State panel files ethics charges against appeals court judge

A Georgia commission is accusing a state court of appeals judge of ethics charges.

The state Judicial Qualifications Commission filed the charges on Monday against Court of Appeals Judge Christian Coomer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The judge “strongly denies” the allegations, his lawyers Dennis Cathey and Doug Chalmers said in a statement. They say the allegations misstate facts and the law.

The charges allege that he violated the code of judicial conduct and campaign finance and lending laws.

Coomer, who once served as state House majority whip, was appointed to the Appeals Court by then-Gov. Nathan Deal in 2018.