Georgia Supreme Court removed Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson for massive judicial misconduct, including holding a woman in contempt for amending her marriage certificate and letting unauthorized people into the courthouse after hours.

The Georgia Supreme Court's decision, issued on Tuesday, culminates a dramatic chapter for Judge Christina Peterson, who has been found guilty of 28 out of 30 counts of judicial misconduct. From holding a woman in contempt over a simple paperwork amendment to making courthouse security look like it was running nightclub after-hours, Peterson's exorbitant latitude with her powers has earned her a bar from any judicial role in Georgia for the next seven years. Allegations of taxpayer-funded overtime for deputies and a viral nightclub pushing incident add just the right spice to this judicial misadventure.

Peterson's list of infractions reads like a 'what-not-to-do' guide for aspiring judges. The Judicial Qualifications Commission's report in April highlighted her 'systemic incompetence' and recommended her removal. The investigation revealed numerous questionable decisions and actions, such as holding a woman in criminal contempt for trying to amend her marriage certificate, allowing unauthorized people into the county courthouse after hours without proper screening, using deputies to work overtime on her behalf with taxpayer money, and being involved in hostile exchanges with neighbors at a homeowners association meeting while suing the association.

One of the more outrageous acts includes Peterson holding a woman in criminal contempt for trying to amend her marriage certificate, an endeavor that led the woman to spend 20 days in jail and pay a fine. This alone raised more than a few eyebrows and questions about Peterson's judgment. It's almost as if Peterson thought she was directing a courtroom drama rather than presiding over real lives.

Her curious approach to courthouse security was another highlight—or perhaps, lowlight—of her tenure. By allowing unauthorized individuals into the courthouse after hours without any proper screening, Peterson transformed a seat of justice into a potential security risk. It seems the courtroom wasn’t the only place under her jurisdiction that bore the brunt of her whimsical leadership style.

Peterson’s ethics around financial management also came under scrutiny. She allegedly used deputies to work overtime on her behalf, at the expense of taxpayer money. One can almost picture the complete bewilderment on the deputies' faces as they clocked in those extra hours, all under dubious orders.

Her disagreements weren't confined to the courtroom or administrative matters. She found herself embroiled in a conflict with her homeowners association, engaging in hostile exchanges with neighbors. Such high drama at a neighborhood meeting is hardly the expected behavior from a judicial figure tasked with resolving disputes, not creating them.

Adding further complexity to her troubled career, Peterson gained infamy for a viral arrest involving an off-duty police officer outside the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge in Atlanta. Charged with simple battery against a police officer and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, Peterson allegedly pushed the officer twice in the chest. Her defense claimed she was intervening to help a woman under attack, an admirable excuse were it not undermined by her reported uncooperativeness and refusal to identify herself to the police.

However, despite the mayhem surrounding her arrest, this incident was not considered in the Supreme Court’s decision to remove her from the bench. Perhaps they thought there were already enough damning facts in play to sideline additional drama.

As of now, Peterson must contend with a seven-year prohibition from any judicial role in Georgia, a harsh but fitting end to a career marred by controversy and misconduct. For the residents of Douglas County and beyond, her departure might be a turning point, a chance to restore integrity and proper judicial conduct to the probate court's operations. If Douglas County had a 'Most Likely to Make Headlines for All the Wrong Reasons' award, Peterson would probably be a top contender.

So, as the gavel comes down on Judge Christina Peterson’s career, one thing is for sure: the courtroom will be quieter, the taxpayer-funded overtime tab lighter, and the neighborhood meetings significantly less dramatic.