Hot-car prosecutor Boring to lead Georgia’s judicial watchdog agency

Cobb County prosecutor Chuck Boring. (AJC file photo)

Cobb County prosecutor Chuck Boring. (AJC file photo)

The Cobb County prosecutor who obtained the conviction in a 2016 hot-car murder trial that generated national media coverage will be the next director of the state's judicial watchdog agency.

Chuck Boring, Cobb’s deputy chief assistant district attorney, will head an agency that in past years removed dozens of judges from the bench for ethical lapses. In more recent years, however, the Judicial Qualifications Commission has not moved nearly as aggressively to discipline judges for misconduct on and off the bench.

Boring appeared to be a logical candidate to take on the JQC job. Less than three months ago, he agreed to prosecute the ethics charges against Atlanta Municipal Judge Terrinee Gundy, who is accused of chronic tardiness and absenteeism and attempts to cover it up. 

He also took on the case against Mack Crawford, the former state lawmaker who is now a Superior Court judge in the Griffin circuit. He stands accused of the theft of almost $16,000 in court funds.

Boring will begin work for the commission on Dec. 2, said Valdosta lawyer Pope Langdale, who chairs the JQC's investigative panel.

“He’s a great guy and I think he’s going to do a fantastic job,” Langdale said Tuesday. “He has all the credentials and experience to hit the ground running.”

Boring, 44, said he is honored to be selected.

“I look at this position as a very important one, working with an entire branch of government — the judiciary,” he said. “It also allows me to continue my career in public service.”

Boring made a national name for himself by obtaining the murder conviction against Justin Ross Harris for intentionally leaving his 22-month-old son Cooper in his hot car to die. Harris is now serving a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Boring has prosecuted cases over the past two decades, specializing in crimes against children and homicides. Just last month, he was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers. The college has about 5,000 members and its membership is extended on an invitation-only basis.

Boring had submitted his name to replace former Cobb District Attorney Vic Reynolds after Reynolds left the DA's Office when he was named director of the GBI. Boring was a finalist for the position, but Gov. Brian Kemp appointed then-Chief Magistrate Judge Joyette Holmes to be Cobb's top prosecutor.