ALPHARETTA - City officials are looking into complaints about an outspoken Alpharetta judge known for wearing a gun tucked in his waistband during court and lobbying for a hefty salary increase. <br>
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City Attorney Sam Thomas confirmed receiving complaints about Judge Scott Childress but declined to elaborate. The judge insists he's done nothing wrong. <br>
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``It's just being honest,'' said Childress, a former Atlanta police officer and Fulton County prosecutor who was elected to the part-time job in November. <br>
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He has wrangled with the council over his budget requests. Among them, a raise to boost his $36,124 salary and benefits package to as much as $115,000, city officials said. <br>
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Childress said he would be satisfied with $80,000. Roswell's part-time judge is paid $41,000. <br>
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He also has been known to wear a gun tucked in his waistband during court and has attended City Council meetings to weigh in on legislative issues. <br>
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The public lobbying has damaged the court's reputation and could pose legal problems for the city, some officials said. <br>
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``The defendants aren't there for that. They're there for a speedy trial,'' City Councilman Doug DeRito said. ``We could get mistrials out of this.'' <br>
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Childress, who also works as a criminal defense attorney in Roswell, said he needs the raise to increase the current 12 monthly court sessions to as many as 24 because more traffic tickets are being written. <br>
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He said officials had ignored his request and that he was obligated to those who elected him and the people summoned to court.
