GA. SUPREME COURT RULES IN JUDGE CRAWFORD'S FAVOR

ON FRIDAY, THE GA. SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED A REQUEST TO SUSPEND GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT JUDGE ROBERT MACK CRAWFORD FROM OFFICE.

THE STATE JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION HAD RECOMMENDED THAT CRAWFORD BE RELIEVED OF HIS DUTIES WITH PAY WHILE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM IS PENDING. IN JULY THE JQC ACCUSED CRAWFORD OF THEFT FOR DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT IN PIKE COUNTY TO TRANSFER OVER $15,000 TO HIM FROM AN ACCOUNT IN THE COURT REGISTRY—MONEY HIS ATTORNEY SAYS JUDGE CRAWFORD IS ENTITLED TO FOR UNPAID LEGAL FEES BACK WHEN HE WAS AN ATTORNEY.

THE PIKE COUNTY GRAND JURY IS BEING CALLED INTO SESSION WEDNESDAY BY THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO SEEK CRIMINAL INDICTMENTS FOR THEFT RELATED TO THE CASE.

GRIFFIN JUDICIAL CIRCUIT DISTRICT ATTORNEY BEN COKER HAS REMOVED HIS OFFICE FROM THE CASE AND ASSISTANT A.G. DAVID MCCULLOUGH IS THE PROSECUTOR. JUDGE CRAWFORD HAS ALREADY AGREED TO STOP PRESIDING OVER CRIMINAL CASES.