|
GEORGIA--A George defense attorney claimed that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Marvin Arrington went "batty" in his courtroom, "branishing" a baseball bat and allegedly making "terroristic" threats towards his client.
The day following the complaint made public by attorney Dennis Scheib, a spokesperson for Georgia's Judicial Qualification Commission said the agency was aware of the attorney's allegations and had opened an investigation into the matter.
Scheib was representing Gary Lee Carroll, 36, charged in a domestic violence case with threatening his ex-wife. When Carroll was appearing before Arrington at a bond hearing on Sept. 29, Arrington was reportedly told that Carroll had threatened the court staff. Arrington then instructed staff members to go into his chambers and "get my Hank Aaron baseball bat".
Arrington then refused to set bail for Carroll. Carroll has been charged with one count of aggravated stalking and one count of terroristic threats for the alleged intimidation of his ex-wife.
The prosecutor in the case, Laura A. Jannsen, claims she never saw any bat and members of the court staff though it was all in jest and that the judge was engaging in simple "theatrics".
Arrington has recused himself on motion of Scheib. Earlier this year Scheib filed a complaint against Arrington for allegedly sleeping on the bench. 10-24-05
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
|
