A prominent judge from Georgia has been taken into custody on suspicion of drunk driving after a collision near a Florida strip club known as Wacko’s.
Robert “Bert” Guy Jr., 48, stepped down from his position as president of the Council of Superior Court Judges in Georgia on Friday, just days following his arrest in Jacksonville, which is just south of the Georgia state line.
The incident reportedly occurred when the Superior Court judge reversed his Mercedes-Benz into a Ford F-150 in the club’s parking lot around 3 a.m. on Tuesday. He allegedly attempted to bribe the other driver with $500 to avoid an exchange of information, emphasizing his judicial status, as outlined in an arrest report sourced from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
According to a valet, Guy tried to leave the scene but was unable to do so due to appearing heavily intoxicated.
Authorities indicated that Guy was taken back inside Wacko’s Gentlemen’s Club, where staff monitored him closely.
Upon law enforcement’s arrival, Guy exhibited signs of confusion, reeked of alcohol, and slurred his speech, according to the arrest report.
The report notes that Guy repeatedly claimed he did not possess his keys and refused to provide his identification.
He was charged with DUI and DUI-property damage, in addition to a separate charge for not complying with a breathalyzer test, according to jail records.
Due to his current position as an active judge, the sheriff’s office opted not to release Guy’s booking photograph.
Following his release on a $3,000 bond, Guy promptly reported his arrest to the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) in Georgia, which oversees judicial conduct, and resigned from his role as council president on Friday.
“It has been an immense honor to serve the Council of Superior Court Judges in various capacities; however, I am stepping down from my position immediately,” he stated in his resignation announcement.
His attorney, Lester Tate, expressed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the situation stemmed from a minor incident in the parking lot and expressed optimism that it could be resolved.
Guy, who has been a judge in the five-county Brunswick Judicial Circuit since his election in 2016, took the bench in the following year.
At this time, the judge has not provided any immediate comments regarding the incident.
