Georgia Probate Judge|Removed From Bench

(CN) - A Georgia judge lost his seat on the bench for allowing defendants to buy out community service points and other violations.

The Georgia Supreme Court took action against Judge Kenneth E. Fowler of the Twiggs County Probate Court. The state's Judicial Qualifications Commission also found that Fowler told defendants they had to prove themselves to be innocent, placed money from the "buy out" of the community services into a bank account in which only he was authorized to release the money, failed to disclose an account to the county, and failed to turn over the money to the county, among other violations.

"Judge Fowler readily admits to much of the misconduct, as the evidence showing the misconduct is substantial ... he is simply unwilling to live up to his legal and ethical responsibilities as a judge," the justices wrote in a per-curiam decision.

Fowler is barred from ever holding an elected or appointed office in the state of Georgia.

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