Christian A. Coomer
Christian A. Coomer | |
---|---|
Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals | |
Assumed office October 31, 2018 | |
Appointed by | Nathan Deal |
Preceded by | Charlie Bethel |
Succeeded by | Jeffrey A. Watkins |
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 |
Education | Lee University (BA) University of Georgia School of Law (JD) Air Command and Staff College |
Christian Aaron Coomer (born October 31, 1974)[4] is an American lawyer and judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals.[5]
Education
Coomer 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.[6]
Legal and military career
Coomer'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, 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 busiest 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 Medal, among other awards and decorations. He has attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.[6]
State legislator service
Coomer was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives as a Republican in 2010. He served as a Republican in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2011 to 2018.[7] 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, Judge Coomer was named Legislator of the Year by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.[6]
Judicial career
Appointment to Georgia Court of Appeals
On September 14, 2018, Coomer was appointed to the seat vacated by Charlie Bethel. His appointment was effective October 31, 2018.[8]
Consideration for Georgia Supreme Court
In 2018 Coomer was among three candidates under consideration for the Supreme Court of Georgia after the retirement of Harris Hines.[9]
Personal
Christian met his wife, Heidi, at Lee University. They have three children, Christian, Collin, and Vivian.[6]
Controversies
On March 6, 2020, Coomer was accused in a lawsuit by a former client of malpractice and fraud in a lawsuit.[10]
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.[11]
Coomer settled the fraud and malpractice lawsuit brought by his former client sometime in late July 2020.[12][13]
The Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission filed formal charges against Judge Christian Coomer on December 28, 2020.[14][15][16] These charges include 26 counts of alleged violations of Georgia's Code of Judicial Conduct. The Georgia Supreme Court rejected the recommendations of the Commission as made,[17][18] the Commission made revised recommendations[19] and, as of July 2023, the matter is under review by the Georgia Supreme Court.[5][20]
References
- ^ "Georgia General Assembly". Archived from the original on 2019-10-24. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "Scoggins wins District 14 primary". Archived from the original on 2019-10-24. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ Hon. Christian Aaron Coomer Martindale
- ^ "House Majority Whip Prepares to Leave Legislature for the Bench". finance.yahoo.com. 2018-10-29. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- ^ a b Pierrotti, Andy (March 17, 2023). "Georgia Supreme Court allows Judge Christian Coomer to remain on bench". Atlanta News First WANF. Gray Television, Inc. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Court of Appeals of Georgia: Christian A. Coomer, Judge". www.gaappeals.us. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- ^ Wagner, Diane (2018-09-14). "Rep. Coomer appointed to Georgia Court of Appeals". Northwest Georgia News. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- ^ "Coomer to be sworn in Oct. 31". AP NEWS. 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- ^ Rankin, Bill (2018-09-12). "Deal gets three new names for Supreme Court vacancy". ajc. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- ^ Rankin, Bill. "State Appeals Court judge accused of fraud, malpractice". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ Rankin, Bill. "GBI investigating fraud allegations against Court of Appeals judge". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ Rankin, Bill. "Ga. judge accused as a lawyer of fraud and malpractice settles lawsuit". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ Massara, Jim. "Coomer Settles Malpractice Lawsuit With Cartersville Client". MSN News. Patch.com. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Inquiry Concerning Judge Christian Coomer, Case No. S21Z0595". Georgia Supreme Court Docket. Georgia Supreme Court. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ Rankin, Bill. "Ethics charges filed against Appeals Court Judge Christian Coomer". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ McDonald, R. Robin. "Judicial Watchdog Files Ethics Charges Against State Appeals Court Judge". The Daily Report. Law.com. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Inquiry concerning Judge Christian Coomer". law.justia.com. Justia. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Abusaid, Shaddi (March 16, 2023). "Ga. Supreme Court sends Coomer's recommendation back to hearing panel". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Rankin, Bill; Abusaid, Shaddi (May 12, 2023). "Georgia panel again recommends Coomer be removed from appeals bench". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Bailey, John (July 5, 2023). "Ga. Supreme Court to review Coomer ethics complaint after second JQC recommendation". Rome News-Tribune. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
External links
- 1974 births
- Living people
- Assistant United States Attorneys
- Georgia Court of Appeals judges
- Georgia (U.S. state) lawyers
- Lee University alumni
- Republican Party members of the Georgia House of Representatives
- United States Air Force officers
- University of Georgia School of Law alumni
- 21st-century American lawyers
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century American judges