Albany Herald

Photo by J.D. Sumner

ALBANY, Ga. — The Judicial Qualifications Commission has issued a private letter of reprimand against Albany Municipal Court Judge Willie Weaver following an investigation into an incident involving his wife and his subsequent arrest in May 2011.

Following a criminal investigation, Special District Attorney Denise Fachini from Cordele dismissed the warrant against Weaver in exchange for his successful completion of anger management and counseling.

According to the report issued Monday, the Judicial Qualifications Commission said Weaver consented that “while the criminal charge was dismissed, the event, and the publicity which followed it, brought discredit upon the judge and the judicial system.”

After being suspended from the bench in Municipal Court by the Albany City Commission during the course of the investigation, Weaver was reinstated in November 2011 by the City Commission on a 4-2 vote.

Weaver also serves as the Muncipal Court judge for the cities of Dawson and Sylvester.

It’s the second letter of reprimand issued by the Judicial Qualifications Commission to a Southwest Georgia judge since March.

Superior Court Judge Rucker Smith, the chief judge of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit which covers Lee and Sumter Counties, received a letter in March after he pleaded guilty to reckless driving.

In a story on albanyherald.com, Smith, when asked for comment, sent a fax stating, “Please direct any questions to my attorney.” He did not immediately respond to a request for his attorney’s name.

Smith was pulled over in May 2011 for driving 63 mph in a 45 mph zone. An officer charged him with having an open container, driving under the influence and speeding.

Smith later pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of reckless driving in the city of Leslie.

The commission noted in a report that Smith complied with all of its requests and “accepted responsibility for his actions.”

The agency said the reprimands will be reported to the Georgia Supreme Court, but their content will remain private.