Federal Judge Mark Fuller to Resign from the Bench

An Alabama federal judge who was arrested on a spousal abuse charge last year is resigning from the bench.

U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller will resign effective Aug. 1. His attorney, Barry Ragsdale, confirmed the resignation Friday.

Fuller was arrested in August after a fight with his wife at an Atlanta hotel and avoided prosecution by entering a court-approved program. His record was expunged following counseling.

Ragsdale says he can’t elaborate on Fuller’s decision or if Fuller was asked to resign.

A judicial committee within the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals investigated the incident.

While federal judges can only be forcefully removed by impeachment, the committee could request Fuller’s resignation.

Alabama’s two U.S. senators, Republicans Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby, have both said Fuller should quit.

 

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Alabama) issued a statement about Fuller’s resignation, saying:

 

“News of Judge Fuller’s impending resignation is a welcome outcome to a very painful breach of the public trust. His resignation will be the culmination of a drawn out process that was woefully unnecessary. The public trust was violated the moment his wife phoned the police.

 

“Justice was not served. We sent the wrong message to victims of domestic violence by allowing a federal judge to collect a paycheck — without managing a caseload — and ultimately having his record expunged.

 

“Fuller failed to uphold the values we hold dear. Perhaps the only consolation is that he has chosen to spare his family and our nation of the expense of a drawn out impeachment process.”

 

 

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)