The Georgia Court of Appeals cited several reasons for reversing a Bulloch County judge who refused  to seal a criminal record for a youthful marijuana arrest after the defendant went on to lead a crime-free life and advance his education and career.

But a key reason the appeals court offered for the decision was supplied by Bulloch County Superior Court Judge F. Gates Peed himself, who said in open court that he had no intention of following legally required steps before deciding whether to seal the records.