MARIETTA, Ga. (CN) - A state judge on Wednesday accepted a suspension and reprimand from Georgia's Judicial Qualifying Commission that allows him to serve out his term - but no more.
After one day of testimony, Grady County State Judge William Bass Sr. accepted a 60-day suspension without pay and agreed not to seek office again after his term ends. He must accept a public reprimand and will remain on probation throughout his term.
Bass faced an 11-count complaint in Cobb County Superior Court, accusing him of violating judicial canons.
Former Georgia Attorney General Michael Bowers, JQC Director Jeff Davis and District Attorney Brian Rickman recapped the charges on the first day of what was scheduled as a three-day hearing.
"You will hear evidence in this case, not just of one violation, not just a couple of violations, but a pattern of violations by Judge Bass," Rickman in opening arguments.
"The only way to describe the conduct is bizarre, shocking, and inappropriate."
Rickman summed up one of the charges: "On October 29, 2009, Judge Bass presided over a trial and the only person that was not there was the defendant," Rickman said.
"In the trial transcripts of the Rene Billot trial, you will hear from witnesses that the judge tried and convicted a chair.
"The judge convicted a chair!"
According to the court transcript of State vs. Billot, Bass proceeded with an obstruction stemming from a traffic violation, though Billot was not present in the courtroom and his attorney asked for a continuance. Solicitor Kevin Cauley objected and asked Judge Bass to proceed with trial.
Bass obliged, according to the transcript:
"THE COURT: All right. Then I think we'll just continue with the trial rather than continue the case.
"MR. CAULEY: OK.
"THE COURT: That chair right there by Ms. Brice [Billot's attorney] is Rene Billot. I'll hang a name on it, if y'all would like me to. Call your first witness."
When Bass took the stand Wednesday as the first witness, attorney Bowers asked him to read from the transcript.
"You convicted that chair right there, didn't you?," Bowers asked.
"Yes," answered Bass.
"Have you ever convicted a chair before?" Bowers asked.
"No."
"Isn't it unconstitutional to try a chair?"
"Yes, that's right," Bass agreed. "On reflection I should have continued the case; that's right."
Bass also was accused of abusing his office to seek political vendettas against people who did not supports him in the 2010 elections; of making inappropriate, sexual comments in court; of sequestering Hispanic defendants away from the courtroom; and of refusing to collect or diverting state surcharges to his county.
"One of the biggest issues about this case for Judge Bass was who was supporting him and who was supporting Judge Joshua Bell [Bass' opponent in the 2010 election], to the point of paranoia," Rickman said.
Rockman and Bowers said the paranoia led Bass to retaliate against his political opponents, including an attorney and a longtime probation officer.