Felony charge dropped against ex-Douglas County judge arrested in Buckhead nightclub fight

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Prosecutors have dropped a felony charge against a now-former Douglas County judge accused of hitting an Atlanta police officer at a Buckhead nightclub.

Early in the morning of June 20, 2024, Atlanta police said they responded to a disturbance at the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge off Peachtree Road NE.

An officer ended up arresting a woman who allegedly punched him. Police would later learn that the woman was Douglas County Probate Court Judge Christina Peterson.

Peterson was charged with a felony count of willful obstruction of law enforcement, and misdemeanor counts of simple battery against a police officer and willful obstruction of law enforcement.

Shortly after the incident, Peterson’s attorney at the time, Marvin Arrington Jr., called for the charges to be dropped.

Arrington, who is also a Fulton County commissioner, claimed Peterson was trying to help a woman who was being attacked by a man at the club, during which a police officer also intervened.

The woman said during a news conference that Peterson didn’t mean to hit the officer during her attempt to break up the alleged attack.

Arrington claimed Peterson didn’t realize he was an officer, and that the officer lied about being punched.

On Wednesday, a Fulton County judge approved District Attorney Fani Willis’ request to drop the felony obstruction charge and the misdemeanor battery charge, leaving one misdemeanor obstruction charge against Peterson, according to a court filing.

Atlanta News First is working to learn why the charges were dropped.

Soon after Peterson’s arrest, the Georgia Supreme Court removed her from the bench for judicial misconduct unrelated to the incident.

This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates.

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