Attorney Indicted For Forging Judge's Name, But Insists It's All A Misunderstanding

She's facing a felony charge as a result.

Atlanta criminal defense lawyer Elizabeth Vila Rogan has been indicted on a felony count of first-degree forgery. According to the indictment, Rogan filed a court order on May 22 that included the signature of Roswell, Georgia Municipal Court Judge Brian Hansford. Except Judge Hansford didn’t actually sign it.

As reported by Law.com, Rogan, via her attorneys, insists it was a misunderstanding, and she believed she had permission to sign the judge’s name:

Elizabeth Vila Rogan was “merely attempting to clarify the status of a client’s criminal history” with the filing of a three-sentence order that prompted the first-degree forgery charge now pending against her, said Rogan’s attorney, Michael Moran.

“We believe the charge is predicated on a misunderstanding, a series of miscommunications,” Moran said. “The truth is that there has been absolutely no crime committed. Ms. Rogan has an impeccable record as a judge, prosecutor and defense attorney over 34-year career. … We look forward to the opportunity to address and resolve this misunderstanding.”

But, according to what Judge Hansford told Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard’s staff, there was no misunderstanding or miscommunication.

Rogan, who previously served as a Fulton County magistrate judge and as an assistant Gwinnett County district attorney, was booked on June 12th and released on a $10,000 signature bond.


headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

Sponsored