In re Inquiry Concerning a Judge No. 1419

J. W. Smith, the coroner of Bibb County, filed an original petition with this Court, in which he challenged the jurisdiction of the Judicial Qualifications Commission (Commission) to entertain several complaints about him in Inquiry Concerning a Judge No. 1419. Smith contends that the 1983 Ga. Constitution does not give the Commission jurisdiction over coroners. We ordered the Commission to temporarily suspend its proceedings against Smith, and directed Smith and the Commission to file briefs with us, addressing the issue of the Commission’s jurisdiction.

Article VI of the 1983 Ga.…