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'{{Short description|American judge (born 1974)}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific-prefix = | name = Christian A. Coomer | honorific-suffix = | image = | alt = | caption = | office = Judge of the [[Georgia Court of Appeals]] | status = Removed | term_start = October 31, 2018 | term_end = August 16, 2023 | appointer = [[Nathan Deal]] | predecessor = [[Charlie Bethel]] | successor = Jeffrey A. Watkins | office1 = Member of the [[Georgia House of Representatives]] from the 14th District | term_start1 = January 10, 2011 | term_end1 = October 15, 2018<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=756&Session=24 |title=Georgia General Assembly |access-date=2019-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024102725/http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=756&Session=24 |archive-date=2019-10-24 |url-status=live }}</ref> | predecessor1 = [[Barry Loudermilk]] | successor1 = Mitchell Scoggins<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.daily-tribune.com/stories/scoggins-wins-district-14-primary,20847 |title=Scoggins wins District 14 primary |access-date=2019-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024102921/http://www.daily-tribune.com/stories/scoggins-wins-district-14-primary,20847 |archive-date=2019-10-24 |url-status=live }}</ref> | pronunciation = | birth_name = Christian Aaron Coomer<ref>[https://www.martindale.com/cartersville/georgia/christian-aaron-coomer-2072983-a/ Hon. Christian Aaron Coomer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024103211/https://www.martindale.com/cartersville/georgia/christian-aaron-coomer-2072983-a/ |date=2019-10-24 }} Martindale</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|10|31}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | spouse = Heidi Coomer | children = 3 | residence = | education = [[Lee University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[University of Georgia School of Law]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]]) <br/> [[Air Command and Staff College]] | footnotes = }} '''Christian Aaron Coomer''' (born October 31, 1974)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/house-majority-whip-prepares-leave-162519095.html |title=House Majority Whip Prepares to Leave Legislature for the Bench |date=2018-10-29 |website=finance.yahoo.com |language=en-US |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-date=2023-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811170210/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/house-majority-whip-prepares-leave-162519095.html |url-status=live }}</ref> is an American lawyer and former judge of the [[Georgia Court of Appeals]] who was removed in 2023 by the Georgia Supreme Court for patterns of bad faith behavior regarding his use of campaign funds and his dealings with a legal client.<ref>{{cite web |title=Judge Christian A. Coomer 2018 - |url=https://www.gaappeals.us/christian-a-coomer-2018-date/ |website=gaappeals.us |publisher=[[Georgia Court of Appeals]] |access-date=11 August 2023 |archive-date=16 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516040238/https://www.gaappeals.us/christian-a-coomer-2018-date/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=remove>{{cite news |last1=Abusaid |first1=Shaddi |last2=Rankin |first2=Bill |title=Georgia Supreme Court removes appeals judge from office |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/georgia-supreme-court-appeals-judge-coomer-should-be-removed-from-office/MLVABTMD2FABHG5VMCLJJFVJ5U/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_6389749 |access-date=17 August 2023 |work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|date=August 16, 2023}}</ref> ==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]].<ref name="OfficialBio">{{Cite web |url=https://www.gaappeals.us/biography/bio_judges.php?jname=Christian%2520A.%2520Coomer |title=Court of Appeals of Georgia: Christian A. Coomer, Judge |website=www.gaappeals.us |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-date=2018-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114012609/https://www.gaappeals.us/biography/bio_judges.php?jname=Christian%20A.%20Coomer |url-status=live }}</ref> == 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, 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 [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|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.<ref name="OfficialBio" /> ===State legislator service=== Coomer served as a Republican in the [[Georgia House of Representatives]] from 2011 to 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/local/rep-coomer-appointed-to-georgia-court-of-appeals/article_68d99a42-b86b-11e8-8260-d7518dccdb26.html |title=Rep. Coomer appointed to Georgia Court of Appeals |last=Wagner |first=Diane |date=2018-09-14 |website=Northwest Georgia News |language=en |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-date=2018-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116225918/http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/local/rep-coomer-appointed-to-georgia-court-of-appeals/article_68d99a42-b86b-11e8-8260-d7518dccdb26.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="OfficialBio" /> ===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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/f689012982f2431da9708cad7e7367cb |title=Coomer to be sworn in Oct. 31 |date=2018-10-13 |website=AP NEWS |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-date=2018-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114012618/https://www.apnews.com/f689012982f2431da9708cad7e7367cb |url-status=live }}</ref> ====Consideration for Georgia Supreme Court==== In 2018 Coomer was among three candidates under consideration for the [[Supreme Court of Georgia (U.S. state)|Supreme Court of Georgia]] after the retirement of [[Harris Hines]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/deal-gets-three-new-names-for-supreme-court-vacancy/0foEMdl1whQwzaKOC1zYWJ/ |title=Deal gets three new names for Supreme Court vacancy |last=Rankin |first=Bill |date=2018-09-12 |website=ajc |language=English |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-date=2018-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216202522/https://www.ajc.com/news/local/deal-gets-three-new-names-for-supreme-court-vacancy/0foEMdl1whQwzaKOC1zYWJ/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Controversies and removal=== On March 6, 2020, Coomer was accused in a lawsuit by a former client of malpractice and fraud.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rankin |first1=Bill |title=State Appeals Court judge accused of fraud, malpractice |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/state-appeals-court-judge-denies-allegations-fraud-malpractice/1CsaShCppO0DAr6aWbZ8xH/ |website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=30 December 2020 |archive-date=30 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230102158/https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/state-appeals-court-judge-denies-allegations-fraud-malpractice/1CsaShCppO0DAr6aWbZ8xH/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rankin |first1=Bill |title=GBI investigating fraud allegations against Court of Appeals judge |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/gbi-investigating-fraud-allegations-against-court-appeals-judge/h663bWChA2g2yL6iOkxNxJ/ |website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=30 December 2020 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120190145/https://www.ajc.com/news/local/gbi-investigating-fraud-allegations-against-court-appeals-judge/h663bWChA2g2yL6iOkxNxJ/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Coomer settled the fraud and malpractice lawsuit brought by his former client sometime in late July 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rankin |first1=Bill |title=Ga. judge accused as a lawyer of fraud and malpractice settles lawsuit |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/ga-judge-accused-as-a-lawyer-of-fraud-and-malpractice-settles-lawsuit/H2IMUCI6WZFEDE5XA4325LZHS4/ |website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=30 December 2020 |archive-date=30 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230102301/https://www.ajc.com/news/ga-judge-accused-as-a-lawyer-of-fraud-and-malpractice-settles-lawsuit/H2IMUCI6WZFEDE5XA4325LZHS4/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Massara |first1=Jim |title=Coomer Settles Malpractice Lawsuit With Cartersville Client |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/coomer-settles-malpractice-lawsuit-with-cartersville-client/ar-BB17kuHY |website=MSN News |publisher=Patch.com |access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref> The Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission filed formal charges against Coomer on December 28, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inquiry Concerning Judge Christian Coomer, Case No. S21Z0595 |url=https://scweb.gasupreme.org:8088/results_one_record.php?caseNumber=S21Z0595 |website=Georgia Supreme Court Docket |publisher=Georgia Supreme Court |access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rankin |first1=Bill |title=Ethics charges filed against Appeals Court Judge Christian Coomer |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/ethics-charges-filed-against-appeals-court-judge-christian-coomer/VMYI6GH6VVHGDNGSNUXKRAX6OU/ |website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=30 December 2020 |archive-date=30 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230030130/https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/ethics-charges-filed-against-appeals-court-judge-christian-coomer/VMYI6GH6VVHGDNGSNUXKRAX6OU/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=McDonald |first1=R. Robin |title=Judicial Watchdog Files Ethics Charges Against State Appeals Court Judge |url=https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2020/12/28/judicial-watchdog-files-ethics-charges-against-state-appeals-court-judge/ |website=The Daily Report |publisher=Law.com |access-date=30 December 2020 |archive-date=31 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231065916/https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2020/12/28/judicial-watchdog-files-ethics-charges-against-state-appeals-court-judge/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These charges include 36 counts of alleged violations of Georgia's Code of Judicial Conduct. The Georgia Supreme Court rejected the recommendations of the Commission as made,<ref>{{cite web |title=Inquiry concerning Judge Christian Coomer |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/supreme-court/2023/s21z0595.html |website=law.justia.com |publisher=[[Justia]] |access-date=11 August 2023 |archive-date=23 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323134834/https://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/supreme-court/2023/s21z0595.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Abusaid |first1=Shaddi |title=Ga. Supreme Court sends Coomer’s recommendation back to hearing panel |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/ga-supreme-court-sends-coomers-recommendation-back-to-hearing-panel/XG42X37M7BFGZAV262MJBOJFZU/ |access-date=11 August 2023 |work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |date=March 16, 2023 |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329200654/https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/ga-supreme-court-sends-coomers-recommendation-back-to-hearing-panel/XG42X37M7BFGZAV262MJBOJFZU/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the Commission made revised recommendations<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rankin |first1=Bill |last2=Abusaid |first2=Shaddi |title=Georgia panel again recommends Coomer be removed from appeals bench |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/georgia-panel-again-recommends-coomer-be-removed-from-appeals-bench/FSVOWKNRTJBFPG5RVJY53FGA3Y/ |access-date=11 August 2023 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=May 12, 2023 |archive-date=15 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515234953/https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/georgia-panel-again-recommends-coomer-be-removed-from-appeals-bench/FSVOWKNRTJBFPG5RVJY53FGA3Y/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name=remove/><ref name=onbench>{{cite news |last1=Pierrotti |first1=Andy |title=Georgia Supreme Court allows Judge Christian Coomer to remain on bench |url=https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/03/16/judge-christian-coomer-allowed-remain-georgia-court-appeals/#:~:text=The%20Supreme%20Court%20of%20Georgia%20ruled%20Christian%20Coomer%2C%20who%20sits,panel%20that%20he%20be%20removed. |access-date=11 August 2023 |work=[[WANF|Atlanta News First WANF]] |publisher=Gray Television, Inc. |date=March 17, 2023 |archive-date=1 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401205640/https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/03/16/judge-christian-coomer-allowed-remain-georgia-court-appeals/#:~:text=The%20Supreme%20Court%20of%20Georgia%20ruled%20Christian%20Coomer%2C%20who%20sits,panel%20that%20he%20be%20removed. |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=John |title=Ga. Supreme Court to review Coomer ethics complaint after second JQC recommendation |url=https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/local/ga-supreme-court-to-review-coomer-ethics-complaint-after-second-jqc-recommendation/article_97879eb4-1b6e-11ee-a51c-aff8b37b7907.html |access-date=11 August 2023 |work=[[Rome News-Tribune]] |date=July 5, 2023 |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718144512/https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/local/ga-supreme-court-to-review-coomer-ethics-complaint-after-second-jqc-recommendation/article_97879eb4-1b6e-11ee-a51c-aff8b37b7907.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.”<ref>{{cite news |last1=Abusaid |first1=Shaddi |title=‘He’s a good man, but he screwed up.’ Ex-client testifies at judge’s ethics trial |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/hes-a-good-man-but-he-screwed-up-ex-client-testifies-at-judges-ethics-trial/XGH4BQ6AJVHLXNK7O3TXOVJHHQ/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |work=The Atlanta Journal Constitution |date=October 21, 2022}}</ref> ==Personal== Christian met his wife, Heidi, at Lee University. They have three children, Christian, Collin, and Vivian.<ref name="OfficialBio" /> ==References== {{Reflist|30}} ==External links== *[https://www.gaappeals.us/biography/bio_judges.php?jname=Christian%20A.%20Coomer Official Biography on Georgia Judicial Branch website] *{{Ballotpedia|Christian_Coomer}} {{s-start}} {{s-legal}} {{s-bef|before=[[Charlie Bethel]]}} {{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Judge of the [[Georgia Court of Appeals]]}}|years=2018–2023}} {{s-aft|after=Jeffrey A. Watkins}} {{s-end}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Coomer, Christian A.}} [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Assistant United States Attorneys]] [[Category:Georgia Court of Appeals judges]] [[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) lawyers]] [[Category:Lee University alumni]] [[Category:Republican Party members of the Georgia House of Representatives]] [[Category:United States Air Force officers]] [[Category:University of Georgia School of Law alumni]] [[Category:21st-century American lawyers]] [[Category:21st-century American politicians]] [[Category:21st-century American judges]]'