Judge Scott McAfee of Fulton County Superior Court has won re-election for another four-year term, defeating challenger Robert Patillo in the primary election. McAfee is currently presiding over the election interference case involving former President Donald Trump and 14 co-conspirators accused of attempting to overturn Georgia’s election results. The defendants face charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, although they have pleaded not guilty. McAfee, the youngest judge on the circuit, campaigned on issues such as clearing the COVID case backlog, providing a path for nonviolent offenders, and holding violent offenders accountable.
Challenger Robert Patillo, a defense attorney and community advocate, ran on a platform of bringing competency, compassion, and change to the Fulton County Superior Court. However, McAfee won the election quickly, with the Associated Press calling the race within an hour of the polls closing. Tiffani Johnson, another candidate, was originally on the ballot but was later disqualified for failing to prove her eligibility based on residency. Patillo believed the election was a referendum on whether voters were satisfied with the status quo and stated that the voters were ready for the leadership they deserve.
McAfee, a Republican appointed by Governor Brian Kemp, previously served as a state and federal prosecutor, investigating and prosecuting major drug trafficking organizations and fraud conspiracies. He also served as Georgia’s inspector general. McAfee made headlines earlier this year when he ruled on whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis acted inappropriately by appointing a romantic interest to head the prosecution in the Trump case. Despite ruling that Willis created an appearance of impropriety, she was allowed to stay on the case as long as the romantic interest was removed.
Prior to McAfee, Chief Judge Christopher Brasher retired from Fulton County Superior Court after 16 years on the bench. McAfee raised over $327,000 for his campaign, significantly more than his challengers. The Georgia Court of Appeals has agreed to review McAfee’s ruling regarding the district attorney’s involvement in the case, which could still result in her removal. In the 2018 general election, chief judge Brasher received overwhelming support, with 99.5 percent of the vote. Voter turnout in both the 2018 and 2022 elections set records, indicating strong civic engagement in Fulton County.
