Ex-Douglas judge Christina Peterson found not guilty in nightclub incident
Judge Christina Peterson fights back tears on the witness stand. A hearing panel must decide whether she should face punishment for actions both before and after she became a probate judge.
ATLANTA - Former Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson was found not guilty of a misdemeanor charge on Thursday in connection with her arrest outside a Buckhead nightclub nearly two years ago.
What we know:
Peterson was found not guilty of misdemeanor obstruction after two days of testimony at the Fulton County Courthouse. A jury returned the verdict after deliberating for less than an hour.
The backstory:
The charge stems from an incident in June 2024, where Peterson was taken into custody outside the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge after a confrontation with an Atlanta police officer.
Initially, she was charged with simple battery and felony obstruction. The battery charge was dropped, and the obstruction charge was downgraded.
Peterson has filed a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta and an officer, accusing the officer involved of excessive force.
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The Source: Information in this report comes from the Superior Court of Fulton County.