Governor Bentley Says Mark Fuller Should Step Down as Federal Judge

by WAKA Action 8 News

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley joins the growing number of politicians calling for a federal judge to resign. Mark Fuller is accused hitting his wife during an argument at an Atlanta hotel.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals is reassigning his caseload while many state officials say he should step down for good.

Atlanta Police arrested Mark Fuller August 9th. They say his wife called 911 and told dispatchers he was hitting her. When they got to the hotel where Fuller and his wife were saying, officers say she had visible injuries, but he did not.  Atlanta Police booked him on battery charges. Fuller has been a federal judge sine 2002 and presided over the bribery trial of former governor Don Siegelman.

We caught up with Governor Robert Bentley and asked him why he thought Fuller should resign.

“You have to set an example. As governor, I have to set an example. As a federal judge, he has to set an example. If you are in situations like this, you are held to a higher standard and you need to live up to those standards-so yes, I think he should step down,” Bentley said.

Earlier this month, Fuller accepted a plea deal, agreeing to go to family and domestic violence counseling if the courts clear his arrest record. Fuller and his attorney will not say whether the federal judge will step down voluntarily.

If Fuller does not resign, he could still be impeached. His attorney says he is working through a complaint initiated by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

That could result in a reprimand or a court request for Fuller to step down.