Panel: Douglas Judge Guilty of ‘Systemic Incompetence’

She must go. That’s the unanimous recommendation from a hearing panel investigating Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson.

Christina Peterson

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The three-member panel for the Judicial Qualifications Commission decided Peterson is guilty of “systemic incompetence” because she ignored courthouse rules, abused courthouse personnel, made inappropriate posts on social media and, in repeated cases, failed to do her job.

{snip} She faced 30 counts of misconduct.

The one that troubled the panel the most involved Peterson’s decision to jail a woman for simply trying to amend her marriage certificate to include the real name of her recently discovered father.

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The report criticized Peterson’s attempt at a neighborhood meeting to get her HOA to settle a lawsuit she had filed, even though she knew the HOA was represented by an attorney.

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The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office complained Judge Peterson ignored their orders and held a wedding after hours, allowing people inside without deputies present.

She once hit a panic button when a deputy was late escorting her to court, causing needless panic among security.

And the report pointed out when county staff criticized her actions, it “quickly triggers allegations of obstructionism or even racism.”

“These communications and actions reveal a judge (Respondent) who publicly vilifies colleagues, is quick to threaten them with unnecessary legal action, and generally projects a spiteful and vainglorious persona.”

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