Atlanta judge investigated for staff running personal errands reprimanded for behavior in court

ATLANTA — An Atlanta municipal courtroom choose quoted the Previous Testomony e book of Proverbs when she was publicly reprimanded Tuesday for moral misconduct.

Decide JaDawnya Baker was the topic of a Channel 2 Motion Information investigation after a whistleblower on the courtroom advised Channel 2 investigative reporter Richard Belcher that Baker was utilizing courtroom workers to run errands unrelated to courtroom enterprise.

Baker acknowledged these errands throughout an investigation by the Judicial {Qualifications} Fee, however the Georgia Supreme Court docket — which has last authorization for disciplinary actions in opposition to Georgia judges — targeted the reprimand on her habits in courtroom, not the non-public errands.

Fulton County Chief Superior Court docket Decide Christopher Brasher learn the reprimand directed by the excessive courtroom, concluding: “In your conduct, you might be hereby publicly reprimanded.”

It is just the fourth time that an ethics investigation has resulted in a public reprimand.

Baker, who was appointed to the courtroom by then-Mayor Kasim Reed in 2015, requested Brasher if she might converse and started with the Previous Testomony.

“Proverbs 19:20 says to take heed to counsel, obtain instruction and to just accept correction, in order that your days forward shall be extra smart,” Baker mentioned within the almost empty courtroom.

Preliminary JQC expenses in opposition to Decide Baker included a few of what Channel 2 Motion Information had first investigated: that Baker directed courtroom workers to convey private objects, together with her gown, to her residence for an occasion unrelated to the courtroom.

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She additionally acknowledged utilizing a courtroom safety officer to select up alcoholic drinks for a non-public occasion.

However the Supreme Court docket concluded it was not clear the non-public errands occurred throughout work hours and never clear that courtroom workers didn’t voluntarily run the errands. As an alternative, the courtroom approved the reprimand as a result of Baker improperly dismissed some instances that got here earlier than her in municipal courtroom.

“I first simply need to begin by apologizing to my constituents for the error that I made. Though that is unquestionably an unlucky day, I actually select to deal with all the teachings that I’ve discovered on this time,” the choose mentioned, with legal professional Richard Robbins by her facet.

“How can she ask the individuals earlier than her to acknowledge their errors and to just accept the implications, if she doesn’t achieve this?” Robbins added.

Chuck Boring, the director of the JQC advised Channel 2 Motion Information after the temporary listening to that Baker’s reprimand sends a message all judges will perceive: “If a choose is negligent in following the legislation over a time frame, then they’re going to should be held accountable.”

Baker was by no means suspended, so her time on the municipal courtroom has been uninterrupted.

In truth, she was re-elected in final fall’s metropolis election, and she or he is the president-elect of the state’s Council of Municipal Court docket Judges.

She can be a member of the State Bar’s Board of Governors.

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