Michael Rothenberg
Michael L. Rothenberg was a judge in DeKalb County, Georgia. He served on the DeKalb County Recorder's Court between August 2007 and August 2008.[1][2]
Education
Rothenberg earned an undergraduate degree in Jewish Law and Studies from the University of Florida, where he graduated with high honors. His honors thesis on Jewish studies is found amongst the collection at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. He earned a J.D. from the South Texas College of Law.[1][2]
Career
After law school, Rothenberg worked as an associate at a small law firm in Roswell, Georgia. In 2006, he formed the litigation law firm of Rothenberg & Barnes, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia. Most recently, he was an attorney in private practice in Roswell, Georgia.[1][3]
Rothenberg was appointed to the DeKalb County Recorder's Court in August 2007, at age 29. He was reportedly one of the youngest judges ever appointed in Georgia's history. Rothenberg served on a part-time basis in the court until August 2008, while also maintaining his law practice.[1][2][4]
Noteworthy events
Rothenberg sentenced in fraud case
On January 10, 2014, Rothenberg was sentenced after pleading guilty to fraud on September 11, 2013.[5] According to Sally Wates, a U.S. Attorney, Rothenberg obtained $1.35 million from the owners of WinterHawk Energy and Development Corp. The owners said they believed they were investing the money with Rothenberg. He claimed each trade he made in an investment scheme would earn investors a 10 percent profit, with little or no risk.[4] Although the government's complaint indicated he approached many potential investors, only Winterhawk reportedly decided to invest with him. They wired $1,000,000 to one of Rothenberg's accounts. He allegedly told the investors this was his attorney trust account, while $350,000 was wired to another account which Rothenberg controlled.[6]
Rothenberg reportedly emailed phony bank statements to investors to make it appear as if their money was being invested. He also allegedly returned some money when investors made demands. However, he spent approximately $800,000 of the money he received.[5]
Rothenberg was running for election to the DeKalb County Superior Court. Instead of investing the money, he allegedly used it to support his election campaign and pay for personal expenses.[4]
Judge Steve C. Jones of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia sentenced Rothenberg to three years and five months in prison. He was also requited to pay restitution of $800,000.[5][4]
Elections
2012
Rothenberg was a candidate for the Stone Mountain Superior Court.[7] He was defeated by incumbent Gail C. Flake in the July 31 election after receiving 27.8% of the vote.[8]
- See also: Georgia judicial elections, 2012
2010
Rothenberg competed against Yvonne Hawks, Courtney Johnson and Denise M. Warner in his bid for the Superior Court of the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit in the general election.[9] He was defeated by Courtney Johnson in a runoff election on November 30, 2010, receiving 38.6% of the vote.[10][11]
- See also: Georgia judicial elections, 2010
2008
In 2008, Rothenberg ran unsuccessfully for Superior Court Judge against incumbent Gail Flake.[12]
External links
- www.michaelforjudge.com Candidate website
- Judge Rothenberg campaign website
- Michael Rothenberg's campaign contributions
- Courthouse News Service, "SEC Busts Failed Judicial Candidate," June 3, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Rothenberg's Campaign Webpage," accessed November 30, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Linkedin, "Michael Rothenberg, Esq." accessed November 30, 2015
- ↑ Martindale, "Attorney Profile: Michael L. Rothenberg," accessed January 13, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Patch, "Former Stone Mountain Superior Court Candidate Sentenced for Fraud," January 10, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Brookhaven Post, "Former candidate for DeKalb County Superior Court Sentenced," January 10, 2014
- ↑ www.forbes.com, "The Lawyer, Judge, Financial Wizard's Tranche Trading Platform Deal," July 5, 2011
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Preliminary List of Candidates on the July 31, 2012 General Non-Partisan Election Ballot," accessed May 29, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General Primary/General Nonpartisan/Special Election," accessed August 1, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Non-Partisan Candidates on the November 2, 2010 General Election Ballot," archived July 24, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, Unofficial Results of the General Election Runoff
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Superior Court Judge Race Results," November 2010
- ↑ Peach Pundit: Rothenberg quits campaign
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