Johnnie Caldwell Jr.
Johnnie Caldwell Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 131st district | |
| In office January 14, 2013 – January 14, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Richard H. Smith |
| Succeeded by | Ken Pullin |
| Judge for the Griffin Judicial Circuit | |
| In office 1995–2010 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Rita Caldwell |
| Profession | Attorney |
Johnnie Caldwell Jr. is an American attorney and politician from Georgia. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019, representing the 131st District centered on Thomaston, Georgia.[1][2] Prior to his legislative service, Caldwell served as a judge in the Fayette County Superior Court for about 15 years, from approximately 1995 until 2010, after having practiced law and worked in the district attorney’s office in the Griffin Judicial Circuit since the 1970s.[3] He resigned from the Superior Court in 2010 amid a state-level investigation.[4][5]
In the state legislature, Caldwell was a member of several committees, including Judiciary, Public Safety, and Reapportionment, and he chaired the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee.[6] Over his tenure, he sponsored and co-sponsored a range of bills, such as those recognizing local achievements, adjusting compensation provisions for juvenile court judges, and issuing educational commendations. He also played a role in efforts to reform the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the body responsible for judicial oversight in Georgia.[1]
Caldwell first won election to the House in 2012, facing a challenger in the Republican primary but running uncontested in the general election. In 2018, he lost the Republican nomination to Ken Pullin, who assumed office on January 14, 2019.[6] Caldwell has since returned to private life.
Committee assignments
[edit]Caldwell served on a number of committees:
- Appropriations
- Banks and Banking
- Insurance
- Judiciary
- Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment (Chairman)
- Motor Vehicles
- Rules[7]
Family
[edit]His father Johnnie Caldwell Sr. also served in the Georgia House of Representatives, where he also was a key player in the redistricting of the state and the regulation of insurance.[8]
Legislation
[edit]In the 2016–2017 legislative sessions, Johnnie Caldwell Jr. was a key proponent of restructuring Georgia’s Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC), the state agency charged with investigating allegations of judicial misconduct. The JQC had previously been involved in an investigation leading to Caldwell’s 2010 resignation from the bench, which critics contended influenced his push for reform.[9] Caldwell, however, maintained that the Commission needed greater transparency and legislative oversight, arguing that its proceedings were often opaque and lacked sufficient checks and balances.[10]
Constitutional Amendment 3 (2016)
[edit]Caldwell supported House Resolution 1113 and its companion bill, House Bill 808, which led to Constitutional Amendment 3 on the November 2016 ballot.[11] The amendment proposed replacing the existing JQC with a restructured version subject to enhanced legislative control. Supporters, including Caldwell, insisted the change would ensure public accountability by allowing lawmakers to appoint Commission members and regulate its procedures. Opponents, such as several legal advocacy groups, argued the revisions would reduce the Commission’s independence and open the door to political interference, particularly when high-ranking judges were under review.[12]
Passage and Aftermath
[edit]Despite the controversy, Georgia voters approved Amendment 3 by approximately 62% in November 2016, empowering lawmakers to reorganize the JQC.[11] In early 2017, the legislature began implementing new rules defining how Commission members were selected, how investigations would be conducted, and how disciplinary actions would be reviewed. Caldwell played an active role in these debates, reiterating his stance that the new framework would strengthen due process for judges while providing increased openness to the public.[10] Critics continued to assert that Caldwell’s involvement represented a conflict of interest, pointing out his history with the JQC, while supporters framed the reforms as long-overdue measures to bring transparency to an agency they believed had operated outside meaningful legislative scrutiny.[9][12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Is effort to replace judicial watchdog needed or political payback?". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ "Johnnie Caldwell Jr". Open States. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Judicial turmoil as 2 judges quit during state ethics probe". 27 April 2010.
- ^ "Judge Caldwell's indiscretions recounted in court; subpoenaed ex-Judge English a no-show". 25 June 2010.
- ^ "Disgraced former Ga. Judge behind push to abolish judicial watchdog group". 30 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Johnnie Caldwell". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Georgia House of Representatives". Johnnie Caldwell, Jr. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Johnnie Lafayette Caldwell Sr". Coggins Funeral Home. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ a b Keefe, Brendan (30 March 2017). "Disgraced former Ga. Judge behind push to abolish judicial watchdog group". WXIA (11Alive). Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Is effort to replace judicial watchdog needed or political payback?". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Georgia Replacement of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, Amendment 3 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Proposed bill restores some provisions of judicial watchdog agency lost in 2016". The Citizen. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
Political Rankings
[edit]Various political groups have assigned scores to Caldwell based on his votes.
References
[edit]- ^ "2015 Ratings of (sic) Georgia (PDF)" (PDF). American Conservative Union. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "2014 Ratings of (sic) Georgia (PDF)". American Conservative Union. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "2013 Ratings of (sic) Georgia (PDF)". American Conservative Union. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
