Evelyn GeorgeATLANTA, Ga. – A suspended Republican Court of Appeals judge and former state legislator facing allegations of exploiting an elderly client during his tenure as both a lawyer and a state lawmaker has been ordered to step down from the bench by the Georgia Supreme Court on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
The state’s judicial oversight body, which had been investigating Christian Coomer for ethical breaches, had consistently advised his removal. Coomer had been subjected to a lengthy investigation (spanning years) by the Judicial Qualifications Commission, and a panel of three judges had previously recommended his dismissal.
While acknowledging his good character, a former client testified during the ethics trial, “He’s a good man, but he screwed up.”
The Georgia Supreme Court, in a unanimous 7-0 decision, emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust in the judiciary. The court stated, “The judiciary’s judgment will be obeyed only so long as the public respects it, and that respect will not long survive judges who act in a manner that undermines public confidence in their judgment and integrity.
In this case, Court of Appeals Judge Christian Coomer is charged with patterns of behavior regarding his use of campaign funds and his dealings with a legal client that allegedly undermined public confidence.”
Initially, the court noted that the situation appeared to be a close call. However, after considering the hearing panel’s findings, especially its determination that Coomer had acted in “bad faith,” the court concluded that the appropriate action was to remove him from his position.
In response to the court’s decision, Coomer admitted that his own errors in judgment led to this outcome. He expressed a commitment to learning from his mistakes and striving to improve himself.
He said, “While I am certainly disappointed with this outcome, I acknowledge that my own errors in judgment resulted in the Supreme Court’s decision. I will use this setback as an opportunity to reexamine my flaws and do better. I remain committed to my core values of dedication to God and my family and engagement in service to others.”
The investigations into Coomer’s actions, which eventually led to his removal, were sparked by allegations reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in March 2020. Former JQC Director Chuck Boring said his removal culminated after years of investigation.
Boring commented that the Supreme Court’s ruling should restore confidence in the judiciary by holding accountable those judges who breach the public’s trust. He stated, “At a time when many people voice doubts about our judicial system, the Supreme Court’s decision today should promote the public’s confidence in the judiciary by ensuring that judges that violate the public’s trust will be held accountable.”
Coomer had agreed to a paid suspension after the JQC brought ethics charges against him in late December 2020. During this suspension, he continued to receive a salary of over $460,000, and taxpayers, along with the state, likely spent around $600,000 on him, including benefits and compensation for substitute judges.
Coomer’s case, along with that of former Insurance Commissioner Jim Beck, who was convicted of federal charges and received a seven-year sentence in prison, prompted the General Assembly to pass a constitutional amendment that reduces pay for suspended state officials indicted on felony charges related to their office.
The JQC hearing panel found that Coomer had prioritized his own interests, and those of his family, over his client’s and the public’s. The panel said, “In taking those actions, [he] knowingly violated a host of legal and professional duties.”
They found evidence of improper mingling of campaign funds with his law firm’s bank account, as well as the inappropriate use of campaign funds for personal vacations to Hawaii and Israel. In 2017, his campaign account initiated transfers of $1,000 – $1,200 to his law firm’s account, and in each instance, his law account would have become overdrawn if not for the transfers.
Coomer admitted to blurring the lines between attorney and friend when he borrowed substantial sums totaling almost $370,000 from a former client, James Filhart. Coomer said he paid the money back to Filhart with interest; however, most of the funds were returned after Filhart sued Coomer for malpractice and fraud.
Filhart had hired Coomer in a guardianship case involving Filhart’s girlfriend. Following the successful resolution of the matter, Coomer remained as Filhart’s lawyer in other cases, including the creation of a will naming Coomer and his heirs as Filhart’s beneficiaries and Coomer as the executor and trustee.
The Georgia Supreme Court had previously instructed the JQC panel to reconsider its opinion, which eventually led to a reaffirmation of the recommendation for Coomer’s removal. Despite arguments from Coomer’s legal team that he should only receive a public reprimand and not be removed, the state Supreme Court ultimately agreed with the panel’s decision.
Officials appointed Coomer to the Court of Appeals in 2018; in 2020, he was elected to a six-year term. Later in 2020, he was charged with violating the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct and suspended with pay in January 2021.
The recent ruling prohibits him from being appointed or elected to any judicial office for a duration of seven years.
