The state's judicial watchdog agency on Thursday said it had given a private reprimand to a South Georgia judge who was arrested last year for driving under the influence, speeding and having an open container.
Chief Judge Rucker Smith of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit was charged May 28 in the town of Leslie after being pulled over for driving 63 miles an hour in a 45 mile-per-hour zone. Smith, whose chambers are in Americus, refused a field sobriety test, according to court records. He later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving.
Smith promptly self-reported his arrest to the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the panel said in a disposition published Thursday. The judge "was contrite and accepted responsibility for his actions" and appeared before the commission to discuss the incident, the panel said.
To resolve its investigation, the judicial commission disclosed it had given Smith a private reprimand.
The disposition explained that the commission "attempted to balance its responsibility to the public to insure an honorable and independent judiciary with its responsibility to deal fairly with a judge who complied with all requests of the commission and accepted responsibility for his actions." The resolution "is fair and just for all concerned," the commission said.
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