Georgia Supreme Court bans judge

ATLANTA - The Georgia Supreme Court permanently banned a Glynn County judge from the bench Tuesday, ruling he has shown a ``troubling pattern of ineptitude and misconduct.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The high court&#39;s decision against Judge Joe Hammill, chief magistrate of the coastal county, is immediate. <br> <br> Three members of a state judicial commission had asked for the ouster, accusing Hammill of having a callous attitude, using profanity in court and not understanding the law. In one case, he asked a stalking defendant whether he had heard the expression &#39;&#39;(expletive) for brains.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The Georgia Constitution gives the high court the authority to ban, suspend and discipline judges. Hammill has said a lifetime ban or suspension would be too harsh. <br> <br> The court also cited several cases in which it said Hammill had failed to uphold defendants&#39; basic rights and had demonstrated a misunderstanding of the law.