RINGGOLD, Ga. - Georgia's Judicial Qualifications Commission and Catoosa County commissioners are both conducting investigations into a dispute that led to the detention Wednesday of a Catoosa County magistrate judge, the county's attorney says.
In a news release issued moments ago, County Attorney Chad Young said the Judicial Qualifications Commission is responsible for investigating allegations regarding judicial conduct. He said the courthouse and its administrative offices are the responsibility of county commissioners.
He said Chief Magistrate Sonny Caldwell and Magistrate Andrew Peters remain on "temporary leave" so as "not to further interrupt the day to day operations of Magistrate Court.
Catoosa County Sheriff Phil Summers says deputies were responding to a panic alarm from the magistrate's office Wednesday when they took Magistrate Peters into custody.
In a news release, Sheriff Summers said the 911 Center was unable to contact the office by phone after the alarm sounded, so they responded to an emergency.
They found that an "administrative incident" had occurred between Mr. Peters and his boss, Chief Magistrate Sonny Caldwell, who told them Mr. Peters had refused his order to leave the premises.
The release said deputies "escorted Anthony Peters from the Catoosa County Judicial Building to the Sheriff's Office," and that he was released after an investigation with no charges filed.
Mr. Peters said this morning that he was taken from the courthouse in handcuffs.
This morning, Mr. Peters came back to the Catoosa County Courthouse this morning for what he described as a "tense meeting" with other magistrate court staff.
He said he and Chief Magistratey Caldwell have been suspended by the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Committee and that they had come up with a gentlemen's agreement to leave the court until they heard a ruling from the commission.
Magistrate Peters was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon, according to Catoosa County Commission Chairman Keith Greene.
Magistrate Peters said today that yesterday's incident was sparked when he told Judge Caldwell he filed a complain against him. Judge Caldwell got angry, told him to leave and called police after Judge Peters refused, according to Judge Peters.
After leaving the courthouse, this morning, Judge Peters walked to Ringgold City Hall with the intention of filing a grievance to learn why the city council had voted to remove him from his post as Ringgold city judge.
While there, he decided that rather than filing a formal grievance he would ask to be added to the council's agenda for their next meeting July 12, he said.