A veteran judge in the Atlanta metro area may face discipline after allegedly ordering a defense attorney jailed because he arrived late for a hearing.
Judge Yolanda C. Parker-Smith, 53, is the subject of three complaints now under investigation by Georgia’s Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC).
A JQC panel determined there was “reasonable cause to believe Judge Parker-Smith committed misconduct,” including claims that she unlawfully had the lawyer taken into custody.
The judge is also accused of threatening to jail prosecutors and of refusing to return indictments in open court because of personal issues involving a deputy assigned to the courthouse.
According to a JQC report obtained by the Daily Mail, the incident involving the defense attorney took place on August 14, 2024, when Parker-Smith allegedly jailed him for being late despite advance notice from his office that he could not appear on time.
The attorney, identified in the report only as “GG,” was scheduled to be in Parker-Smith’s courtroom at 8:30am but did not arrive until 10:48am because he was handling a matter involving a client who had recently been taken into custody.
His office had contacted the judge the night before to alert her to the scheduling conflict, but the report says Parker-Smith moved forward with having him jailed regardless.
When the lawyer finally appeared, Parker-Smith allegedly directed courtroom deputies to take him to a cell without first allowing him to explain the circumstances.
Atlanta metro-area judge Yolanda Parker-Smith (pictured) could face disciplinary action after she allegedly threw a defense attorney in jail for being late to a hearing
‘Judge Parker-Smith did not address nor interact with GG prior to him being taken to the courtroom detention area,’ the JCC report reads.
‘While in the detention area, the deputy took G.G.’s electronic devices.
‘GG was then escorted from the courtroom detention area to the detention area in the basement of the courthouse where he was placed into a holding cell.
‘The basement detention area holds criminal offenders who have been transported to the courthouse for court.’
‘GG’ was released from the holding cell at noon, and allowed to retrieve his devices.
The judge then summoned him back to her courtroom, where she ‘lectured GG about punctuality and conflicts then appeared confused when GG informed her that his office notified hers about his conflict via email the day before’.
GG asked the judge why she had jailed him, and she did not respond, according to the JCC report.
Parker-Smith is also accused of threatening to punish prosecutors if they did not file a legal document by the end of the day on May 18, 2023.
Parker-Smith, 53, based in DeKalb County, Atlanta, has been hit with three complaints which are being investigated by the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JCC) in Georgia
A JCC panel found that there was ‘reasonable cause to believe Judge Parker-Smith committed misconduct’, including illegally throwing the lawyer in jail in August 2024
According to the JCC report, prosecutors and defense attorneys had reached a deal allowing a suspect to enter a plea of ‘nolle prosequi’ – meaning the case would be discontinued.
When the documents involved were filed late, the judge threatened to jail the assistant district attorney involved and their staff.
She warned them that if the document was not filed by 5pm, ‘somebody’s going to be in trouble’ and said they would be behind ‘bars’.
The order was filed the next day and signed by Parker-Smith, and three days later, she retaliated by issuing a contempt of court order against the prosecutors for ‘lying to this court and failing to submit the nolle pros as stated’.
The prosecutors requested to have the hearing with a different judge, and Parker-Smith rescinded the order and canceled their hearing.
Parker-Smith is also accused of refusing to return indictments in open court in February this year because she did not want to be in the same courtroom as the corporal assigned to the case.
Parker-Smith is also accused of threatening to jail prosecutors and refusing to return indictments in open court over issues with a deputy working at the courthouse
‘Judge Parker-Smith then refused to enter her courtroom to return the indictments,’ the JCC report reads. ‘Instead, the grand jury team had to find another judge to complete the duty.’
The judge is accused of failing to comply with contempt laws, failing to be ‘patient, dignified, and courteous’ to the lawyers involved in the complaints, and of allowing ‘certain interests or relationships to influence her judicial conduct’.
‘Judge Parker-Smith’s conduct amounts to willful misconduct in office and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the judicial office into disrepute, and warrants discipline,’ the JCC report concludes.
Parker-Smith was elected to the Georgia state bar in 2004, and advanced to the Superior Court of DeKalb County in August 2020.
The Daily Mail has reached out to her office for comment.
