The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Sally Quillian Yates, recently made an announcement that was astonishing to criminal defense attorneys: a federal district court judge, Jack T. Camp, was convicted of illegal drug possession as well as other counts.

Furthermore, witnesses had informed the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) that Judge Camp had made statements that showed he was biased toward defendants in his courtroom, and handed down unjust sentences. As a result, the USAO has said it will not object to requests for resentencing by anyone sentenced by Judge Camp in 2010.

The USAO statement (the entire announcement can be read by following the Source link at the bottom of this post) said that former Senior District Judge Jack T. Camp pleaded guilty on November 19th to aiding a felon in possessing illegal drugs, possessing illegal drugs, and converting government property to private use.

During an investigation by the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice, the USAO became concerned that Judge Camp may not have been fulfilling his judicial duties properly. There was no evidence that Judge Camp was using drugs before or during sessions of court, but there was evidence that he was biased toward certain criminal defendants.

According to a witness who was regularly doing drugs with the judge, Judge Camp said he was biased against African-American male defendants because he disliked an African-American male who had a relationship with the witness.

Judge Camp also told the witness he was biased in favor of some white female defendants because they reminded him of the witness.

For these reasons, the USAO has said it will not object to resentencing of criminal defendants sentenced by Judge Camp in 2010. The USAO is also contacting defendants individually.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, “STATEMENT OF U.S. ATTORNEY SALLY QUILLIAN YATES,” December 2, 2010