• Legal

by Stacy Jackson

August 24, 2024

Dismissal Of Charges Delayed After Hearing For Former Judge Christina Peterson Postponed

The former judge awaits a new hearing after her attorney, who appeared to be at the Democratic National Convention this week, is a no-show.

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An Aug. 22 hearing in Georgia was delayed for former Douglas County judge Christina Peterson, who awaits to have her criminal charges dismissed from a June incident where she allegedly punched an Atlanta officer during a confrontation outside of a Buckhead nightclub.

The postponed hearing comes after Peterson’s attorney, Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr., told BLACK ENTERPRISE via email that neither he nor his client received any notice of Thursday’s court date. According to Atlanta News First, Arrington filed a leave of absence three weeks before the hearing. However, the prosecutor for the case told the judge she wasn’t aware of the notice until late Wednesday.

According to recent posts on his Instagram page, Arrington attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week. In one post, he appears wearing a DNC badge.

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A post shared by Marvin Arrington Jr (@marvinarringtonjr)

As previously mentioned by BE, Arrington Jr. is expecting a complete exoneration for the ex-judge who was arrested on June 20 and hit with several counts of misconduct after she allegedly struck an officer in the head, what Peterson’s attorney described as actions of a “good Samaritan” who was only trying to protect an assault victim. Although video footage revealed the judge was breaking up a fight between a man and woman, the incident at Peachtree Road Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge left Peterson with charges that included simple battery against a police officer and obstruction of law enforcement.

Peterson, who officers said appeared to be “under the influence” the night of the altercation, waived her first appearance on June 20, which was scheduled in front of the Fulton County Magistrate Court.

The Georgia Supreme Court removed Peterson from the bench due to a pattern of judicial misconduct and replaced her with attorney Valerie Vie. The Judicial Qualifications Commission also decided to have Vie serve the remainder of her position until January 2025, and Peterson was barred from holding any Georgia judicial office for seven years.

Atlanta News First reported that a new date for Peterson’s hearing has not been set.

RELATED CONTENT: Valerie Vie Replaces Judge Booted Off The Bench After Nightclub Arrest

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

August 24, 2024

Family Mourns Death Of Beloved Brooklyn Journalist, Shrim Sa High Priestess Maitefa Angaza

The journalist will be remembered for the cultural impact she had through her roles as a writer, filmmaker, and arts activist.

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Maitefa Angaza, a writer, editor, and filmmaker from Brooklyn, New York, has died after years of dedication to community and cultural empowerment as an influential journalist and spiritual leader.

Angaza’s family announced the news about the beloved journalist on Aug. 13, days after she died on Aug. 8. According to the late author’s official website, she will be missed as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and community member.

“In celebrating her life, her words and work are the best way to honor her,” the Angaza family shared in a statement.

“Not only was she book smart, but she also possessed an emotional, social, and spiritual intelligence…She took African culture and sisterhood seriously. She was a consummate connoisseur of art from the African diaspora and kept her sisterhood and others abreast of art exhibits, live music, theatre, dance, literary conferences, etc.”

The co-founder and High Priestess of the Afro-Kamitic spiritual organization Shrim Sa impacted the spiritual lives of many through her dedication to connecting individuals to their cultural roots. The cultural arts advocate produced notable projects that connected individuals to the rich history and contributions of the Black community. Her documentary, In Our Heads About Our Hair, explores self-identity and politics, and her Heads Up! A Soulful Celebration of Our HAIRitage event salutes Black heritage.

As a writer, she immersed herself in her reporting by producing investigative pieces, features, profiles, arts and book reviews for major publications, including Essence Magazine, Black Issues Book Review, The New York Amsterdam News, and Black Star News.

“You have to be a listener to be a journalist and an observer,” said Brenda Brunson-Bey, whose story was once “beautifully” told by Angaza on the front page of Our Time Press.

“I felt her humbleness. She knew I was there,” she said, according to the outlet. The storyteller has also served in several editorial roles for The City Sun, African Voices magazine, and Our Time Press. Angaza was deeply involved in the Kwanzaa principles she wrote about in her nonfiction book Kwanzaa: From Holiday to Every Day. The literature pays homage to the holiday her family celebrated for over four decades.

Angaza was heavily invested in initiatives that reflected her legacy as a cultural curator. Her involvement and support towards their missions impacted organizations like Reel Sisters, Geb Hetep Wholistic Health Center, Nu Web Order, 500 Men Making A Difference, The Big Black Book, and The Black Track. She is the mastermind behind a plethora of influential content, blogs, newsletters, and marketing campaigns that have resonated with the community online.

According to Brunson-Bey, Angaza leaves behind sons who are continuing on her legacy in the arts. The family hasn’t specified the cause of death.

RELATED CONTENT: Highly Sought-After Casting Director Winsome Sinclair Dies At 58