Judge's "Joke" Gets Her Convicted of Perjury

Who's Laughing Now?: Judge's "Joke" Gets Her Convicted of Perjury
By The Associated Press - New York Lawyer - July 15, 2008

VALDOSTA, Ga. — A federal jury in Valdosta has convicted a Clinch County magistrate judge of perjury and making false statements to federal investigators, but it acquitted her of a charge of conspiracy to commit extortion by a public official. Magistrate Judge Linda C. Peterson faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines after being found guilty Monday. A U.S. District Court judge will sentence her at a later date. Prosecutors said at Peterson's trial last week that she lied under oath to a grand jury when she denied having ever suggested to criminal defendants that they hire her father as a bail bondsman. She was also charged with making false statements to FBI agents investigating possible corruption in the rural south Georgia county. Peterson's lawyers said she was joking when she recommended an FBI informant hire her father.