A prominent Georgia judge finds himself on the wrong side of the law after a strange early-morning incident involving alcohol, a luxury car, and a Jacksonville strip club.
According to the Daily Mail, Robert Guy Jr., a Superior Court judge who leads the Georgia Council of Superior Court Judges, was arrested in Florida after allegedly driving intoxicated and crashing into a parked truck outside Wacko’s Gentlemen’s Club.
The arrest occurred around 3 a.m., when Guy reportedly backed his Mercedes-Benz into a Ford F-150 in the club’s parking lot. From there, things only got worse for the judge, who is now facing multiple DUI charges.
Parking Lot Crash Raises Eyebrows
Witnesses said the judge exited his vehicle and spoke briefly with the truck’s driver before appearing to consider leaving the scene. According to police reports, his coordination—or lack thereof—wasn't exactly reassuring.
A parking valet told responding officers that Guy was “highly intoxicated” and had to be guided back into a parking spot. Club staff and patrons eventually escorted the judge back inside the establishment and took his keys and cellphone to keep him from making the situation worse. That didn’t stop Guy from trying to resolve the fender-bender the old-fashioned way—with cash. The truck’s owner told authorities Guy declined to exchange insurance and instead offered $500 in cash to “settle the damages,” according to an arrest report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Officer Reports Paint a Grim Picture
When deputies arrived, they found a man clearly unfit to drive. Guy reeked of alcohol, slurred his speech, and admitted he couldn’t remember if he had been driving at all. That last one might be a tough needle to thread, considering witnesses saw the whole thing unfold. As for his defense, it may come down to legal fine print and courtroom maneuvering. Guy refused a breathalyzer test at the scene, which earned him an additional charge under Florida law.
He was booked into the Jacksonville jail before posting a $3,000 bond and leaving—probably not in his Mercedes. Due to judicial restrictions, his booking photo remains off-limits, though that may not spare him from professional consequences.
Professional Standing Now Under Scrutiny
The judge has reportedly self-reported the arrest to Georgia’s Judicial Qualifications Commission, a move that often signals preparation for disciplinary proceedings. Commission Director Courtney Veal confirmed an investigation is underway.
Guy has already retained a Florida attorney, Lester Tate, who struck a hopeful tone. “It arose out of a minor fender-bender in the parking lot there, and we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to resolve the matter,” Tate told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. That explanation may sound quaint, but wearing a robe in court comes with higher expectations. “Minor” or not, society tends to balk when those entrusted with enforcing DUI laws are themselves charged with violating them.
High-Ranking Role Deepens the Fallout
This wasn’t your average traffic stop involving a local official. Guy presides over the five-county Brunswick Judicial Circuit and chairs a body that represents the interests of Georgia’s superior court judges across the state. He also sits on the Judicial Council of Georgia, the judiciary’s policymaking organization. It’s a prestigious role, and with that prestige comes public scrutiny.
Guy, now 48, has served on the bench since 2017 after being elected the year prior. A native of Camden County, near the Florida line, his ties to both states put this event squarely in the public eye on both sides of the border.
Even Judges Must Navigate the Law Fairly
Whatever the case outcome, the optics are what they are: an influential public servant found confused, allegedly drunk, and offering hush money in a strip club parking lot. That’s not exactly a profile in judicial restraint.
It’s worth asking whether accountability still means something—especially among those who interpret and enforce the laws the rest of us live under. If the justice system wants to maintain its integrity, it had better start by cleaning its own bench.
The courts, like the public’s trust, are not immune to recklessness. Let’s hope Judge Guy’s next ride is back to humility—and not another flashy scene of poor decisions.
