ATLANTA, Georgia – A Fulton County jury found former Douglas County Judge Christina Peterson not guilty of misdemeanor obstruction of justice charges related to her 2024 arrest outside a Buckhead nightclub.
The verdict was delivered on Thursday afternoon, February 19, 2026, after a two-day trial at the Fulton County Courthouse. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before announcing their decision.
Origin of the Incident
The charges stemmed from an incident in June 2024 outside the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge in the Buckhead area, when Peterson was arrested after a confrontation with an officer from the Atlanta Police Department.
Initially, she faced two charges: simple battery and felony obstruction. The battery charge was later dropped, and the obstruction charge was reduced to a misdemeanor.
Next Legal Steps
Peterson has filed a lawsuit against the City of Atlanta and an involved officer, alleging excessive force was used during her arrest.
This civil lawsuit continues to be processed separately from the criminal case that just concluded.
The acquittal concludes the criminal prosecution related to the Buckhead incident, but other legal proceedings are still ongoing.
