Bryant CochranConasauga District Attorney Bert Poston will meet with state law enforcement today to discuss whether a criminal investigation should be launched into allegations that a former Murray County judge signed blank warrants and left them for officers to use at their discretion.
Chief Magistrate Bryant Cochran stepped down Wednesday evening after the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission investigated whether he pre-signed warrants and whether he tried to solicit a woman for sex in exchange for a favorable ruling in a case.
The JQC — a watchdog agency for judges — will discuss its findings with the Conasauga district attorney’s office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Poston said.
“The allegations we are hearing are very serious ones,” he said. “[But] we have to see what the evidence is and make decisions based on evidence.”
When an officer asks for a warrant, the correct procedure is to meet with a judge who listens to sworn testimony listing reasons for the criminal charges and arrest. The judge then makes a decision whether to sign the warrant.