Alabama’s two U.S. senators have called for U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller to step down, joining a growing chorus of federal lawmakers seeking the judge’s resignation after his arrest on domestic violence charges, reports the Montgomery Advertiser. Fuller, 55, was arrested Aug. 10 and charged with misdemeanor battery of his wife, Kelli, at an Atlanta hotel. The judge, appointed in 2002 to the U.S. Middle District for Alabama, agreed to enter a pre-trial diversion program earlier this month. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has reassigned his caseload and is investigating.
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican, said Fuller “has lost the confidence of his colleagues and the people of the state of Alabama, and I urge him to resign immediately.” Alabama’s other senator, Jeff Sessions, also urged Fuller to resign. He was joined by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.; U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, and U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, who raised the possibility of impeachment. Fuller’s attorney declined to say whether the judge intended to resign.