Thursday, a federal judge sanctioned Chatham County District attorney Shalena Cook-Jones.In his 50-page decision, U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker of the Southern District of Georgia wrote that Cook-Jones left the court “no choice.”All of this stemmed from a workplace discrimination lawsuit, filed by a former assistant district attorney at the Chatham County District attorney‘s Office, Skye Musson. Musson claimed she was denied a promotion because of her gender. She also claimed she was retaliated against.Musson named Chatham County, the Prosecuting attorney‘s Council of Georgia (PAC), and Shalena Cook Jones as defendants in her lawsuit.According to Baker’s filing, Musson claimed, “Cook Jones was integrally involved in the discrimination and retaliation against her.”Baker said twice the court extended its discovery deadlines to give Cook Jones time to fulfill basic discovery requests. He said despite those extensions, Cook Jones refused to provide a single date during which she could be deposed. The court ended up ordering Cook Jones’ deposition to take place after the deposition deadline on a date she selected, which was April 11, 2023.Shortly before that date, Baker said Cook Jones got involved in a rape trial. Baker wrote, “During the March 29 pretrial conference, Cook Jones did not mention to the Superior Court, or anyone involved in the trial, that she had committed to being deposed in this case on April 11.”Jury selection began on April 4 and the trial officially began on April 6.Baker wrote, “Cook Jones still did not mention to the Superior Court, or anyone involved , that this court had ordered her to appear for a deposition three business days later. By Friday, April 7, Cook Jones still had not rested the State’s case, and it was clear that the trial would last into the following week. Cook Jones still did not apprise the Superior Court or counsel of her court-ordered deposition.”According to Baker, Cook Jones did not make those in the rape trial aware of her April 11 deposition until the afternoon of April 10. He said when she informed those in the rape trial of her deposition, she told them it was scheduled from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., when it was actually happening at 10 a.m.Cook Jones said her assistant put the wrong time on her calendar.Baker wrote, “Cook Jones is an experienced attorney and a member of this courts bar. Any attorney would know that her deposition would last more than 2 hours, particularly given the allegations against her.” According to court documents, Cook Jones tried asking for her deposition to be delayed. She wrote in an email, “At the time my deposition was scheduled, I thought there would be someone else in place to try , but our incoming sexual assault prosecutor (who was scheduled to start in early April) will not arrive until April 17th. So, I had to step in.”Cook Jones’ request was denied. Regardless, she did not appear for her deposition April 11 since the rape trial was still ongoing.Baker wrote, “Cook Jones’ failure to even mention her self created conflict to this Court or the Superior Court, despite so many opportunities to do so, leaves the Court with the inescapable conclusion that she gave no regard whatsoever to her discovery responsibilities and this courts orders.”Baker said in his 50-page decision, “The only measures sufficient to remedy Cook Jones’ pattern of contemptuous disregard are striking her answers and ordering her to pay costs, fees and expenses.”WJCL 22 News has reached out to the District attorney‘s Office for comment. We have not heard back just yet.

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. —

Thursday, a federal judge sanctioned Chatham County District attorney Shalena Cook-Jones.

In his 50-page decision, U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker of the Southern District of Georgia wrote that Cook-Jones left the court “no choice.”

All of this stemmed from a workplace discrimination lawsuit, filed by a former assistant district attorney at the Chatham County District attorney‘s Office, Skye Musson. Musson claimed she was denied a promotion because of her gender. She also claimed she was retaliated against.

Musson named Chatham County, the Prosecuting attorney‘s Council of Georgia (PAC), and Shalena Cook Jones as defendants in her lawsuit.

According to Baker’s filing, Musson claimed, “Cook Jones was integrally involved in the discrimination and retaliation against her.”

Baker said twice the court extended its discovery deadlines to give Cook Jones time to fulfill basic discovery requests. He said despite those extensions, Cook Jones refused to provide a single date during which she could be deposed.

The court ended up ordering Cook Jones’ deposition to take place after the deposition deadline on a date she selected, which was April 11, 2023.

Shortly before that date, Baker said Cook Jones got involved in a rape trial.

Baker wrote, “During the March 29 pretrial conference, Cook Jones did not mention to the Superior Court, or anyone involved in the trial, that she had committed to being deposed in this case on April 11.”

Jury selection began on April 4 and the trial officially began on April 6.

Baker wrote, “Cook Jones still did not mention to the Superior Court, or anyone involved [in the rape trial], that this court had ordered her to appear for a deposition three business days later. By Friday, April 7, Cook Jones still had not rested the State’s case, and it was clear that the trial would last into the following week. Cook Jones still did not apprise the Superior Court or [the defendant’s] counsel of her court-ordered deposition.”

According to Baker, Cook Jones did not make those in the rape trial aware of her April 11 deposition until the afternoon of April 10. He said when she informed those in the rape trial of her deposition, she told them it was scheduled from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., when it was actually happening at 10 a.m.

Cook Jones said her assistant put the wrong time on her calendar.

Baker wrote, “Cook Jones is an experienced attorney and a member of this courts bar. Any attorney would know that her deposition would last more than 2 hours, particularly given the allegations against her.”

According to court documents, Cook Jones tried asking for her deposition to be delayed. She wrote in an email, “At the time my deposition was scheduled, I thought there would be someone else in place to try [the rape suspect], but our incoming sexual assault prosecutor (who was scheduled to start in early April) will not arrive until April 17th. So, I had to step in.”

Cook Jones’ request was denied. Regardless, she did not appear for her deposition April 11 since the rape trial was still ongoing.

Baker wrote, “Cook Jones’ failure to even mention her self created conflict to this Court or the Superior Court, despite so many opportunities to do so, leaves the Court with the inescapable conclusion that she gave no regard whatsoever to her discovery responsibilities and this courts orders.”

Baker said in his 50-page decision, “The only measures sufficient to remedy Cook Jones’ pattern of contemptuous disregard are striking her answers and ordering her to pay [Musson’s] costs, fees and expenses.”

WJCL 22 News has reached out to the District attorney‘s Office for comment. We have not heard back just yet.

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