Juvenile Judge Caswell under investigation by Judicial Qualifications Commission

By: Mark Berryman, WLHR

At the request of an attorney within the Northern Judicial Circuit, the Judicial Qualifications Commission of Georgia has launched an investigation into whether or not Juvenile Court Judge Warren Caswell can continue to serve as Municipal Court judge for both Hartwell and Lavonia.

The attorney claims Caswell is prohibited from holding any other judgeships while serving as a full-time juvenile court judge. The complaint cited Section 15-11-56 in filing the complaint.

That part of the code states, “No person who is serving as a full-time juvenile court judge shall at the same time hold the office of judge of any other class of court in the state.”

Caswell is the first juvenile court judge appointed in the Northern Judicial Circuit, assuming the office on Jan. 1, 2016.

Should he be found guilty of judicial misconduct, the Judicial Qualifications Commission could impose sanctions or take other appropriate actions against Caswell.

Caswell has since tendered his resignation as municipal judge for both Hartwell and Lavonia.