistrate judge stepped down amid allegations he did not follow proper criminal procedures.
Deal is expected to fill the two Enotah circuit vacancies by late spring. The governor's Judicial Nominating Commission has begun accepting nominees for Lee's seat and will soon do the same for Parrott's.
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