Government watchdog files another lawsuit against Fulton judge
And ‘T. Jack’ tells ethics watchdog to back off
Ethics watchdog George Anderson, the Peach State’s most well-known rabble-rouser, has filed another lawsuit against Fulton County Superior Court Judge T. Jackson Bedford.
Among other accusations, Anderson alleges in the July 16 filing that Bedford, a colorful character who’s made headlines in the past, has misdirected fees commonly referred to as “contempt of court” fines.
The ethics watchdog alleges Bedford has solicited charitable contributions from courtroom spectators whose cell phones rang during trials. Anderson alleges Bedford recommends they contribute to the Brandon Foundation, a charity managed by his wife and daughters. Normally, fines for violations go to the Circuit Clerk’s office.
In February, Bedford said he’d never specified to which charities cell-phone scofflaws could contribute. He told the AJC in February that Anderson’s allegations damage the Brandon Foundation, which Bedford’s daughter says helps young cancer patients pay transportation costs for treatment.
If all this sounds familiar, it’s because Anderson made similar allegations against Bedford last October with the Judicial Qualifications Commission. He says the commission still hasn’t sufficiently followed through on that complaint. CL covered the October filing, which was one of the more bizarre press conferences we’ve ever attended.