MARIETTA - Former Cobb Superior Court Chief Judge Ken Nix retired from his final judicial post on Nov. 30 and agreed to never hold a judgeship again, according to a signed consent order with the state Judicial Qualifications Commission. The retirement and agreement come after the JQC received "reports concerning allegations of judicial misconduct" on the part of Nix, according to paperwork filed by the JQC on Tuesday.

Nix, 70, announced his retirement in August, following his own admission that he inappropriately "flicked" the bottoms of two female court officials after they arose from sitting on his lap for photos the previous week during a farewell gathering. The two women had been assigned to Nix's office, but District Attorney Pat Head had informed them the previous day they were being transferred to another office.

Head and both women denied filing reports with the JQC, the body that investigates charges of wrongdoing against judges. It remained unclear as of press time who filed the reports. Calls to the JQC and Nix's attorney went unreturned Friday. Nix had been a Cobb Superior Court judge since 1995.

The JQC's Report of Disposition states that the Commission conducted an investigation and, before voting to have a formal hearing that would air results of the investigation, Nix resigned as Superior Court Chief Judge on Oct. 4 and as Judge of the Municipal Court of Austell on Nov. 30.

The consent order states Nix cannot "seek, request or accept elected or appointed judicial office in the future" and that following the signing of the Consent Order, Nov. 30, the JQC would "dismiss any charges."

In a formal letter sent in August, Nix told fellow Superior Court judges he would retire Oct. 4 rather than December, as was originally planned, for reasons that "are mostly personal involving health and family."

JQC documents also show Nix sent a letter to Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins, dated Dec. 2, announcing his retirement as judge for the City of Austell effective Nov. 30 due to health reasons.