Catoosa courts return to normal

Despite missing half its staff, Catoosa County Magistrate Court is "business as usual," according to the interim chief judge.

Judge Vic Wells, who has taken over the duties of Chief Magistrate Sonny Caldwell while the chief is on voluntary leave, said residents will barely notice a difference.

"We obviously are shorthanded. But we are doubling up on the caseload, and we are taking care of the business," Judge Wells said Tuesday.

Judge Caldwell and Magistrate Judge Anthony Peters got into an argument last week that ended with Judge Peters being hauled in handcuffs to the Catoosa County Jail. He was released after a few hours and no charges were filed, according to Sheriff Phil Summers.

The two magistrates have agreed to take leave pending a ruling from the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission, which is investigating, according to Catoosa County Attorney Chad Young.

That leaves Judge Wells and Judge John Gass to handle all of the cases.

Judge Wells said some court appearances had to be rescheduled after the court was temporarily closed when Judge Peters tried to go back to his office Monday.

"That was not something we wanted to do, it was something we had to do," he said.

He wouldn't comment on any other aspects of the situation and wouldn't say how many cases each judge would hear under normal circumstances.

He said he did not know when Judge Caldwell and Judge Peters might be back to work because that would depend on a decision from the qualifications commission.

Attempts to reach Judge Peters and Judge Caldwell were unsuccessful Tuesday. The chief magistrate has not spoken publicly since the incident.

Judge Peters also is under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Greg Ramey, assistant special agent in charge at the GBI's Calhoun office, said there were no new developments in the case Tuesday.

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