When a Grady County state court judge was contacted by a Facebook friend about her brother’s arrest, the judge was eager to help. He offered legal advice and encouraged her to make sure the case was transferred to him so he could “handle” it, according to the state Judicial Qualifications Commission.
The JQC this month accused Judge J. William Bass Sr.a Cairo lawyer who has served as president of the Council of State Court Judges of Georgiaof allowing social relationships, including his Facebook friends, to influence his judicial conduct. The JQC also accused Bass of illegally fining criminal defendants to boost his salary, verbally attacking people in his courtroom and retaliating against county contractors who he believed had supported his political opponent.
