2 Ex-Judges, 1 Attorney Indicted in Georgia Corruption Case
Two former state-court judges–one of them, until recently, a chief judge–as well as an attorney and a court administrator have been indicted in Georgia, in a federal case over state judicial corruption.
The indictments today were by a federal grand jury that has been probing claimed corruption in the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, in southern Georgia, writes the Daily Report (reg. req.).
Charged were Brooks Blitch III, formerly chief judge of the Alapaha Circuit, who resigned in May after 28 years on the bench; Berrien Sutton, a part-time juvenile court judge and former state court judge in Clinch County who also resigned from the bench this year; his wife, Lisa Sutton, court administrator of the Alapaha Circuit; attorney George Bessonette; and a fifth individual, Hayward Collier. Blitch is expected to be arraigned in Macon this afternoon.
Although a lawyer for Blitch told the Daily Report that he didn’t then know the charges against Blitch, who was arrested this morning, the Fort Mill Times indicates that Blitch faces fraud, conspiracy and extortion charges “in an indictment alleging widespread corruption.”
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution article earlier this month says previous federal court filings allege that Blitch helped his former law partner, Berrien Sutton, and Sutton’s wife, get their court positions in exchange for legal services.
“In those jobs, the Suttons were paid $537,000 over several years,” the newspaper writes, citing court filings. “Although each received substantial pay for those positions, (Lisa) Sutton and (Berrien) Sutton either performed a minimal amount of work, or none at all.”
Earlier coverage
ABAJournal.com: “Ga. Chief Judge is Unindicted Co-Conspirator”
