JUDGE CRAWFORD WILL REMAIN ON THE BENCH

VIRGIL BROWN—ATTORNEY FOR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE ROBERT MACK CRAWFORD—INDICTED WEDNESDAY BY THE PIKE COUNTY GRAND JURY FOR VIOLATION OATH OF OFFICE AND THEFT BY TAKING—TOLD ZOOM NEWS AT THE PIKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE— JUDGE CRAWFORD WILL REMAIN ON THE BENCH UNTIL ANOTHER RULING IS POSSIBLY ISSUED. ATTORNEY BROWN CONTENDS JUDGE CRAWFORD IS INNOCENT OF CHARGES INVOLVING $15,000 IN WHAT CRAWFORD CLAIMS ARE LEGAL FEES HE EARNED WHILE A PRACTICING ATTORNEY.

AN ETHICS CASE BEFORE THE STATE JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION IS STILL PENDING BUT J.Q.C. DIRECTOR BEN EASTERLIN SAID WEDNESDAY—THE INDICTMENTS HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE PENDING J.Q.C. PROCEEDINGS. CRAWFORD'S HEARING BEFORE THE J.Q.C. WILL BE IN JANUARY.

FORMER GA. GOVERNOR ROY BARNES IS REPRESENTING JUDGE CRAWFORD IN THE J.Q.C. PROCEEDINGS—BUT COULD NOT SERVE AS LEGAL COUNSEL IN THE CRIMINAL MATTER—BECAUSE ITS BEING PROSECUTED BY THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE—AND BARNES HAS BEEN RETAINED BY THE STATE IN AN OPIOID CASE.