Hot-car death attorney to prosecute judges on ethics

The Cobb County attorney who successfully prosecuted the high-profile hotcar death case has agreed to take on cases against two judges accused of misconduct, the chairman of the state’s judicial watchdog agency said.

Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Chuck Boring will prosecute the ethics charges against Atlanta Municipal Judge Terrinee Gundy, who is accused of chronic tardiness and absenteeism and attempts to cover it up.

Boring will also litigate the case against Mack Crawford, the former state lawmaker who is now a Superior Court judge in the Griffin circuit. He stands accused of the theft of almost $16,000 in court funds.

“We have a very seasoned attorney who is well-versed in handling prosecutorial matters and will be assisting the Judicial Qualifications Commission,” the agency’s chair, Pope Langdale, said. “He’ll be integral to fulfilling our mission.”

Boring obtained a murder conviction in 2016 against Justin Ross Harris for leaving his 22-month-old son, Cooper, in a hot car to die.

Harris, a former Home Depot web designer, was found to have intentionally left his son in the family’s sweltering SUV on June 18, 2014.

At trial, Boring said Harris killed Cooper so he could be free to pursue and sleep with as many women as possible. The case received so much publicity that the trial was moved to Brunswick.

“I am honored to be asked to represent the JQC in these matters and look forward to seeing the cases to resolution, whatever that may be,” Boring said.

Boring, who heads the Cobb DA’s Special Victims Unit, will continue his Cobb duties while he handles the cases against the two judges.

In April, a JQC hearing panel recommended Crawford be removed from the bench, and his case is now on appeal.

Gundy was formally charged by the JQC in June. Her case is pending.