Glamorous judge faces misconduct hearing over claims she hurled lawyer in jail for being late

A longtime Atlanta metro-area judge could face disciplinary action after she allegedly threw a defense attorney in jail for being late to a hearing. 

Judge Yolanda C. Parker-Smith, 53, 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 behind bars. 

She is also accused of threatening to jail prosecutors and refusing to return indictments in open court over personal issues with a deputy working at the courthouse. 

The JCC report obtained by the Daily Mail outlines how on August 14, 2024, Parker-Smith allegedly jailed a lawyer for being late to a hearing, even though his office had warned her he would not be able to attend on time. 

The attorney, who is named only as 'GG' in the report, was meant to appear in Parker-Smith's court at 8.30am, but did not arrive until 10.48am because he had to deal with a client who had recently been taken into custody. 

His office contacted the judge the night before to warn her about this conflict - but she plowed ahead with jailing him anyway, according to the report. 

Parker-Smith allegedly instructed deputies in the courtroom to escort the lawyer into cell once he arrived, without even giving him a chance to explain.  

'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. 

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. 

'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.