Judge Kristina Cook Graham Under Investigation

   A powerful judge in north Georgia stands accused of verbally abusing multiple law enforcement agents. The director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation filed a formal complaint against Judge Kristina Cook Connelly's behavior. The judge has remarried and now has the last name Graham.

    By using the Open Records Act we obtained a copy of GBI Director Vernon Keenan's letter of complaint to the Judicial Qualifications Committee. Keenan wrote in his letter after being in law enforcement for 37 years he had never felt the need to make such a complaint, but added Judge Connelly's conduct must be addressed.

    The letter says the judge became enraged when her name came up in a drug investigation. Keenan wrote to the Committee, "She has impugned the integrity of a Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agent by questioning his veracity in open court and in her chambers, as well as by calling him into her chambers to demean him and subject him to profane language. She has also engaged in similar conduct towards other law enforcement officers in her Circuit. As the Director of the GBI, I am compelled to bring this matter to your attention."

    Judge Cook Graham hears cases in Chattooga, Walker, Dade and Catoosa counties and is the daughter of renowned lawyer Bobby Lee Cook.

      The GBI says the judge went off on agents inside her chambers back in February. This stemmed from her own name coming up in an interview with a Confidential Informant in a drug case.

    The head of the GBI says Judge Cook Graham called two agents "scum, sons of a (profanity) and lower than the scum that the agents brought before the court."

    Through our own investigation, we discovered Judge Cook Graham met with Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, Chattooga County sheriff John Everett and Larry Black, the head of the Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force.

    The GBI director wrote in his letter during that meeting the judge was "very irate and cursing continually during the entire conversation" Keenan went on to say, "Judge Connelly stated that the agents brought up her name regarding drug use. She advised the group that the agents should have notified Sheriff Wilson and Commander Black, who should have then notified her."

  After Judge Graham did not return NewsChannel 9's telephone call, we went directly to her to see if she would comment about this complaint. Through her secretary, she said she had no comment.

   The G-B-I, both sheriff's and the Drug Task Force leader also declined comment. But in his letter, the GBI director said "Judge Connelly is not the target of a DEA investigation."

   Keenan goes on to say..."nor is there any information as of the date of this letter that implicates her in any potential drug activity. It is apparent, however, that Judge Connelly does not believe this as evidenced by her actions."

   NewsChannel 9 also discovered a third meeting happened in the Judge's Chambers, also in February, and this time with GBI agent Del Thomasson. Thomasson came with a recorder. The complaint says the judge called him a liar and said "I want you to know that I know what you have done, and I know what you are doing, and your are a (profanity) lying son of a (profanity.)"

    The Judicial Qualifications Commission confirmed it is investigating this complaint. That body can do anything from reprimand, censure or request the removal of a judge to the Georgia Supreme Court. We will keep you informed as this investigation develops.