Christian Aaron Coomer (born October 31, 1974)[4] is an American lawyer who served as a judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals from 2018 to 2023. In August 2023, Coomer was removed from office by the Georgia Supreme Court for "patterns of bad faith behavior".
Christian A. Coomer | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals | |
| In office October 31, 2018 – August 16, 2023 | |
| Appointed by | Nathan Deal |
| Preceded by | Charlie Bethel |
| Succeeded by | J. Wade Padgett |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 14th District | |
| In office January 10, 2011 – October 15, 2018[1] | |
| Preceded by | Barry Loudermilk |
| Succeeded by | Mitchell Scoggins[2] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Christian Aaron Coomer[3] October 31, 1974 |
| Spouse | Heidi Coomer |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Lee University (BA) University of Georgia (JD) Air Command and Staff College |
Education
editCoomer received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee and earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Georgia School of Law.[5]
Career
editLaw practice and military service
editCoomer's professional experience included operating his own law practice and serving as a judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force Reserve's JAG Corps. Coomer spent four years on active duty with the United States Air Force. Upon separating from active duty, he began serving in the reserve component as a member of Georgia Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve. He has worked as a special assistant United States attorney, in which he represented the Air Force in labor and employment matters before federal and state agencies, served as general counsel to a military hospital, prosecuted courts-martial, trained military members on law enforcement standards and the law of armed conflict, and managed the General Courts-Martial docket in the Air Force. Coomer completed Air Command and Staff College. He has been awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among other awards and decorations. He has attained the rank of lieutenant colonel.[5]
State legislator service
editCoomer served as a Republican in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2011 to 2018.[6] He served as Republican majority whip and member of the standing committees on Appropriations, Banks and Banking, Ethics, Judiciary Noncivil, Juvenile Justice, Retirement, Rules, and Transportation. He was also appointed to the Public Defender Council Legislative Oversight Committee, the Fiscal Affairs Oversight Joint Subcommittee, the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Group, and the Transit Study Commission. In 2017, Governor Deal appointed Coomer to the Court Reform Commission. The same year, Coomer was named Legislator of the Year by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.[5]
Judicial career
editAppointment to Georgia Court of Appeals
editOn September 14, 2018, Coomer was appointed to the seat vacated by Charlie Bethel. His appointment was effective October 31, 2018.[7]
Consideration for Georgia Supreme Court
editIn 2018 Coomer was among three candidates under consideration for the Supreme Court of Georgia after the retirement of Harris Hines.[8]
Controversies and removal
editOn March 6, 2020, Coomer was accused in a lawsuit by a former client of malpractice and fraud.[9]
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in May 2020 that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation allegedly opened an investigation into Coomer based, at least in part, on the lawsuit filed by his former client for fraud and malpractice.[10]
Coomer settled the fraud and malpractice lawsuit brought by his former client sometime in late July 2020.[11][12]
The Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission filed formal charges against Coomer on December 28, 2020.[13][14][15] These charges included 36 counts of alleged violations of Georgia's Code of Judicial Conduct. The Georgia Supreme Court rejected the recommendations of the Commission as made,[16][17] the Commission made revised recommendations[18] and, on August 16, 2023, the Georgia Supreme Court removed Christian from office for patterns of bad faith behavior regarding his use of campaign funds and his dealings with a legal client.[19][20][21] The former client that had sued Christian had said, “If I’d have thought all this would happen I don’t think I would have said a word. He’s a good man, but he screwed up this time. I bet he never makes this mistake again for as long as he lives.”[22]
Personal
editChristian met his wife, Heidi, at Lee University. They have three children, Christian, Collin, and Vivian.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Georgia General Assembly". Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ "Scoggins wins District 14 primary". Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ Hon. Christian Aaron Coomer Archived October 24, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Martindale
- ^ "House Majority Whip Prepares to Leave Legislature for the Bench". finance.yahoo.com. October 29, 2018. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Court of Appeals of Georgia: Christian A. Coomer, Judge". www.gaappeals.us. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
- ^ Wagner, Diane (September 14, 2018). "Rep. Coomer appointed to Georgia Court of Appeals". Northwest Georgia News. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
- ^ "Coomer to be sworn in Oct. 31". AP NEWS. October 13, 2018. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
- ^ Rankin, Bill (September 12, 2018). "Deal gets three new names for Supreme Court vacancy". ajc. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
- ^ Rankin, Bill. "State Appeals Court judge accused of fraud, malpractice". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ Rankin, Bill. "GBI investigating fraud allegations against Court of Appeals judge". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ Rankin, Bill. "Ga. judge accused as a lawyer of fraud and malpractice settles lawsuit". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ Massara, Jim. "Coomer Settles Malpractice Lawsuit With Cartersville Client". MSN News. Patch.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Inquiry Concerning Judge Christian Coomer, Case No. S21Z0595". Georgia Supreme Court Docket. Georgia Supreme Court. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ Rankin, Bill. "Ethics charges filed against Appeals Court Judge Christian Coomer". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ McDonald, R. Robin. "Judicial Watchdog Files Ethics Charges Against State Appeals Court Judge". The Daily Report. Law.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
- ^ "Inquiry concerning Judge Christian Coomer". law.justia.com. Justia. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ Abusaid, Shaddi (March 16, 2023). "Ga. Supreme Court sends Coomer's recommendation back to hearing panel". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ Rankin, Bill; Abusaid, Shaddi (May 12, 2023). "Georgia panel again recommends Coomer be removed from appeals bench". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ Abusaid, Shaddi; Rankin, Bill (August 16, 2023). "Georgia Supreme Court removes appeals judge from office". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Pierrotti, Andy (March 17, 2023). "Georgia Supreme Court allows Judge Christian Coomer to remain on bench". Atlanta News First WANF. Gray Television, Inc. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ Bailey, John (July 5, 2023). "Ga. Supreme Court to review Coomer ethics complaint after second JQC recommendation". Rome News-Tribune. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ Abusaid, Shaddi (October 21, 2022). "'He's a good man, but he screwed up.' Ex-client testifies at judge's ethics trial". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.