JUDGE CRAWFORD ETHICS HEARING

THE GA. JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION OPENED A TWO DAY ETHICS HEARING MONDAY ON SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE ROBERT MACK CRAWFORD ACCUSED OF TAKING $15,000 FROM THE PIKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT REGISTRY, MONEY HE CLAIMS HE WAS OWED BY A FORMER CLIENT. JUDGE CRAWFORD WAS THE FIRST WITNESS CALLED DURING THE HEARING AIMED AT REMOVING HIM FROM THE BENCH.

ACCORDING TO THE FULTON DAILY REPORTER—JUDGE CRAWFORD'S PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT WAS OVERDRAWN BY MORE THAN $2000 WHEN HE TOLD CLERK OF COURT CAROLYN WILLIAMS TO WRITE HIM A CHECK FOR MORE THAN $15,000 THAT HAD SAT UNCLAIMED IN THE COURT REGISTERY FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS.

UNDER QUESTIONING BY J.Q.C. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEN EASTERLIN , JUDGE CRAWFORD ACKNOWLEDGED HE PAID THE MONEY BACK AFTER EASTERLIN CALLED HIM . THE JUDGE SAID HE THOUGHT HE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH THE JQC AND WAS TOLD BY EASTERLIN THE ISSUE WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE IF HE PAID IT BACK.

HOWEVER, THE JQC FILED ETHICS CHARGES AGAINST CRAWFORD LAST YEAR AND SUSPENDED HIM FROM THE BENCH AFTER HE WAS INDICTED BY THE PIKE COUNTY GRAND JURY.