A South Georgia judge faces 10 misconduct charges related to yearslong case delays that he says are embarrassing.
Chatham County Probate Judge Thomas Bordeaux, a former state representative who chaired the house judiciary committee, said he can’t timely rule on some cases, in part due to limited support staff. He said he also likes to take his time ensuring cases are properly handled.
“I’m probably far too much of a stickler for trying to get it done right, instead of trying to get it done quickly,” Bordeaux said. “It’s not a matter of me not working hard. It’s not a matter of me being slack. It’s just a matter of not being able to get the workload done. And I’m embarrassed by that. I’m maddened by that.”
The Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission lodged formal charges against Bordeaux with the Georgia Supreme Court on Thursday, based on his handling of nine cases. In the worst instance of inaction, Bordeaux let a case languish without a ruling for more than seven years, the JQC said.