The actions of Georgia’s judicial watchdog have led to the departure of more than five dozen judges over the past decade for such transgressions as sexual assault, writing racist notes and pointing a gun at people in court. While few would disagree that those judges needed to go, voters will decide Tuesday whether the watchdog itself needs watching.
State Rep. Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs, and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, thinks it does. Willard wants to overhaul the Judicial Qualifications Commission and give state lawmakers power they don’t currently have to appoint and confirm commissioners. He has sponsored a proposed constitutional amendment that would abolish the commission and require the Georgia General Assembly to re-create it. The proposal is one of four constitutional amendments on Georgia’s general election ballot this year.
