Government watchdog files another lawsuit against Fulton judge
July 27, 2009 at 10:43 am by Thomas Wheatley in News
Ethics watchdog George Anderson, the Peach State’s most well-known rabble-rouser, has filed another lawsuit against Fulton County Superior Court Judge T. Jackson Bedford.
Among other accusations, Anderson alleges in the July 16 filing that Bedford, a colorful character who’s made headlines in the past, has misdirected fees commonly referred to as “contempt of court” fines.
The ethics watchdog alleges Bedford has solicited charitable contributions from courtroom spectators whose cell phones rang during trials. Anderson alleges Bedford recommends they contribute to the Brandon Foundation, a charity managed by his wife and daughters. Normally, fines for violations go to the Circuit Clerk’s office.
In February, Bedford said he’d never specified to which charities cell-phone scofflaws could contribute. He told the AJC in February that Anderson’s allegations damage the Brandon Foundation, which Bedford’s daughter says helps young cancer patients pay transportation costs for treatment.
If all this sounds familiar, it’s because Anderson made similar allegations against Bedford last October with the Judicial Qualifications Commission. He says the commission still hasn’t sufficiently followed through on that complaint. CL covered the October filing, which was one of the more bizarre press conferences we’ve ever attended.
The most recent lawsuit is the fourth Anderson’s filed against Bedford since December of last year. (He says he withdrew previous suits because of health problems and stress.)
Bedford’s lawyer Mark Trigg says the judge has had enough. Trigg’s given Anderson 30 days to withdraw the suit or Bedford will “seek all redress available to him.”
From the AJC:
“Just as Judge Bedford is not above the law, he’s not beneath its protections, either,” Trigg wrote Friday in an e-mail on behalf of Bedford. “He has the same legal remedies available to him as anyone else who is faced with repeated filings of costly frivolous lawsuits.”
But Anderson, who says his health has now improved, says he’s pursuing the case.
“I’m gonna try to stay strong,” Anderson tells CL. “I’m gonna try to hang tough.”
(File photo of George Anderson by Joeff Davis)
July 28th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Go George! It’s great to see that someone has the balls to challenge Judge Jackson Bedford and his erratic and unethical ways.
July 28th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
hey anderson,
head over to dekalb and check into mobley
July 29th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Wow, someone finally has the nerve to question the most crooked, megalomaniac on the Fulton County Bench! It’s about time T-Jack got some heat for his outrageous behavior. He has utter contempt for the law and distain for its citizens. Go George! Keep the faith that somewhere in this democratic system there is justice!
July 30th, 2009 at 1:52 am
Anderson should keep turning over rocks. How this guy is a judge, I don’t know. Bedford’s crazy antics are no joke, especially if you end up in his courtroom. Keep the heat on George!
July 30th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Yes George…please, please, please keep the heat on. Bedford is nothing more than a bully in a judge’s robe who is only interested in helping those who have lined his campaign coffers.
August 1st, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Give ‘em hell George!