Embattled Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson was arrested in Atlanta early Thursday morning, facing charges of simple battery against a police officer and felony obstruction of an officer by using threats or violence. FOX 5 Atlanta reports that the incident occurred at the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge in Buckhead.

An officer, who was working an additional job at the venue, reportedly attempted to assist a woman in distress in the lounge's valet area. It was in this moment that Peterson allegedly struck the officer in the head. Authorities state that the judge appeared to be under the influence and initially refused to identify herself. In a decision to waive her appearance, Peterson did not attend her first appearance at Fulton County Magistrate Court scheduled for Thursday morning.

Previous scrutiny has long shadowed Peterson's career. A panel from the Judicial Qualifications Commission in April found her guilty of "systemic incompetence," recommending her removal from the bench. This judgment arose after four separate hearings that began in September 2023, addressing an aggregation of 30 counts of misconduct. "Judges are expected to act in a manner that promotes the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. Respondent has shown that she cannot — or will not — do so. And so she must go," stated the panel's report obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta.

In continuation of her controversies, Atlanta News First highlights that Peterson was previously accused by the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission of unethical behavior, including retaining settlement funds and breaching courthouse security protocols. With her arrest, the judge adds a new chapter to a fraught tenure, the outcome of which now rests in the hands of a Georgia Supreme Court awaiting to rule on the JQC's recommendation.