BEFORE THE JUDICIAL

QUALIFICATIONS
COMMISSION
STATE OF GEORGIA
ln Re: An Inquiry Concerning
Judge J. William Bass, Sr.
JQC Docket No. 2012-31
Report of Disposition Pursuant to Rule 4(e) of the
Rules of the Judicial Qualifications Commission
This matter originated before the Judicial
Qualifications
Commission
("the Cornmission") with allegations ofjudicial misconduct on the parl of
State Court Judge J. William Bass, Sr. of Grady County. The Cornmission
colxmenced an investigation after receiving infonnation alleging violations
of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
Following the investigation, the Commission voted to institute formal
proceedings pursuant to Rule 5. After the Commission filed its "Notice of
Formal Proceedings," and thereafter, a "First Amended Notice of Formal
Proceedings," this matter came before the Comrnission for a hearing on
March 6,2013 and at the close of the Commission's case the matter was
concluded between Judge Bass and the Commission pursuant to Rule 4(e)
with a mutually agreed upon disposition. The disposition between the
In l{or Judgo J. Williur llass, Sr.
)ilgc I of2
Commission and Judge Bass is more fully set forth in the "Consent Order"
dated March 25,2013 which is f,rled contemporaneously with this Court.
This Report of Disposition is submitted for filing in the public records
of the Supreme Court of Georgia pursuant to Rule 4(e).
This 17th day of Apri|2013.
Junrcrl,
Qua.r,rrrcATroNs
CovrvrrssroN
Jeffrey R. Davis
Director
State Bar Number: 2108 1 5
P.O. Box 191
Madison, GA 30650
(706) 343-s8e1
In Re: Judge l. William Bass, Sr.
Psge2 of2
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I have this day served the foregoing "Report of Disposition Pursuant to Rule
4(e) of the Rules of the Judicial
Qualifications
Commission" upon the following by
First Class, U.S. Mail:
Chris Townley
Attorney for Judge J. William Bass, Sr.
P.O. Box 278
Rossville. GA 30741
Michael J. Bowers
Balch & Bingham LLP
30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W.
Suite 700
Atlanta, GA 30308-3036
Brian M. Rickman
District Attorney
Mountain Judicial Circuit
P.O. Box 2138
Clarkesville, Georgia 3 0523
This 17th day of April, 2013.
Jeffrey R. Davis
Director
State Bar Number: 21 08 1 5
BEFORE THB JUDICIAL
QUALIFICATIONS
COMMISSION
STATB OF GEORGIA
)
)
In re: An Inquiry Concerning
)
JQC Docket No: 2012-31
Judge John William Bass, Sr.
)
)
Consent Order
The Judicial
Qual
i fications Commissi on
fhereinafter
"Corrmi ssion"]
and Grady County State Court Judge J. William Bass, Sr.
fhereinafter
"Bass"]
hereby resolve the above-styled matter as follows:
1 . Bass is suspended, without pay, for a period of 60 days
corrmencing on March 6,2013.
2. Bass will receive a public reprirnand for his admitted violations of
the Code of Judicial Conduct. The public reprimand will be
aclministered to Bass, in open court, at the Grady Couniy
Courthouse by a Superior Court Judge (who presides outside of
the South Georgia Circuit) who will be selected by the
Comrrission.
3. Bass is on probation for the remainder of his term, which
concludes on December 3 1,2014. During this probationary
period Bass shall not retaliate against or threaten any person
because of their involverrent in the Commission's investigation
and prosecution of this matter. Should the Cornmission receive a
complaint regarding any threats or retaliation, the Commission
will provide Bass, or his counsel, with written notice of the facts
substantiating the complaint, and schedule a hearing within 10
(ten) days of the date of said notice. The conduct of the hearing
will proceed in accordance with Rule 7. The Commission, after
lrearing evidence, is authorizedto impose any additional sanctions
as may be authorizedby the Rules of the Judicial
Qualifications
Cornmission, and Judge Bass further agrees that the decision of
the Commission will be final with no right for review by the
Supreme Court of Georgia.
4. So long as Bass remains a
judge,
or until the conclusion of his
term, Bass is required to recuse hirnself from all matters involving
the two lawyers who testified in the disciplinary hearing.
5. Bass agrees that he will not seek re-election at the end of his term.
Agreed to this
tltuy
orrur arch,2013.
Jeffrey R. Davis, Director
Judicial
Qualifications
Commission
Chris Townley, Esq.
Counsel for Judge Bass
r.