By Patrick Yost
Editor

Ocmulgee Judicial District Superior Court Judge John Lee Parrott resigned Saturday, May 19.
The resignation came one day after Parrott was notified of the results of an inquiry by the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission. According to Jeff Davis, director of the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission, Parrott was informed of the results on Friday, May 18. In a letter to Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, Parrott resigned effective May 19.
Davis said the inquiry was launched after the commission received “recent” complaints regarding Parrott. Davis deferred specifying the nature of the complaints. In the commission’s published reports regarding the inquiry, the commission stated that it “commenced an inquiry after receiving complaints of possible violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct. The Commission’s inquiry focused upon various allegations of judicial misconduct, including: whether the judge allowed the prestige of his office to advance his private interests.”
“Judicial misconduct is not limited to the role of a judge sitting on a bench…” Davis said, “judicial misconduct also includes the conduct of a judge off the bench.”
Parrott has served as a superior court judge in the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit for the past 24 years after he was appointed to the position by then-governor, Joe Frank Harris.
In an e-mail to the Morgan County Citizen, Parrott stated:  “For the last 24 years, it has been my honor to serve as Superior Court Judge for the people of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit. Before that, I had practiced law for 13 years. Therefore, after 37 years I have decided it is time for me to retire from the Court and the practice of law. I have deeply appreciated the opportunity to serve the people of our Circuit and worked hard to give you my best.”
Parrott faced an election this year but Davis said Gov. Nathan Deal has announced that he will appoint a new superior court judge to complete Parrott’s term.

Printed in the May 24, 2012 edition